Holiday Family Traditions, from Heartwarming to Hilarious

Ready or not, the holidays are coming, along with endless opportunities to create magical memories. Get together with loved ones to celebrate the season by bringing old traditions back to life, or starting new ones. Traditions are like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike.

Traditions you can make your own

• Paint handprints or notes on a keepsake tablecloth your family uses only for Thanksgiving.
• Crank up the carols when it’s time to bake the cookies and dance around like whirling elves -- make extras and give them as gifts.
• Hide the pickle ornament Christmas morning (a wonderful German tradition) -- finder gets a special gift and luck to last all year (Item #279579, $6.97).
• Tuck heartfelt letters or treasured recipes into each stocking.
• Give each child an ornament commemorating their special event or interest every year (French Horn ornament (Item #311163, $2.97); present the collection at a momentous event when they’re grown.
• Trim a half-inch-thick slice from the bottom of your live Christmas tree each year and drill a small hole, inscribe the year and lacquer it. Lace leftover gift wrap ribbon through the hole for an unforgettable hand-made ornament.
• Allergic to live Christmas trees? No worries. Decorate it with Lowe’s Holiday Living 50-Pack Multi Shatterproof Christmas Ornaments and display it outside in your yard or balcony so you can see it through your window and share the décor with your neighbors (Item #279921, $19.97).
• Every Christmas, snap a picture of your favorite bed heads just as they awaken.

More Creative Ideas

Interested in more ways to get those holiday festivities going? Making your own gifts for family and friends? Find inspiration and helpful how-to information at LowesCreativeIdeas.com/Holiday. You can learn how to create your own holiday décor including a Star of David wreath, complete a holiday living room makeover, make your own Kwanzaa candle holders or make a handy gift wrap station. If you’re looking to wrap up something different, LowesCreativeIdeas.com/Holiday will help your gift stand out from the Christmas crowd. Log on to learn how to make rosemary planters and canned goodies.

Children also enjoy creating their own presents. Take some time out to bring them to Build and Grow clinics at Lowe’s stores nationwide. They can make grandma and grandpa a special gift, including a snowman, gingerbread house or ornament. These go perfectly with a Lowe’s Gift Card. For scheduled clinics, visit LowesBuildandGrow.com. If the kids prefer to make something at home, order up some fun at Lowes.com/kidskits.

Get Santa-safe advice and learn from the experts by checking out how-to videos and more at Lowes.com and LowesCreativeIdeas.com/style, Become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/LowesCreativeIdeas.

About Lowe’s

With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,700 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.