just one more episode

How I use holidays in my game

I used to hate the holidays, cos I saw them as something my sims had to participate in and there was always so much pressure to complete all the traditions! But then I cracked it...

Holidays are a great way to add objectives to gameplay! When every day is some kind of a holiday with its own theme, there's always something for my sims to do.

I tick the "day off" box only if the holiday is a major one or the traditions would feel too rushed if my sim worked on the same day.

I try to have a lot of outdoor/traveling holidays in the spring and summer, and more home lot based holidays in the autumn and winter.

For some holidays, I add a diverse set of traditions and then choose only one or two to complete every sim year.

Sometimes my sims are just too busy with other things in life to participate at all. The No more "awful holiday" sad moodlet mod (linked below) is super useful because it completely takes the pressure off of completing holiday traditions!

It's very refreshing to use custom icons for the holidays, it matters more than you'd think! I use the More selectable icons mod (linked below) for this feature.

I've taken ideas and inspiration for some of my holidays from countless lists made by other simmers over the years.

Holiday mods

Traditions

Please note that some of these mods feature some of the same traditions - pick and choose so you don't get duplicates! Every custom tradition I use in my game is from these mods.

Icemunmun's traditions

LittleMsSam's traditions

Kiara's traditions

Renegadesims's traditions

Lychee's traditions

Pet traditions

Toddler traditions

Kids traditions

Occult traditions

Crafting traditions

Relaxation traditions

Eco-friendly traditions

Food traditions

Baking traditions

Writing traditions

A Night Out traditions

Cottage Living traditions

More Cottage Living traditions

Island Living traditions

Snowy Escape traditions

More Snowy Escape traditions

Paranormal traditions

University traditions

Realm of Magic, Paranormal & Vampires traditions

Other

More selectable icons

No more "awful holiday" sad moodlet

Holiday traditions in my game

The number next to each tradition shows which mod it's from. If there is no number, it's an EA tradition.

Spring

🌅 New Year's Day (day off) A chill day for spending time with your family after New Year's celebrations.

Family dinner ³

Cleaning

Cook pancakes ³

Play cards ³

Tell stories

🌟 Resolution Day It's time to make those New Year's resolutions reality! At least on this one day of the year...

Fasting

Exercise

Donate ³

Volunteer ³

Find penpal ¹⁵

🔫 Play Day Play is the work of the child. Child sims should invite their friends over for some play time!

Activity table ⁸

Make an experience ⁸

Monkey bars ⁸

Play pirate ⁸

Space explorer ⁸

🌄 Explorer's Day (day off) Once per season, sims have a day off for exploring the world! Maybe this year you could go on a mini vacation to Granite Falls to experience it in every season? Whatever you decide to do, this is a day for adventure!

Go hiking ³

Go for a walk ⁶

Go on a vacation or travel

Go sailing ³

Go camping ³

🌍 Earth Day You take care of nature and nature takes care of you.

Apply eco upgrades ¹²

Give gift to wild animal ¹⁷

Island clean up ¹²

Socialize with wild birds ¹⁷

Go hiking ³

🥪 Picnic Day Pack some tasty snacks and go on a picnic with your friends.

Go picnic ¹⁸

Invite guests

Play horseshoes ³

Collect bugs ³

Fire

💝 Love Day (day off) Take your significant other on a date and show them how much you love them! Or stay in and watch a romantic movie... with a special someone or alone, either way is fine!

Romantic spirit

Go on a date

Out for coffee ¹⁶

Send love letter ¹⁵

Watch romantic TV

🌮 Dining Day Today's all about eating as many different meals as you can. Taste something new or stick to old favorites!

Eat cultural dishes ³

Eat grilled cheese ³

Eat pizza ³

Hot pot ¹³

Order food ¹³

🧨 Gnome Day It's gnomes. Just gnomes. We can survive this. It's only once a year. We just have to keep them happy. It should be easy, right?

Holiday gnomes

🧽 Spring Cleaning Spring gives you a boost of energy. It's time to clean the house and fix anything that needs fixing!

Cleaning

Do laundry ³

Upgrade animal shelter ¹⁷

Upgrade chicken coop ¹⁷

Water crops ¹⁷

🪩 Party Night No self-respecting sim stays home on this wild night! It's time to partaaaaaay!

