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39 Examples Of The Strangest Family Traditions That Ever Existed, Shared By Netizens
Every family has its little quirks, the traditions that make gatherings feel familiar, holidays feel special, and childhood memories just a bit more colorful. Some families always eat the same meal on a certain day, others have oddly specific birthday rituals, and a few have traditions that make perfect sense at home, but sound surprisingly unique once you describe them to someone else.
When someone asked folks online to share their most unique family traditions, the responses ranged from heartwarming yearly rituals to quirky little habits that no one else seems to have. And, of course, we’ve rounded up the most creative, interesting, and wholesome traditions to give you a peek into the many ways families make their own special rules, and memories, along the way.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Every year I take my grandma to a wildly inappropriate movie. It started back in '08 with Step Brothers. The year after that was Inglorious Basterds. Last year it was Deadpool 2.
My grandma just turned 85. Loves every movie we go to.
Rick Murray 15 minutes ago
Don't judge by age. When I was working in nursing homes, there was one sweet old dear that had a bookshelf of VHS tapes and they were ALL horror movies. Some pretty hardcore stuff too, think Hellraiser, Brain Dead, Scanners, and The Exorcist rather than "merely scary". And you could talk to her about them. She loved horror flicks, the gorier the better - but it had to have a coherent plot, not just be nasty for the sake of it. It's justified, such movies are so much better when there's an actual story to be told.
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#2
At Christmas we have a bare foot race around the house and the finishing order is the order we open presents in.
It was fun when there was only 6 of us, but now that there's 20 it's a freaking blast.
#3
In my family when someone gets pregnant the majority of control of who names the child goes to the opposite gender of the baby, so if it’s a boy, the mom gets majority choice and if it’s a girl the dad gets the majority choice.
Obviously they have to agree on the name but the choosing and brainstorming is really left to that one parent, it’s an odd tradition imo.
Family traditions do more than just mark special occasions, they actively shape the way families connect, communicate, and grow together. According to BetterUp, spending quality time with family is essential for both social and overall well-being.
One of the most effective ways to strengthen these bonds is through family traditions such as regular activities or rituals that reflect a family’s values, interests, or beliefs. These practices not only create a sense of identity and belonging within the family but can also be passed down through generations, forming a unique family culture.
#4
This is just mine, but every time I come in the door I yell "PIP PIP!!!" To adress my bird (who's name is Pip) and he chirps back
Happy cake day!
#5
Every time my sister brought a new boyfriend to our home, our granny walked up to him without saying a word and was holding his head between her hands while looking him straight in the eyes for one whole minute. Without talking or even smiling. I've seen a lot of guys who started to freak out by this tradition. After that minute she just went away and treated them like nothing happened.
#6
I won a yoghurt making machine at a bingo once, about 25 years ago. We gifted it to someone who returned it as a gift for my moms birthday about a year later and that’s how the yoghurt-maker-as-a-boomerang-gift tradition was born. Birthdays, weddings, graduations, whatever the occassion! Sometimes we forget who got it last and it pops up as a surprise for some type of celebration or anniversary. The box has never been opened, but we wrap it in different sized boxes now so the shape doesn’t give it away. My brother’s in-laws have been added to the family tradition too and received the yoghurt maker for their 40-something wedding anniversary. They loved the joke but their family, who weren’t in on the thing, thought we were really weird and cheap for getting them such a terrible gift. The funny thing is that we are all somewhat attached to the stupid thing now, that once my parents house suffered damage by a fire once, my brother and I, on separate occassions, both asked if the yoghurt maker survived. Weird but lovely tradition!
These rituals can be both creative and playful, offering families ways to make holidays their own. Jen Hatmaker, author and speaker, highlights how families infuse personal twists into common celebrations. For example, during Christmas, some decorate trees together, while some serve meatballs and wine for Santa, and even set extra place settings for religious figures.
Other traditions include staggering gifts throughout December, blending cultural meals, or hosting talent shows and cookie bake-offs. These playful, highly personal show how traditions thrive when families make them reflective of their personality and values, especially if they don't make sense to others.
