When I met my husband, who grew up in the picturesque Czech city of Olomouc, I had no idea how his world would quietly weave itself into mine. Today, our life in Pittsburgh blends Czech traditions, American habits, and a few unique rituals we’ve created along the way. Some come from his childhood, some from mine, and some are entirely our own.
Blending Cultures and Creating Our Own
Every New Year’s Eve, our kitchen transforms into a little Czech café. We make chlebíčky—open-faced sandwiches topped with ham, egg, pickles, and cheese. It started as my husband’s nostalgic nod to home, but now it’s one of our favorite nights of the year. The kids pile on toppings, I photograph the chaos, and laughter fills the house.
After dinner, we clear the table for another tradition: vision boards. Out come the magazines, scissors, and glue. Each of us makes one—filled with dreams, goals, and colors that feel like hope. It’s messy and wonderful and always reveals something about where we are headed.
Our Christmas Eve is rooted in Czech tradition, too. While most Pittsburgh families wait for morning, all of my husband’s gifts—both to him and from him—are exchanged on Christmas Eve after a quiet dinner of fish and potato salad, wearing our dressy holiday clothes. Then, on Christmas morning, the kids and I dive into the rest of the presents, keeping the traditional holiday rush alive—truly the best of both worlds. I love the balance of a peaceful evening and the excitement of the morning.
And of course, we take off our shoes at the door—a small Czech habit that instantly brings calm into the home. We spend plenty of time outside as well, exploring Pittsburgh’s parks, hiking, and playing outdoor games. My husband thinks fresh air is part of the Czech soul, and I think he’s right.
Traditions From Travel
Every other year, we travel back to Czechia to visit family and friends in Olomouc. We make it a point to combine that trip with visits to other countries—this year, we explored Spain and Ireland as well. I love how travel opens us up to new ways of living. Each place offers something we can bring home: the slower meals of Spain, the warmth and storytelling of Ireland, the Czech love of nature. We pick the pieces that speak to us and weave them into our own family life.
One of my favorite examples of that blending is our wooden German birthday ring—a tradition we discovered on one of our trips to Europe. It’s a simple wooden circle, filled with small candles and carved ornaments, that represent something special to our family. Each year we bring it out for birthdays, adding a new piece and lighting another candle. These small, meaningful habits are reminders that traditions don’t have to be inherited—they can be created and adapted as our family grows.
That’s what I love most about creating traditions—they evolve with you. You can take the best parts of what you see and experience and make them fit your family’s personality and values. Maybe it’s cooking a dish from your travels, celebrating a holiday in a new way, or adopting a small ritual that feels grounding. These small gestures—the pieces we gather from people and places—become the threads holding our family story together.
Why Family Traditions Matter
As a family lifestyle photographer in Pittsburgh, I often notice that the families who feel the most connected are the ones who have little rituals that hold them together. Traditions give kids a sense of belonging—they create moments in time, memories they can anticipate and return to.
For parents, traditions bring rhythm and intention to the chaos of daily life. They remind us to pause, to celebrate, to connect. Whether it’s a weekly pancake breakfast, a weekend walk, or a yearly trip abroad, those moments become the heartbeat of family life.
Traditions also give us something bigger than ourselves. When life feels uncertain, they remind us of who we are and where we come from. And when we create new ones, we’re saying: this is who we want to be.
Building Traditions That Fit Your Family
You don’t need a perfect plan to start. Begin with something small that brings your family joy—a special meal, a weekend adventure, a creative night at home. Try it once. If it feels right, do it again.
Our art nights started that way. One winter evening we spread out paints and paper, and now it’s one of our favorite family rituals. The walls of our home are filled with those colorful memories—each one unique and full of heart.
That’s what family traditions really are: the story of your life, told in moments. They don’t need to be grand or Instagram-worthy. They just need to be real.
So whether you’re inspired by your roots, your travels, or your everyday chaos, start building the traditions that feel right for you. They’ll become the glue that holds your family together—and the memories your children will carry wherever they go.
Let's tell your story!
Family traditions tell the story of who you are—each meal, walk, laugh, and handmade gift becoming part of your shared history. One of the most meaningful ways to honor that story is to document it. As a Pittsburgh family lifestyle photographer, I love capturing families in their element—making pancakes on a Sunday morning, hiking their favorite trail, celebrating birthdays with a few flickering candles, or just being together at home.
Let’s preserve your family’s traditions, big or small, in photographs that feel true to you. Let’s document your family in the moments that matter today—exactly as you are, before you transition into the next beautiful season.
