4 Ways to Create Meaningful Traditions in a Glass Jar

We read about various simple traditions created within a glass jar. We love the ideas and we’re inspired to start, yet regular life gets in the way and somehow we never get around to actually accomplishing one ourselves.

Let’s turn our intentions into action and start that meaningful glass jar tradition now.

Grab a glass jar, pick one of these 4 traditions and get started today.

1. Joy Jar

Create a time capsule showcasing all that brings you joy this year. Add mementos, ticket stubs and anything that signifies a joyful moment. You won’t bury this time capsule, but instead, empty it out on New Year’s Eve and reminisce about all of the memories you made.

An annual joy jar is an intentional way to collect items you can eventually use for that scrapbook you intend to put together one day. This post has some great ideas for furthering this idea!

2. Countdown clock

Fill one jar with 936 pennies to represent all of the weeks you have with your child from when they’re born until they turn 18. It’s a powerful visual to physically see each week represented by a penny.

It really pulls at the heartstrings when you begin removing the pennies that you’ve already spent in your child’s life. Yikes! These jars of pennies are a great visual to help us consciously think about how we are investing our time with our child. When we see what little time we have left until they turn 18, we are more mindful how we spend our days.

3. Blessing Jar

Or perhaps it can bless another, thanks to your intentional efforts.

Collect all your found money throughout the year, throw in extra change you have on hand and give your jar away this Christmas to someone in need.

My husband came home from the gym and dropped this crumpled up one dollar bill into our jar. He said no one was around to claim it, so he picked it up to add to our jar. If we weren’t doing this, I doubt he would’ve even cared to grab that money. I most certainly would’ve never heard about it even if he had.

A Blessing Jar is an intentional way for your family to have a small purpose together throughout the year. You are creating a really meaningful moment come December when you see how much you’ve collected and decide together who you want to bless with it.

4. Gratitude Jar

I love the idea of a Gratitude Jar. Start with an empty jar and 52 strips of paper. Each week of the year write down one thing that you are grateful for from that week.

On New Year’s Eve, open up your Jar of Gratitude and reflect on the beauty of your year. I think I’m going to include some of these paper strips of happiness in my Joy Jar instead.

Are there any other glass jar traditions that your family does or wants to do?