Out for coffee ¹⁶

Drinks at the bar ¹⁶

Go bowling ³

Bubble blower ³

Party spirit

🛠️ DIY Day It can't be that hard, the tutorial made it look pretty easy... Famous last words.

Build-a-bot ¹⁰

Crafting ¹⁰

Fabrication ¹⁰

Juice fizzing ¹⁰

Woodwork ¹⁰

🐇 Bunny Day (day off) Children's favorite holiday that's all about bunnies!

Egg hunt

Socialize with rabbit ¹⁷

Baking

Flower Bunny

Give gift to wild animal ¹⁷

🌺 Festival of Flowers A celebration of the spring turning to summer.

Flower arranging ¹⁰

Give flowers

Visit flower stall ¹⁷

Sunbathe ³

Gardening

Summer

☀️ Start of Summer It's finally summer and you can do all those fun things you dreamed of in the dark of winter!

Streaking

Go fishing ³

Go swimming ³

Kiddie pool ⁷

Play basketball ²

🐶 Pet Day Show your pet how much you love them on this special day!

Feeling the love ⁶

Pamper pets ⁶

Play with dog ⁶

Play with laser pointer ⁶

Teach tricks ⁶

🌄 Explorer's Day (day off) Once per season, sims have a day off for exploring the world! Maybe this year you could go on a mini vacation to Granite Falls to experience it in every season? Whatever you decide to do, this is a day for adventure!

Go hiking ³

Go for a walk ⁶

Go on a vacation or travel

Go sailing ³

Go camping ³

🧸 Children's Day Spend time with your children today. Take them to the park or the beach, or play with them at home.

Voidcritters ¹

Build sand sculpture ³

Games

Puppet show ³

Space explorer ⁸

🐄 Farm Day Visit a farm in Henford-on-Bagley and get to know the cows, chickens and llamas!

Harvest animal produce ¹⁷

Harvest crops ¹⁷

Take care of farm animals ¹⁸

Make animal treats ¹⁷

Socialize with villagers ¹⁷

🌞 Summer Vacation (3 days off) Enjoy summer to the max with 3 days of vacation!

Go on a vacation or travel

Go swimming ³

Invite guests

Sunbathe ³

Water fun

🍼 Toddler Day Take your toddler to the park or arrange a toddler play date.

Ball pit ⁷

Kiddie pool ⁷

Slide ⁷

Tiny treehouse ⁷

Jungle gym ⁷

🎵 Music Day Enjoy music in all its forms. Sing, play, listen.

Dancing ²

Music ³

Party spirit

Watch live performance ³

🌻 Garden Day Does anything make one happier than a thriving garden? Shower your plants with love (and water) today, make a new garden plan, or sow new seeds.

Sow seeds ¹⁷

Fertilize crops ¹⁷

Gardening

Collect bugs ³

Plant oversized crop ¹⁸

👩‍👩‍👦 Family Day Sometimes life feels so busy that you barely see even your own family. Make sure to spend some quality time with your loved ones today.

Baking

Family dinner ³

Games

Puppet show ³

Water fun

🏝️ Beach Day (day off) Celebrate summer in Sulani!

Build sand sculpture ³

Interact with dolphin ¹⁹

Go snorkeling ¹⁹

Go sailing ³

Collect seashells ⁵

🍃 End of Summer One last chance to enjoy a warm summer evening... Have a barbeque with your family and friends!

Bar-B-que

Sunbathe ³

Hot tub ³

Eat ice cream ³

Juice keg ²³

Autumn

🔥 Bonfire Night Dark autumn evenings are perfect for a little gathering around a bonfire. Look at the stars, roast some marshmallows, and wrap yourself in a blanket when it starts to get cold.

Fire

Stargaze ³

Fireworks

Tell stories

Fire dance ⁵

🧛 Occult Night They're creepy and they're kooky... mysterious and spooky... They're the occults and this is their night!

Alien powers ⁹

Mermaid powers ⁹

Use vampire powers ⁹

Cast spells ⁹

Use cauldron ⁹

🎲 Game Night Play some games with your family or friends to bring a bit of fun into this dark season.

Games

Go bowling ³

Play cards ³

Play darts ²

Play foosball ²

🌄 Explorer's Day (day off) Once per season, sims have a day off for exploring the world! Maybe this year you could go on a mini vacation to Granite Falls to experience it in every season? Whatever you decide to do, this is a day for adventure!