#7
My family eats thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday then watches movies on thanksgiving day. Started as us avoiding relatives.
#8
Every time a member of the close family goes away on vacation, they have to bring corn back from the place they visited. On the cob, raw, baked, doesn't matter.
#9
If a cat is sitting in your lap, you do not have to get up for anything. Need a drink or snack? Someone will bring it to you. Phone or remote just out of reach? Someone will hand it to you. Do not disturb this magical bonding.
According to Sam Goldstein, pediatric neuropsychologist, many family traditions may seem odd or quirky to outsiders, but their uniqueness is often what makes them meaningful. These hyper-personal rituals thrive when they are rooted in positivity, mutual consent, and emotional support.
That is, what might appear "weird" is usually a family’s creative way of expressing love, belonging, and connection. As long as everyone feels safe and included, these personal traditions can be powerful tools for nurturing bonds and creating lasting memories. Goldstein’s insights highlight that the unusual or playful aspects of family rituals are often what make them most special.
#10
At family weddings we have this weird tradition of getting hold of the groom, flipping him upside down, and pouring dry rice down his legs. It started out as some good natured fun, and then just became a tradition. At my own wedding it was a fun bonding experience for my brother and future brother-in-law, they apparently went to the store together and picked out the biggest bag of rice they could find and easily conceal. So, yeah, we do that. My own brother still isn't married yet, he's been engaged for 20 years. I'm biding my time for revenge.
#11
After we would eat dinner, everyone besides my mother would try to shoot our balled up dirty napkins into each other’s drinks. Always had to be ready to play defense. Dunks were fair game. Bonus points if you made it in someones drink without them noticing, and they took a sip.
#12
Every Easter my family plays the Amazing Race. We get new teams each year and have an hour to run around the town completing tasks and then make it back to my grandma's house in time! Some things from past years have been "Take a penny from the fountain in the mall." "Take a picture with a person on a bike." "20 bonus points for finding a purple house." Etc...
It gets really crazy zooming around town and super fun!
Finally, research from Psychology Today underscores the broader benefits of family rituals. By providing dependable routines amidst daily troubles or frustrations, these practices bring about emotional security, strengthen trust, and promote mental well-being.
They further explain that these traditions encourage reciprocity and connection, often releasing oxytocin and turning routine moments into lasting relational anchors. When maintained across generations, they create a sense of unity and reduce isolation, highlighting why these practices, whether quirky, creative, or simple, remain essential to family life.
#13
At my Mom's, for Christmas we cook each others favorite foods instead of a traditional dinner. She has a huge kitchen and we all love to cook.
For example, I made pulled pork sandwiches and baked beans for my Mom. Then a steak, asparagus and mashed potatoes for my stepdad. They made me fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and yeast rolls. They made my husband a bacon cheeseburger and fries.
We always end up with a wide variety of food. We spend all afternoon cooking and drinking together, then we exchange gifts after dinner. It's fun.
#14
For birthdays, we have to get the person a helium balloon and have a few minutes where they suck the helium out and sing My Heart Will Go On while we film it.
I have no idea how or when it started, but we’ve been doing it since I was about 15 and I’ll be 25 this year...
#15
When it's your birthday, you can't talk while eating your first slice of cake. Everyone else can talk, and you can talk if you get a second slice, but you have to be quiet the entire time you're eating the first one.
Naturally, it's your family's duty to try and get you to mess up the entire time you're eating. Most of the time, they don't succeed (people are not good at manipulation in my family), but I forgot one year and tripped up, and I got my mom one time by asking her about an upcoming family event, which was innocuous enough she didn't realize what I was up to.
At the heart of these family traditions, it’s clear that what makes them special isn’t how extravagant or unusual they are, but the meaning and memories behind them. Whether it’s a quirky holiday ritual, a yearly camping trip, or a simple dinner routine that’s been repeated for decades, these habits show how families carve out their own little worlds of connection and joy.
Some families focus on creativity and fun, others on preserving heritage, and a few just love making every day a little more memorable in their own way. Curious to see how these traditions compare to your own family’s habits? Keep reading to explore the most unique, heartwarming, and unforgettable family traditions, and maybe even get inspired to start a new one of your own!
