If you’re recently married (or recently engaged!), the holidays are such a special time of year! The magic of the holiday season and the romance of newlywed love are the perfect pair. It’s also the first year as your own little family—a perfect opportunity to create Christmas traditions you’ll treasure for years to come.
Take a peek at a few of our favorite newlywed Christmas traditions, and see if any of them would bring an extra dose of joy to your holiday season:
Exchange Ornaments:This is one of my favorite traditions for couples because it becomes more and more special over time. Select a meaningful ornament for your spouse or fiancé each year, building a collection of family heirlooms adorning your tree. Pick a quirky ornament that sparks a funny memory, or start a classic collection with Lenox collectibles. One day, you’ll have a tree sparkling with a lifetime of memories.
I also recommend starting a list of each year’s ornaments: write down a short description of each trinket and the memory attached to it, along with the year. Keep the list in an envelope with your ornament collection, and add to it each year. One day, your children will treasure the legacy of these seasonal heirlooms; my grandmother has done this for me, and it is one of my dearest holiday traditions. Seeing her handwriting always brings tears to my eyes, and the record of each ornament connects me to the previous generation… from my late Pampa’s handmade woodcut ornament, to my great-grandmother’s antique glass dove.
Write a Love Note:Another tradition that builds on itself: writing love notes is such a meaningful ritual for the holiday season. Pen a thoughtful letter to your spouse or fiancé, and give it to them under the twinkling lights of the tree. Keep the notes in a box over the years; let them serve as an authentic and heartfelt record of your love story. Imagine how sweet it will be to open that box five or ten or twenty years from now and see how your love story has grown.
Look at Lights:Looking at lights is an easy tradition to incorporate into your Christmas festivities—and you can easily put a personalized spin on it. You might craft the perfect Christmas playlist and sing your hearts out, or take it as an opportunity for intimate conversation as you drive around and soak in the magic of the season. Even if your family grows over the years, I like the idea of keeping this tradition just for the two of you. There’s nothing like a little twinkling Christmas magic to kindle holiday romance!
Scripture Reading:This is one of the most beautiful traditions you can begin for your family. Reading scripture as husband and wife will strengthen your marriage and lay the foundation for an intentional holiday season. Choose a daily or weekly time to read the Sacred Word together and reflect on Christ’s presence this Christmas season. For us, this tradition pairs perfect with the lighting of our Advent candles each night. We read a short passage and a reflection from our favorite devotional book, then take a moment to pray together. It is one of the most fruitful holiday traditions we’ve incorporated into our marriage.
Send Christmas Cards: You know how much I adore snail mail! Christmas is the perfect excuse to send a card to all your loved ones (it’s also a great reason to have professional photos taken annually, preserving memories of each passing year). There is something special about receiving an envelope addressed with your name in the mail; it helps us feel connected during the holidays, even to friends and family who are far away. And if you’re looking for a heartfelt touch, envelope calligraphy will definitely give your Christmas correspondence an elevated look.
What will your newlywed Christmas traditions be? I can’t wait to hear how you celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
Best wishes for a blessed holiday season, from our little family to yours! These years as newlyweds or fiancés are so, so precious. I am constantly reminded that it may not be like this forever—just the two of us. These years are a beautiful opportunity to define our own traditions, to intentionally set the foundation for our future holidays.
I hope you and your sweetheart embrace a special tradition that brings the joy of the season into your newlywed home!