The holiday season is all about connection, generosity, and celebration. Holidays mean spending time with family and friends, giving gifts, and enjoying festive traditions.
One beautiful way to share these values is by introducing the tradition of the “Giving Plate” or “Sharing Plate” into your celebrations. The concept is simple yet deeply meaningful — this special plate is passed from home to home, carrying with it not only delicious food (usually desserts!) but also the spirit of giving. I was introduced to this idea six years ago in a moms’ group at church, and it is something I look forward to each and every year.
READ: Favorite Holiday Traditions: From My Family to Yours
The tradition begins when you fill a special plate — you can even decorate the plate first (see below!) — with something you love, like your favorite holiday dessert or appetizer, and share it with friends, family, or neighbors. As you pass the plate, you include a note explaining its purpose: “Enjoy this plate of joy, then pass it along to spread kindness.” The plate travels, creating a chain of generosity and connection that grows with every hand it touches.
Why should you start a Giving Plate tradition? For one, it brings people together in a personal, heartfelt way. Also, it’s an opportunity to share something sweet, but also something more — a message of community and kindness. It encourages us to think beyond material gifts, focusing on meaningful gestures that make the holidays truly special.
This year, start your own Giving Plate tradition. Fill it with your favorite holiday eats and treats — you choose your favorite cookies, cake, or pie — and let it be a symbol of the joy and kindness that thrives during the season. I like to share a favorite recipe with the treat. If you run out of time, go to your favorite grocery store and get some festive treats there. Trader Joe’s and Publix are great places in a pinch! Share a slice of your own holiday magic and watch as the spirit of giving spreads, one plate at a time.
