What Holiday Traditions Bring Families Together at Christmas?

At Garman, we talk a lot about joyfully built homes, but this season, we’re celebrating the joy built inside them. Our team shared their favorite family traditions, and honestly? I had the best time reading about how so many share their holidays with loved ones.

Here’s a peek into the rituals, big and small, that light up our team's holidays.

Tim Hinton - Construction Manager Allen Park - Christmas Eve Sushi, A Tradition Built From Scratch

Some traditions are inherited. Others you make from the ground up.

When Tim and his wife spent their first Christmas Eve away from family, they found themselves as newlyweds in a tiny, brand-new sushi restaurant run by hopeful owners with big dreams. A quiet dinner with an empty restaurant turned into a tradition… and over the years, that tradition turned into something much bigger. Friends joined. Family joined when they could. Kids arrived. The restaurant flourished and so did the connection between Tim’s family and the owners. Now both families come together and this has become one of the most cherished holiday traditions between them all.

Diane Masinick - Sales Ambassador Wendell Falls - Tree Trimming Party

Diane's family makes a party out of trimming the tree and thus far even her adult children living farther away have been able to partake. They put up the tree, she puts on the lights and then they trim the tree as a family while enjoying fun and tasty things like Christmas cookies (the kids like to bake the ones from the store that have Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph on them), Christmas wrapped candy (small candy bars and M&Ms), hot chocolate, egg nog, and other Christmas themed snacks. Since the kids are now grown, the hot chocolate and eggnog may have received an upgrade to an adult beverage. LOL.

Adair Preston - Sales Ambassador Wendell Falls - Kids vs. Parents Gingerbread House Showdown

At Adair's house it's gingerbread house decorating, but make it competitive. Parents vs. kids. The holidays may be about peace on earth, but in this house winner takes all. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right?

Cameron Medlin - Vice President of Sales - “Our Year in Ornaments” Tradition

Every year, everyone in the family picks a new ornament that celebrates something meaningful from the past 12 months. Marathon medals? Check. Paw Patrol era? Absolutely. All-Star baseball? Yep. Elsa and Anna forever? Her daughter insists. Video games and K-Pop Demon Hunters? Of course. Their tree basically doubles as a family scrapbook. We are totally here for it!

Emily Bosman - Land Acquisitions Manager - Annual "In the Pines" Photo

For Emily, the holidays start with the hunt for the perfect real Christmas tree and one very important photo. Every year since her son could walk, she snaps a picture of him tucked between the Christmas trees. It’s a tradition that’s growing right alongside him. (Also: please tell us she recreates the toddler versions. We need that joy.)

Chad Kauffman - Warranty Manager - Thrift Store Gifting and Legendary Holiday Lights

Chad’s family has not one, but two standout traditions.

First, they hit local thrift stores with each person hunting for fun, quirky gifts for the others. Second? The lights. Oh, the lights. Chad’s grandfather started the tradition, and his middle son has helped every year since he was little. With graduation coming up, this is his last year assisting, so of course, they are going to go big or go home! Chad we think Clark Griswold would approve.

Rebecca McAdoo - Chief Executive Officer - Top of the Stairs Tradition

Every Christmas morning, Rebecca has her kids sit at the top of the stairs while she records a video. There is no peeking to see if Santa came until the camera rolls. Even now that they are getting older, the rule still stands. I love the beautiful memories she will have for years to come!

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