Fabulous Fall Family Traditions

"Family traditions...help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world."
SUSAN LIEBERMAN, New Traditions


*When I was in elementary school we had a copy of The Mouse On The Mayflower and every year my teacher would ask me to bring it for the class to watch and we would have a movie day, that's one of my favorite fall memories!

*My parents had a square of dirt in their yard where a garage was planned to be built and on the nights it was going to freeze, dad would run the garden hose into the dirt which was several inches lower than the grass around it, and the water would freeze. The next day we'd put on our ice skates and go to bed that night with sore behinds from all of the falling, but it's a great memory.

*Growing up we had a HUGE garden. Summer it was torture to be out in the heat, weeding the squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and every other garden plant known to man. But when Autumn rolled around and it was canning season, we really got a feel for what our hard work had produced. It was always fun to eat the fruits and vegetables during the cold winter months that we had helped grow and can.

Other Ideas For Fabulous Fall Family Traditions:
*Hot chocolate, apple cider, or wassel with homemade doughnuts. This could be a great Family Night activity and could be combined with a movie or game night.

*City activities-some cities have Fall Festivals, Scarecrow competitions, Halloween Costume Contests, and other Harvest-time activities. Find out what's going on near you and start a new family tradition.

*We had so much fun going to the apple orchard last week, it could easily become a family tradition. When you get the apples home make caramel apples!

*Visit a Pumpkin Patch and have a family night with pumpkin carving/painting.


*On October 1st gather the family around and watch Halloween classics. Click here for ideas.

*Rake leaves at home or for an elderly neighbor.

*Roast marshmallows in the fireplace.

*Go to a Corn Maze.

*Make Halloween Sugar Cookies

*Go for a Hay Ride

*Bobbing for apples or tie a doughnut on a string and hang it up high. Have a contest to see who can eat the doughnut the fastest with their hands behind their back.

*Thankful Thanksgiving-before the holiday feast, go around the table and give everyone a chance to say what they are thankful for.

*Watching seasonal videos like 'It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' and 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'. Growing up, we always looked forward to the Peanuts Specials.


What are your favorite Fall Family Traditions that you remember from your childhood or that you've started with your own family?