#16
On Easter my whole entire family comes to my grandma's house and we dye eggs. Once everyone has about about a dozen eggs we do a tournament with the eggs! We have a family member take their best egg, then we have another family member take their best egg, and they go against one another to see who has the strongest egg! To do this they hit their eggs against each other and whose ever egg gets cracked first loses. We do this with everyone until we have a winner.
#17
Announcing pregnancies has to be done in person.
Also not necessarily a tradition but everyone of the grandchildren have a distinct birthmark somewhere on the body. Mine is right where you'd expect.
#18
Happy cake day!!
Every year for Christmas my Nan gets me a big bag of useless and strange presents mixed with useful stuff.
It started as a genuine attempt to make a nice bag of gifts for all her grandchildren but the contents where odd and it got progressively weirder as the years went on.
First year (I was 16) was a mixture of socks, colouring pencils, a Spider-Man notebook and Spider-Man calendar, chocolates, and........a Halloween decoration of a cackling witch, this, along with my siblings gifts, prompted the hilarity of the tradition.
If I remember correctly, one year I got a bmw key ring, (I don’t have a bmw) a dinosaur building kit for 3+ year olds (I secretly loved it) a bright orange t-shirt with mini mouse on it (I’m a boy) a collection of travel books for places I’ve never been nor plan on visiting, but this year I got, socks, shower gels, chocolates, some weird golf balls by a car manufacturer, a bag of tee pegs for golf, and some other golfing things which are Disney themed, but best of all...... a single fitted sheet. Not a cover.....a fitted sheet for the mattress, I also don’t have a single bed.
Before you think she’s got some sort of mental problem from old age, she honestly finds it hilarious and laughs hysterically when we’re opening them.
#19
We all get together on Christmas eve and take shots of vodka every time the dude on the fireplace channel stokes the fire or changes the log.
#20
An annual Hindu ceremony to commemorate your late parent when you basically chant a whole bunch of prayers and place mounds of rice on a rooftop that the crows are supposed to eat and fly up to the heavens and give it to your lost relatives.
It happens on the same day when the constellations are in the same position but not necessarily on the same date every year.
#21
Frying turkeys. Every year on the day before Thanksgiving,my great uncle and I get anywhere between 6-12 turkeys for the various branches of the family and a few families in need. Its great fun and I plan to take the tradition over once my uncle can no longer it as he's quite old and has various health problems. I just hope I can keep up his level of flavor and quality.
#22
When the year shifts on New Years Eve, my family and I bang on pots with wooden spoons on our front porch. Something my dad used to do with his family on New Years. Our neighbors love it, I'm sure.
#23
During family gatherings, all the males in the family play the game of who can wolf down about 3 pounds of fried chicken in one sitting. My cousin wins every time (he's a competitive eater).
Protip: never challenge a professional eater.
#24
On New Year's, we have a list of rituals we have to do in the first minute.
From 12:00am to 12:01am, you get a choice of what to do, with different effects for the rest of the year:
-Put on red underwear = love in the new year.
-Throw lentils out your front door, and then pick them up = money in the new year. The more lentils you pick up, the more money
-Sweeping outwards from your front door = Good luck/Cleansing in the new year
-Fill a glass with grapes and wine/cider = One wish per grape consumed
-Grab your suitcase, and dash out the door and back. = Travel in the new year. The farther you go, the farther/more you travel.
I don't know if it original, but I haven't met anyone else who has done it.
If anyone has more suggestions for more, let me know.
#25
We watch the Princess Bride every Thanksgiving. Not sure how it started. But I’ve seen that movie over 30 times and it’s still fun every time.
#26
Every Christmas Eve my family gathers and we watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Such a funny movie and every year we find new things about it that we didn't see the year before.
#27
We don’t have funerals.
After we lose someone, we throw a huge party. Get drunk, eat a lot of good food (no widow casseroles allowed) tell stories and celebrate life.
We just think it’s morbid to allow the last memory we have of someone to be a body in a box at a somber event.
