The One Sweet (and Slightly Sticky) Holiday Memory I Can’t Forget
You know the one. That quirky, slightly chaotic, oddly specific tradition that your family does every holiday season? The one that no one else seems to do, but for you, it screams “home”?
For me, that memory is dates. Yep… sticky, sugary dates. When I was a kid, my mom would hand me the very “important” job of splitting dates, stuffing them with peanut butter, and rolling them in sugar for our family gatherings. That was it! That was the standout holiday tradition I remember most. Not cookie decorating or big tree-cutting excursions… just me, peanut butter, and a mountain of sticky dates. (If your family did this too, please let me know I’m not alone in this very specific childhood ritual!)
Of course, there was also the classic “Can we open just ONE gift on Christmas Eve? Please, please, please?” moment. Every year, my dad would give in, only to hand us a gift meticulously wrapped… only to reveal socks or underwear. And every year, he’d pretend it was a mix-up. Classic dad move. Still gets me every time!
Looking back, I wish there were more photos of those moments. Not perfectly poised ones, just those real, candid scenes that made our family… well, us. That’s why I make it a mission now, not just as a mom but as a Southern Maine family photographer, to remind parents and grandparents: those beautifully ordinary traditions? They’re worth remembering.
But Our Holiday Traditions Aren’t ‘Photo-Worthy’… Or Are They?
Here’s something I hear often from the incredible moms and grandmas I photograph: “We don’t have any special traditions” or “Our holiday celebrations are kind of boring.” Friend. Let me stop you right there.
If peanut butter-stuffed dates can be my core Christmas memory, trust me when I say YOUR family traditions deserve some love and attention with the camera. Because 10, 20, 30 years from now, it won’t be the matching pajamas or curated charcuterie boards we’ll be yearning to see. It’ll be:
- That lopsided gingerbread house your toddler insisted on decorating solo
- The way your son always hangs the same handmade ornament in the same spot
- The chaos of everyone in the kitchen before the big dinner
- Grandma’s laugh as she pours the whipped cream way too generously on cocoa
Every family’s tradition is meaningful because it’s yours. And these fleeting, delightfully imperfect moments are what I love most to photograph.
Capturing Holiday Traditions with Meaning (and Some Marshmallows)
Let’s talk about how to actually photograph these moments or what to consider if you’re bringing in someone like me to help capture them for you.
1. Choose the Tradition That Feels Like “Home”
It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. In fact, please don’t try to make it that! Think about that one thing your family always does (or something you’d like to start doing) each holiday season:
- Baking cookies with grandma
- Cutting down your tree at the local tree farm
- Ice skating in the backyard (bonus points for snuggles with cocoa after)
- The crazy Yankee Swap (White Elephant) where everyone battles for the best gift
- Hanging ornaments while blasting “All I Want for Christmas Is You” on repeat
If it’s special to you, it’s worth preserving.
2. Embrace the Chaos, Mess, and Giggles
Trust me on this: the cracked cookies, flour-dusted noses, tangled lights, and not-so-glamorous pajamas? That’s what makes a photo feel like a memory, not a pose. Don’t wait for things to be “just right.” Life isn’t perfect, but it is full of love.
Expect the toddler meltdowns, the clumsy ornament hanging, the surprise T-Rex reenactment mid-photo (true story from my own kid!). I promise, those are the photos you’ll cherish later.
3. Invite Everyone Into the Frame (Even You!)
Have you ever realized you’re not in any of the photos because you’re always the one taking them? Been there. As moms and grandmas, we tend to “opt out” of being seen because we’re not wearing makeup or the house is a mess. But here’s the thing:
Your people want to remember YOU.
So whether you’re setting a tripod, handing off your phone, or booking someone like me to help you stay worry-free… be in the frame. Hot cocoa in hand, mismatching socks and all.
4. Don’t Wait to Capture “The Last Time”
This one is close to my heart.
We never really know when something will be the last time. The last sled ride down the backyard hill. The last ornament hung by your oldest before they go off on their own adventures. The last peanut butter-date pyramid.
Waiting for the “perfect” year to take photos of your traditions could mean missing the chance altogether. So don’t wait. Snap the silly + sweet stuff, and let your photos become gentle little time machines.
Why This Matters More Than You’ll Ever Realize
Here’s the thing I wish more parents and grandparents knew: It’s not about creating a photo-worthy moment. It’s about keeping the emotions, the connections, the love… alive in a way that your phone’s camera roll just can’t quite do justice.
Photos of real moments become windows we revisit over and over. They bring comfort when people we love are gone. They make us laugh ourselves silly decades later over something small and wild and so deeply special.
So if your tradition is rolling sugary dates or faking surprise over socks on Christmas Eve… get it in a photo. Not just for Instagram, but for your family story.
Want Help Documenting Something Special This Season?
If you’re heading to Southern Maine (or your family is coming here) this winter or you just want to capture a treasured holiday family tradition during vacation, I’d love to tag along (with laughter, hot cocoa, and no pressure included). Whether we’re baking, tree-trimming, or just soaking in that wild and loving family chaos, I’m here to make it feel easy – and special.
Reach out via my contact form and let’s talk about what makes your family you. Socks, sticky dates, T-Rex costumes… it’s all welcome here.
*sarah
Sarah Jane Photography
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