Tips for Family Traditions

Creating Family Traditions

There is no time like the present to start new, or celebrate long-standing family traditions. From cooking to storytelling, traditions come in many forms yet hold tremendous personal significance. Smucker's® offers a few simple ways to building new, lasting memories with your loved ones:

• Schedule a family baking day

  Help ensure that your tried and true family recipes will continue on for many generations. Invite loved ones to meet at a central place and each bring a favorite recipe with all of the ingredients and cook together. Best of all, everyone goes home with a goodie bag of the baked treats!

• Build an online 'fam site'

  Get everyone involved in building and contributing to a family web page or blog that highlights recent get-togethers, news, photos and favorite recipes. The site provides a way to connect with and keep long-distance relatives up-to-date and involved year-round.

• Host annual reunions

  Gather close and distant family members for an enjoyable day of reminiscing, sharing photos, cooking and eating together. Use this time to gather and swap favorite family recipes and stories. Take a look at Smucker's tips for planning and hosting a family reunion.

• Create themed family meal nights

  Identify one night each week to transport the family to another part of the world — without having to leave the dining room. From France to Italy to Greece to Thailand, there are countless meal options waiting to be explored. Help set the mood by playing authentic music, hanging decorations, and learning some foreign phrases. Bon appétit!

• Declare a monthly 'family day'

  Set aside the first Saturday or Sunday of every month to spend time together. Whether it is a low-key day at home, or taking a trip to the local zoo, 'family day' lets everyone unwind and create lasting memories.

• Make movie magic

  Hold monthly movie nights for friends and family and catch up on the latest blockbusters or old classics. Pull together a delicious meal, ice cream sundaes or movie snacks, and schedule intermissions to discuss the movie.

• Initiate mealtime conversations

  Ask each family member or guest to write down five questions and place them all into one bowl or hat. Everyone can take turns asking and answering questions like What makes a family? or Where is your favorite place? Visit www.poweroffamilymeals.com for a list of conversation starters and let the fun begin!