#28
When it's a family members birthday and somebody brought a boyfriend/girlfriend to family dinner we all sing happy birthday off tune and at slightly different speeds. So one person ends then 3 seconds later the last person ends. My uncle normally ends it with "happy birthday to yooooooouuuu" except the you sounds like a howling wolf going through puberty.
#29
Every leap day, Feb. 29th, my wife and I sleep on each other's side of the bed.
Awwwww! You know what day it is!
#31
Whenever we have a family get together, people bring 'pass arounds' which are awful tasting drinks that everyone tries and passes to the next person. Started as a joke, but now it is a challenge to find the worst pass around.
#32
We have a naming convention that at least one son each generation is named based on both his grandfather's names. My first name is the middle name of one of my grandfathers, and my middle name is the other one's first name, and my dad is named the same way based on his grandparents.
#33
At Christmas we get gifts from "Thermoman"
Thermoman is a character from a Brit-Com "My Hero" who is a superhero but because he is from an alien planet, he really doesn't understand earth culture and proper behaviour. When he learns about Santa he decides to give all his friends and relatives presents from "Santa" to cheer them up. Only it backfires and they all get mad at each other because no one will admit they bought the presents.
We watch this episode every Christmas and whenever someone wants to get themselves a present or get something ridiculous, it get put under the tree as "From Thermoman"
We also celebrate the Christmas Elephant, but that's another story.
#34
Mom had her upholstered living room furniture covered in clear plastic so she could "Windex" it when company was coming.
*Enjoy your cake day, OP!*.
#35
We don’t exchange Christmas gifts in my immediate family any more. Us three kids are in our 30’s and comfortable. The nieces and nephews and child aged cousins still get gifts. Then we take all the money we saved by not buying each other Christmas gifts and go on a big family vacation in May. It’s been our tradition 4 years running, and I prefer it. I’d take a week of quality time somewhere nice over a bunch of gift cards any day.
#36
Every couple of years we do our own version of the Amazing Race, called the Am*asian* Race (I know). All of my cousins and I get split up into teams of 4-5 people (big family) and race each other to complete a series of challenges at key locations spread throughout a city-wide area, which are usually manned by my aunts and uncles / people who don't want to play. One year we had to "rappel" down a wall and wade around in a creek to look for "treasure". Successful completion of each challenge earns you a clue about the location of the next challenge, just like in the show. You can even earn sabotage items like detours and roadblocks to use against other teams, and it gets pretty funny when everyone messes with the team in first place. The first team to complete all the challenges and make it to the finish line gets a prize, usually Starbucks gift cards, but more importantly bragging rights until the next year. This is all orchestrated by one of my uncles, who also has a full time job and 3 small kids, so I'm not sure where he finds the time.
This started out small but has grown to become a pretty big deal in my family. Last year we were sent video clues the whole month before the race which would "self-destruct" if you didn't watch or download them in time (i.e. before my uncle deleted them from youtube). One of the videos had a morse code sequence you had to solve to get GPS coordinates for the location of the second challenge. This is my go-to story to tell at parties, and I've gotten a lot of requests from people to join my family.
#37
When I was a kid, my Dad would always take the doorknob off the living room door at Christmas so we wouldn't get in there early (not that we ever tried) and hide it. The start of every Christmas morning involved "the hunt for the doorknob" which "Father Christmas takes off every year". That tradition stopped by the time I was 6 and worked out it was always in my Dad's coat pocket!
We also have this thing where every year we *have* to pick a horse in a Grand National. Despite none of us giving a darn about horse racing and nobody caring if their chosen horse wins. They've even got my 2 year old niece to pick a horse! I really don't know why this is a thing!
#38
When we have a tiny bit of cheese left we fry it in a pan.
I haven’t seen any other household do it tho.
#39
Everytime a family member would come home from overseas or university etc, we would put a yellow ribbon around our tree as a welcome home sign.
#40
It's my mother's birthday tomorrow. She would have been 78. I will make a special meal (lamb and veg). Probably won't make a cake this time as I made one over the weekend, so I have (carrot!) cake ready.
And I'll just remember good times we had together.
This'll be the 7th year.
The weird part? *My* birthday is a total non-event.
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