The Magic Is in the Small Things: Creating More Meaningful Holiday Moments

The holidays often end up feeling like a whirlwind of socializing, shopping, decorating, cooking, and baking. And while that can be lovely, it can also feel incredibly overwhelming. The pressure is on for everything to feel perfect, but emotions can also run high because of all that pressure. 

One way to dial that pressure down and spend a few moments, well… in the moment, is to remember that often, the smallest things are what matter most. Expensive gifts, flawlessly executed dinners, and grand gestures might still have their places, but what people will remember most are the small, thoughtful touches that say "I see you, I know you, and I want this time to feel special for us."

Let’s look at a few ways to steal small, meaningful moments amidst the whirlwind. 

The Art of Small Magic

There's something powerful about bringing one small, new element to a familiar tradition. It doesn't require a complete overhaul of how your family celebrates; it just adds a little spark of curiosity and connection to the mix.

Here are a few ideas to bring that magic to your holidays: 

Try a game nobody knows. Skip the predictable board games everyone's played a thousand times and bring something completely new. Try a card game from another culture, a storytelling game where everyone contributes to a ridiculous tale, or even something silly like a blindfolded drawing challenge. The unfamiliarity levels the playing field and creates genuine laughter. 

Here are a few fun ideas Danielle has tried with her family at the holidays: 

• Play “egg in the hole” - Get a large 6x6 egg container and a whole lot of ping pong balls. One person stands at either end of a long table and tries to bounce the ping pong balls into the egg container at the other end. The first one to get 4 in a row wins! 

• Play the unwrapping game. Get a large roll of plastic wrap and a bunch of small prizes (think loose change, small dollar store items, candies, etc.) Wrap one “big” prize in the center (maybe a $20 bill) and then continue wrapping the plastic wrap around it in different lengths. Make sure to wrap it tight! In every few sheets of plastic wrap, include a small prize, until you have a big ball—at least baseball size. Then each person gets a turn to try to unwrap the ball as fast as possible while the next person in line rolls dice. When they roll doubles, they pass the dice on and get to try to unwrap. Go all the way around the table until you’ve gotten to the big prize!

Experiment with a recipe together. Instead of sticking to the usual menu, introduce one dish that's completely new to everyone. Maybe it's a dessert from your grandmother's homeland that nobody's made in decades, or a trending recipe you've been curious about, or something wonderfully weird you found online. Cook it together, mess it up together, laugh about it together.

Shelby and her siblings like to try fancy new cocktail recipes at family gatherings. They’ve made eggnog white Russians, different variations on the traditional old fashioned, and French 75s. This year, she’s planning on making a special pomegranate cocktail for her family.

Make something with your hands. Set up a simple creative station where everyone can make something small to take home: painted ornaments, friendship bracelets, or decorated cookies. This is especially nice for families with a large age range, because everyone can get involved and help. 

Create a collaborative playlist. Choose a fun theme and ask everyone to add their favourite 2-3 songs to the playlist. Then play it while you prep for dinner or play games. 

Whatever you decide to do, the key is choosing something that genuinely excites you, not something you think you should do. Your enthusiasm will be contagious, and that authentic energy is what transforms a simple activity into a cherished memory.

The Permission to Experiment

Here's the thing about trying something new with family: It might flop. The game might be confusing. The recipe might turn out terrible. The craft might look like a Pinterest fail. And that's perfectly okay. Sometimes the "failures" become the most treasured memories.

The goal isn't perfection; it's presence. It's showing up with intentionality and having fun, even when the plans don’t work out like you hoped.

Small Gestures, Big Impact

The magic of Christmas doesn't live in the size of the gesture or gift; it lives in the thoughtfulness behind it. Sometimes the most meaningful moments come from the smallest additions.

Last year, Danielle’s niece was so excited to give her a gift for the first time. She’d picked it out herself at a local market—a lovely smelling bar of rainbow soap— and wrapped it with her mom’s help. It was by far the most treasured gift (and moment) of the holiday season.

Here are a few ideas to help you make small gestures that matter: 

Write actual notes. In our text-heavy world, a handwritten note feels extraordinary. Slip a small note into each person's stocking sharing one specific thing you love about them, or one favourite memory from the year.

Start a new photo tradition. Instead of the typical posed family photo, try something that captures your family's personality—everyone jumping, making silly faces, or recreating a photo from years past. The laughter during the process often matters more than the perfect shot.

Give back to the community as a family. As the holidays near, put together a hamper for a family in need and drop it off as a group. You can even have different people assigned to buy different items, like a specific gift for a child of a certain age.

Making It Your Own

The most beautiful part about creating new Christmas traditions is that they become uniquely yours. Five years from now, your family won't remember the expensive gifts or the perfectly set table. They'll remember the year you introduced that ridiculous card game, or the Christmas cookies that looked more like monsters than reindeer, or the spontaneous dance party in the kitchen while dinner was cooking.

These moments become part of your family's story.

The Invitation

So here's your invitation: What small spark of magic could you bring to your Christmas celebration this year? What would it look like to honour your family's unique rhythm while adding one small element that creates connection?

Remember, you can be the spark in your family. Try something that feels authentic to you and the people you're celebrating with and see how it feels.