When you were growing up, what did your family do at Christmas, Hanukkah, or other holidays? How did you celebrate birthdays? Did family meals begin with a prayer, or did you do something special in the summers? Starting a family often makes couples think about the rituals they grew up with, and how they can create their own. Even if your baby doesn't completely understand or appreciate them yet, repeating those rituals will contribute to a feeling of security, togetherness, and family pride.
Don't feel like you have to choose among the rituals you and your partner's families observed when you were growing up, especially if you'd have to choose one family's cherished tradition over the other's. Building rituals can be more meaningful if you come up with original ideas or personalize existing ones. Try thinking about activities your family enjoys and create rituals related to them.
Rituals can be small and frequent, like reading a book at bedtime or taking the dog for a walk after dinner. Or they can revolve around holidays and special events. Be careful when it comes to holidays, though – your baby may become overstimulated and anxious with all the decorations and activity, so make sure you build in ample time for him or her to take a break and relax.