Choose one activity your group will enjoy. The best tradition is one people want to return to.
1. Leave a gratitude jar by the door
Set out slips of paper, a pen, and a jar or bowl. Invite guests to write something they appreciated this year, with or without their name. Read a few after dinner if everyone is comfortable, or let people keep their notes private. Nobody needs to give a speech.
2. Ask for the story behind a dish
Invite anyone who brought food to share where the recipe came from or why they chose it. A new recipe belongs in the conversation just as much as an inherited one. Write down a few details so the story does not disappear when the serving dish is empty.
3. Take a small walk together
Choose a route and pace that suit the people joining you, with an indoor alternative for anyone who prefers to stay. Look for three signs of the season or share a favorite moment from the year. Keep it optional and simple enough to fit between other plans.
4. Make one shared drawing
Put paper and washable art materials on a protected side table. Let each person add a small drawing or word throughout the gathering. Start with an open prompt such as “something that made you smile” rather than requiring a particular kind of family story.
5. Save a page for next year
Record the date, guests, favorite dishes, and one memorable detail in a notebook. Guests can add a sentence or draw a picture. Leave room for a photograph later. Over time, ordinary details become the part you are glad someone wrote down.
Give everyone an easy way to join
Reading aloud, writing, drawing, and listening are different ways to participate. Offer a choice and avoid putting a reluctant guest on the spot. A comfortable gathering leaves space for people who enjoy a lively group and those who prefer a quieter conversation.
If your group enjoys making things up together, picture dice give you prompts you can bring back for another gathering. Take turns adding one sentence, let a guest pass, and stop when the story reaches a satisfying ending. This is a playful addition to the afternoon, separate from learning the holiday’s actual history.
For a free version, ask guests to suggest an everyday object and build a story around their ideas. A purchased set is useful when you want ready-made pictures in a small box.
Product research updated September 12, 2026
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Classic Box edition · nine picture dice · ages 6+
A short, collaborative story after dinner
Rory’s Story Cubes Classic
Nine dice supply pictures that become prompts for a made-up story. The listing specifies one or more players and roughly ten minutes, so the game can fit into a gap between dinner and dessert. The magnetic box gives the pieces a home when the table needs clearing.
Before you buy. Choose the Classic Box edition rather than assuming every Story Cubes set has the same pictures or packaging. It suits people who enjoy improvising more than those looking for a winner and score. Follow the stated age guidance and keep the small dice away from younger children.
From customer reviews
Customers like the portable box, recognizable images and shared storytelling. One would have preferred more goal-oriented rules. That makes this a useful optional prompt for a willing group, rather than an activity every guest must join.