Go hiking ³

Go for a walk ⁶

Go on a vacation or travel

Go sailing ³

Go camping ³

❓ Life Change Day Do something today that has the potential to change the rest of your life!

Meet or adopt ⁶

Go on a date

Write a book ¹⁵

Go on a vacation or travel

Run errands for villagers ¹⁷

💡 Skill Day Learn something new today! Either work on skills you already know, or try doing something outside of your comfort zone.

Art & music spirit

Woodwork ¹⁰

Juice fizzing ¹⁰

Candle making ¹⁰

Craft wool items ¹⁷

🛋️ Couch Potato Day After the toil of yesterday, take it easy in good conscience today. It's not a day off, but you could always call in sick... Cough, cough.

Watch a movie ³

Sports TV

Sauna ¹¹

Read a book ³

Relaxing soak ¹¹

🍂 Autumn Day Enjoy the crisp air, the sunshine on the colorful leaves, and cosy autumn activities!

Fall fun ⁴

Fire

Canning ¹⁸

Drink tea ³

Candle making ¹⁰

🧓🏽 Parent's Day If you're in good terms with your parent(s), today's the perfect day to remind them how much you love and appreciate them.

Family dinner ³

Gift a parent ³

Hug parent ³

Remembrance

Tell stories

⚽ Sports Day Whether you like pumping iron or shooting hoops, do some exercise today.

Exercise

Go rock wall climbing ¹

Play basketball ²

Play soccer ³

💋 Date Night Whether it's your significant other or someone you don't even know yet, ask them on a date tonight!

Go on a date

Woohoo ³

Romantic spirit

🕯️ Other Side Day The veil is thinning... If you have business with someone in the afterlife, today's the day to get in touch.

Summon Bonehilda ⁹

Summon a ghost ²²

Conduct a seance ⁹

Commune with the departed ²²

Remembrance

🌽 Harvestfest (day off) Give thanks for everything the land has given you this year. Treat your garden, treat your animals, treat yourself.

Invite guests

Grand meal

Thankful spirit

Make animal treats ¹⁷

Harvest crops ¹⁷

🎃 Spooky Day (day off) It's time to get spooky!

Carve pumpkin ³

Spooky spirit

Trick or treat

Wear costumes

Use cauldron ⁹

Winter

🥧 Baking Day Get your baking supplies out, because today's all about the magic of flour and sugar! Have pancakes and coffee for breakfast, and bake all your favorite pastries.

Baking

Cook pancakes ³

Drink coffee ³

Decorate cookies ¹⁴

Make cupcakes ¹⁴

🌄 Explorer's Day (day off) Once per season, sims have a day off for exploring the world! Maybe this year you could go on a mini vacation to Granite Falls to experience it in every season? Whatever you decide to do, this is a day for adventure!

Go hiking ³

Go for a walk ⁶

Go on a vacation or travel

Go sailing ³

Go camping ³

📚 Written Word Day Read your favorite book in your favorite armchair, or go the library to find something new to read. Write a letter to someone, or finally start writing that book you always dreamt of.

Find penpal ¹⁵

My private journal ¹⁵

Writing skill ¹⁵

Read a book ³

Send love letter ¹⁵

💥 Chaos Day It seems like everyone's lost their social filter today! It's chaos all around! I hate all my friends! OOPS, did I say that out loud...

Air grievances

Fighting

Mischief spirit

Streaking

Magic duel ⁹

🎁 Do Good Day Today is all about being good to others. Make the world a better place by helping those around you.

Donate ³

Make pet food ⁶

Run errands for villagers ¹⁷

Volunteer ³

Vote for policies ¹²

🤝 BFF Day Invite your best friend over for a nice cup of tea or coffee. Share secrets, cry and laugh, have some fun.

Invite guests

Drink coffee ³

Drink tea ³

Play cards ³

Out for coffee ¹⁶

🧘 Mindfulness Day Take care of your mind and body.

Meditate ¹¹

Sauna ¹¹

Massage ³

My private journal ¹⁵

Do yoga ¹¹

🏔️ Snow Day (day off) Celebrate winter in Mt. Komorebi!

