I love Christmas ornaments—the way they collect memories, the joy of finding or making the perfect one, and the comfort of unpacking the same decorations year after year. Over time I’ve turned that fondness into small traditions and gift exchanges with family and friends. Ornaments are personal, affordable, and often handmade, which makes them ideal keepsakes and perfect for starting new holiday rituals.
If you’re thinking of beginning an ornament tradition with your household or circle of friends, here are several ideas that have worked for me and others. Each idea is simple, meaningful, and easy to adapt to your own style.
Start an Ornament Collection for Your Child
One of my favorite traditions is giving our son a new ornament every year. We choose ornaments that reflect something he loved that year and write the year on the bottom. The idea is to build a meaningful, personal collection he can take with him someday. In the meantime, he has a small tree in his room that we decorate together each year with those ornaments—it’s a simple ritual that becomes more sentimental with time.
Make an Ornament of Your Child’s Halloween Costume
This idea ties two holidays together in such a sweet way. Each year, make or buy an ornament inspired by your child’s Halloween costume. It keeps that Halloween magic alive through the season and adds another layer of memory to your tree.
Pictured above: a donut ornament project you can try at home.
Buy an Ornament at the Same Place Each Year
If your family has a special place you visit regularly—a theme park, a beach town, a museum—consider buying one ornament there each year. We pick an ornament during our holiday visits to a favorite destination and write the year on it. Over time, the set becomes a collection of memories tied to a place you love.
Themed Ornaments
If you have space for an extra tree, dedicate it to a theme and add one themed ornament each year. Themes make decorating fun and cohesive. Some theme ideas:
- Food-themed ornaments
- Location or travel-themed ornaments
- Color-coordinated ornaments
- Disney-themed ornaments
- Hobby-themed ornaments
- Vintage-themed ornaments (consider collecting authentic vintage glass pieces)
Pictured above: a candy ornament project you can recreate.
Bring Home an Ornament from Your Travels
Many people make it a habit to buy an ornament whenever they visit a new place. A tree decorated with ornaments from different destinations becomes a visual travel diary—each piece brings back a memory of the trip and the people who were there. Some of my favorite ornaments were passed down from relatives who collected them while traveling.
Exchange an Ornament with a Partner or Friend
An ornament exchange is a simple, meaningful gift tradition. My first exchange was with my husband, and now I do one with my best friend. You can exchange based on personal tastes, milestones, or shared memories. It removes the pressure of gift-buying and guarantees a thoughtful, sentimental keepsake.
For one exchange I gave a custom ornament of my husband’s childhood home—small, personalized gestures like that become cherished heirlooms.
Theme Your Ornament Exchange
To keep exchanges fresh, pick a new theme each year. Setting a theme—color palette, material, era, or subject—adds a fun challenge and helps everyone focus their search when choosing an ornament for someone else.
Send an Ornament-Gram
Ornament-grams are a lovely way to share homemade joy. Make simple ornaments with your kids and mail them to family, friends, or colleagues. It’s a small, festive surprise that recipients can add to their own collection—and it’s a great December craft project to do together.
Pictured above: popsicle stick gingerbread house ornaments as a DIY example.
DIY Ornament Ideas
Making your own ornaments is rewarding and lets you tailor each piece to your family’s personality. Try projects inspired by favorite snacks, animals, holiday characters, or miniature scenes. Handmade ornaments become even more special when they mark a memory or a year.
- Circus animal cookie-style ornaments
- Popsicle stick gingerbread houses
- Rudolph or reindeer ornaments
- French fries or other playful food ornaments
- Junk food-inspired ornaments for a whimsical tree
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Ornament traditions are flexible and meaningful—whether you buy, swap, or craft them. They create a tangible timeline of memories you can revisit each holiday season. Do you have any ornament traditions in your family? I’d love to hear about them.