Creative Holiday Traditions From You, My Playful Crew
Unhinged cookie decorating, costume hikes, and rom com dates... how we play with the holidays
Before we begin… Close your eyes and imagine I’m handing you a homemade card. On the front in colorful, watercolor squiggle letters it says THANK YOU!!! Inside the card is a handwritten note that says:
Hi Noomie, I’m grateful to you for being here, for being a creative spirit that inspires and motivates me, and for believing in the power of play alongside me.
Your comments, stories, and the way you’ve show up to events over the years with open hearts and curious minds is why I started this space. You're my co-adventurers in making the world a more playful place.
Thank you for making this corner of the internet feel like a cozy treehouse where we can be our most imaginative selves.
With gratitude and a playful spirit,
Piera
I asked about your playful holiday traditions and you rode in on a sleigh with some amazing — and amusing — ones.
Infusing play and creativity into the holidays helps us connect, make memories, and diffuse some of the stress of the season.
I’m excited to share 25 suggestions from YOU for making the holidays interesting — I can’t wait to try them (except maybe not the one that involves electrocution!)
Wishing you an experimental, expressive, and silly season ahead.
“We take a family hike wearing animal onesies. It started as a sibling tradition in college and then we roped our parents and the newcomers in the family. We call ourselves ‘the holiday armadillos’ and enjoy making people laugh on the trails.” —Sophia Li
“We go caroling in Washington Square Park with a large group on Christmas Eve. The parks department puts it on and it’s open to anyone who wants to join. There’s a band that plays along and last year some songs were even led by Broadway stars!” —Tanika Goudeau
“We do a Thanksgiving variety show where we craft skits and songs. My husband and I perform a dubbed song where we make the lyrics a retrospective of the last year!” —Amy Shack Egan
”We have traditional holiday music from Colombia that we play around the holidays and gets us in the Christmas dancing mood. We like to take turns choosing songs and we put them up on the TV on YouTube and the person who chose the songs leads the dance and encourages others to dance too.” —Janeth Bewley
”We all hold hands and send a wave of electricity through us with an old generator from WWII. It sends a shock (not too strong) through everyone who is holding hands in a circle. Before we do it we all chant “Gen-er-a-tor” …it’s unhinged and hilarious.” —Emily Correale
”I like to dress as a fashionable version of a cupcake or a present. Big bows lots of volume….. chic af. You know, be the BOW of the ball energy.” —Shibon Kennedy 🎀
”Our family likes to play non-competitive, inter-generational, nonsense charades. We also do a Thanksgiving leftover cooking challenge, make recycling bin ornaments, and go on group Wonder Wanders.” —Piera Gelardi (hi!)
“We play Mis Aguinaldos in Colombia: a collection of Christmas games for gifts and for fun. A favorite is Pajita en Boca where players hide things in their mouths!” —Natalia Rojas
“My tradition is to watch the candles burn for Hanukkah and imagine how this tradition was passed down through my grandparents who traveled from Europe through Ellis Island to settle in Queens and Brooklyn. As I look into the flames, I envision my ancestors and reminisce on all the memories I have of this holiday. “
—Abbey Drucker
“We do Secret Santa but at the mall and race around getting gifts. We set time limits, try to be super sneaky, and meet up at the end.” —Mansi Shah
“We do technicolor — and somewhat unhinged — cookie decorating.” —Kristina Hansen
“One of the grandparents dresses up as Santa and shows up to wake the kids up at midnight.” —Chloe Varelidi
“We go on a holiday rom com date. It has to follow the conventions of a movie: romance, Christmas cheer, and a cast of quirky characters. We have dinner at PJ Clarkes uptown, then go skating at Rockefeller Center, get presents to donate at FAO Schwartz, and talk to people along the way (the cast of quirky characters).” —Liz Tran
“We make a big batch of homemade gifts. This year we’re doing splatter paint ornaments and Shibori-style tie-dye handkerchiefs. In the past we made block print tea towels, candles, and granola.” —Maya Erdelei Perez
“I make ‘pignattas’ an Italian pinecone version of a piñata.” —Karen Gelardi
“We have a pie eating contest for the kids.” —
“I play Cards Against Humanity with my ancient parents to hear them yell ‘queef’” —Monica Brouwer Richardson
“My family does a communal craft every year — we heat up leftovers, put on Christmas music, chat, craft, and talk about the year ahead. Everyone gets involved, even the “non crafty” family members. It’s low stakes and so relaxing!!!!” —Meagan Mahaffy
”Growing up my sister and I used to make a bunch of different kinds of cookies and give a little treasure box of mixed cookies to all our family members. Now we do them separately since we live in different cities. I’m continuing the tradition with my 2-year-old.” —Chelsea Goldwell
“We reenact the nativity scene and it’s pretty funny because we are old now.” —Larissa May
“Surprise matching PJs for the kids each year!” —Christina Essue
“We do a Montessori walk around the sun.” —Clare Mackay
“Schrottwichteln: everyone brings a crappy, ugly gift and then it’s exchanged during a dice game. Fun!” —Anja Baumann
“My sister and I make wrapping paper and ornaments and I love it so much.” —Katyana
“Growing up, we'd gather at Aaji’s (grandma’s) 100-year-old house in Mumbai, and share a feast that felt like love on a plate. When I moved to NY and found my chosen family, my friend Leanne created a holiday tradition where each of us brings a dish from our childhood, sharing the flavors and stories that shaped us. Together, we enjoy a feast that feels like a journey around the world!” —Leena Murdeshwar
Well aren’t you all a playful crew?! I’m freshly heart-warmed to up my imagination and holiday hijinx.
If you’re tickled too… share with a friend.
As always, Thanks for playing!
I would love to invite more PLAY into my family holiday gatherings! So often I feel like we are scrambling to cross things off a to-do list, even down to what food is getting cooked. I do enjoy making gingerbread cookies every year, maybe I can push them a bit further into the unhinged category...now I just need to know where to get those silly sprinkle eyes.
Love all of these, esp the animal crew!