Go rock climbing ²⁰

Go skiing ²⁰

Go sledding ²⁰

Go snowboarding ²⁰

Hot springs ¹¹

🏡 Homebody Day (day off) Have you ever dreamed of just staying at home when it's dark and cold outside? Well, today you can!

Canning ¹⁸

Knitting ¹⁰

Cross-stitching ¹⁸

Practice herbalism ¹

Make pet food ⁶

🎄 Winterfest Eve Put up decorations for this wintery holiday, cook a delicious dinner, and then enjoy the evening as you wait for Father Winter's visit.

Attend holiday ceremony

Decorate

Festive spirit

Father Winter

Grand meal

☃️ Winterfest Day (day off) It's the most peaceful day of the year. Spend it with your loved ones.

Invite guests

Family dinner ³

Baking

Go skating ³

Open presents

🎨 Creativity Day Get your easel down from the attic, find your old camera in the garage, or pick up the knitting needles that have been collecting dust on the shelf. Let's do some arts and crafts!

Art & music spirit

Activity table ⁸

Cross-stitching ¹⁸

Writing skill ¹⁵

Knitting ¹⁰

❄️ Yamachan Day Travel to Mt. Komorebi to meet Yamachan!

Yamachan ²¹

Make a Tanabata wish ²¹

Hot pot ¹³

Order from Mt. Komorebi festival food stalls ²¹

Go hiking ³

🥂 New Year's Eve It's time to celebrate the year gone by, and welcome the new one that's right around the corner.

Countdown to midnight

Drinking

Eat pizza ³

Fireworks

Make resolutions

More holiday ideas

If you want to create your own holidays, but struggle with coming up with ideas, here are some things I always consider when I create holidays.

Can you match a world with a season? Summer holidays in Sulani, winter holidays in Mt. Komorebi, etc.

Alternatively, have a summer holiday in Sulani when it's winter elsewhere, a winter holiday in Mt. Komorebi when it's summer elsewhere, etc.

What if you took the default holidays and placed them in a different season? Celebrate Winterfest on the beach in the summer!

Can you match a world with a theme? Nature holidays in Granite Falls, city holidays in San Myshuno, etc.

Think of a simple theme for your holiday (games, sports, food, animals, books, etc.) and choose traditions based on that.

Create a holiday that requires your sim to travel from world to world to complete all the traditions.

Have a 3 day holiday for a vacation trip, with different traditions to complete each day.

Create holidays for specific life stages. What would a teen or an elder sim do for their holiday?

Create a holiday for each occult type. How would a Spellcaster spend their holiday?

Can you think of a way to combine holidays and clubs?

Put two really different holidays right next to each other so you have lots of variety in gameplay.

If you're playing a legacy, create a holiday for each heir sim based on their personality, and have their offspring celebrate these holidays to honor them.

Research real life holidays that are celebrated around the world to find new ideas.

Generation Two: “Why ever leave?”

You were raised to believe that “home is where the heart is.” And because of this, you rarely venture into the outside world unless given a really good reason to do so. You choose not to leave your parents’ home to pursue your own path at the same time that a lot of others do. Video games and programming became your passion while holed up in your basement bedroom, and thankfully your career of choice doesn’t require a lot of socialization. Leftover pizza, anyone?

Traits: Lazy, Slob, Geek

Aspiration: Computer Whiz

Career as Teen: Streamer

Career as YA: Tech Guru (eSport Gamer branch)

Rules:

Win a GeekCon competition while cosplaying

Master programming and video gaming skills

Play the guitar as a hobby (no skill requirement)

Order a pizza delivery or something on Zoomers every night of the week

Never move out of childhood home until parents have died

Generation Three: “Top of the World”

Being raised by a parent with an affinity for keeping close to home never quelled your sense of adventure and love for the outdoors when growing up. After a trip to Komorebi with a few friends during your highschool you find that there is more to the world other than your hometown and there’s more people to meet along the way. Being made a single parent at a young age only helped to build the desire within you to remain free of the clutches of a conventional job or relationship. And so, you devote your heart to reaching the peak of Komorebi and sharing to the world your process of getting there.

