11 Holiday Traditions to Start With Your Friends

Who doesn't love a good themed party? Your annual ugly sweater Christmas party will be everyone's favorite when you add a strict dress code of the ugliest sweaters your guests can find. Make it fun by awarding a prize to the ugliest sweater.

And if you're not much of a partier, host it on a smaller scale with just your closest friends. Make it a movie night with hot cocoa and junk food!

Grab your best friends and head to the mall for a day of shopping and snacking. You can help each other find gifts for everyone on your lists and top it all off with a fun dinner out.

Giving gifts is a traditional part of the holidays. Make it a Secret Santa with a small budget so no one goes broke, and encourage your friends to wear their favorite holiday pajamas to make it more casual and fun.

Many towns have an annual event to light their Christmas tree. A lot of people go when they're kids and not so much as adults, so why not bring that tradition back with just your friends? Grab hot chocolate and cookies, bundle up, and bring your camera to capture the special night. Bonus points if you start a trend by singing a few Christmas songs.

Hit up Broadway or find a great local theater that's playing traditional holiday-themed shows like The Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol. It'll be a fun night out that you look forward to all year.

Who says cookouts are only for the Summer? Depending on where you live, it could still be very mild outside during the Winter months, which is perfect for a little outdoor party. And if it's snowing, well, how often do you get to enjoy a Wintery cookout? Embrace it, and it will turn into some of the most amazing memories.

Whether you host it or attend at someone else's place, Friendsgiving has become a beloved tradition over the years. Have everyone bring their favorite homemade dish and relax while sharing some good food, delicious drinks, and lasting memories with your closest friends!

While most families spend eight straight nights together for Hanukkah, you and your friends can create your own version of this Jewish tradition. Light the menorah, exchange gifts, and share stories. However you celebrate, this will be a Hanukkah tradition to remember year after year.

Do a quick search to find out where there's a local opportunity to volunteer with your group of friends. You'll make a difference while you're making memories together, and that's a win-win.

Instead of venturing out in the cold only to deal with long wait times, have everyone over instead for a fun brunch! Ask everyone to bring a dish and chill the champagne for those mimosas. You can sit around and talk about the year that's passed and even schedule your annual traditions for the New Year.