Traits: Cheerful, Unflirty, Adventurous

Aspiration: Extreme Sports Enthusiast

Career: Self-employed (Vlogger, with Get famous use the drone to create videos and upload them through the video station)

Rules:

Have a two-night stay at a rental in Mt. Komorebi as a teen with friends and explore the town

Become a single parent as a young adult

Master rock climbing and snowboarding skills (snowboarding is optional)

Totally optional but you can compete the simmies collection

Reach the peak of Mt. Komorebi

Get the Adrenaline seeker lifestyle

Generation Four: “Work away the pain”

Let’s be honest: you had a pretty good upbringing. Even though there were some rough patches, you know that your parent did the best they could to raise you alone. But, deep down, being alone is the very thing you fear more than anything. So, you cover it up with work. You work 10x harder than anyone else in your family probably. But deep down you still crave stability and so as a desperate attempt to fill the emptiness that drives you, you marry a close friend only to find later that your spouse hasn’t been faithful. Eventually, you break down and take things lightly with the help of your family. They teach you how to have a healthier outlet for your frustrations. Who knew flower arranging was so relaxing?

Traits: Insider, Romantic, Perfectionist

Aspiration: Academic

Career: Lawyer (Private Attorney branch)

Rules:

Master Research and Debate Skill and Charisma Skill

Earn a degree of Language and Literature from Britechester University (you can stop aging while in University)

Reach level 5 of the flower arranging skill, start when you’re an adult

Marry first GF/BF as a YA

Turn blind eye to spouse’s cheating

Eventually divorce spouse; never remarry

Get the workaholic lifestyle and try to lose it later in life

Generation Five: “Struggling in Los Simgeles”

You come from a broken home. Growing up, you witnessed first-hand the havoc that infidelity can bring on a family. You determine from a young age that you will pour your soul into forging close relationships with your spouse and children. The city draws you, and it is there that you decide to make your home. However, despite your best efforts as an actress later in life, tragedy claims one of your children long before their time. You wear a shroud of sadness from then on, but find that the love of your remaining child(ren) and your ability to immerse yourself into your roles might just pull you through in the end.

Traits: Gloomy, High maintenance, Vegetarian

Aspiration: Super Parent

Career: Actress

Rules:

Master acting skills

Reach level 10 acting career

Live in Del Sol Valley from YA

Have twins

Get nominated for your works (I would add winning just as an option here because we know the game is kinda dumb)

Lose one child to death

Visit child’s grave at least once per week; leave their bedroom untouched

Generation Six: “Living with a broken heart”

You lost a sibling at a very young age and witnessed your parents’ grief while still trying to process it yourself. Rather than trying to pick up the pieces, you let the sadness consume you. And at the same time you have this whole 'This bloodline ends with me' thing going on because of what you've went through. At first you have been recruited to become a secret agent, but after finding out how corrupt the system is, you decide to screw it because if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! Am I right? Theft and criminal activity become appealing to you, and eventually you give yourself over to that lifestyle. Even though you’re more at home in your contemplative solitude, you take comfort with a woohoo buddy who eventually gets you pregnant/or you get pregnant. So now you're wanted criminal caring for a child that you have no idea how to take care of. But there’s a surprising side to you; the raging in your heart is only calmed by the time you spend painting.

Traits: Kleptomaniac, Loner, Genius

Aspiration: Painter Extraordinaire

Career: Secret Agent (Villain)

Rules:

Run away from home as a soon as you become a teen & never speak to parents again

Do not “inherit” any money from parents

Paint as a coping method

Develop mischief and logic skills

Create a club of sims who are kleptomaniac

Pull a heist: Steal at least 10 items over the course of the generation

Have a woohoo buddy that results in pregnancy

Completing your aspiration is not necessary

Generation Seven: “Here to make a difference”

There is only one word to describe your childhood: lonely. You knew from a young age that the parent you lived with took no pleasure in your company, and you’ve always felt that you were the “mistake” that resulted from a careless decision. As a result, you pour effort into building relationships with those who truly care about you, and even attempt to mend relationships with those who don’t. You have a core group of people who mean the world to you, and you spend as much time with them as you can. Becoming a teacher was an obvious choice, as it provides you with the tools you need to reach others. And while you’re a social creature by nature, you never turn down the opportunity to curl up with a good book.

Traits: Good, Geek, Bookworm

Aspiration: Friend of the World

Career: Teacher (Professor branch)

Rules:

Attempt to mend relationships with estranged grandparents and parent

Maintain a club of “besties” from YA onwards

Have a movie night with club once per week

Master the charisma and wellness skills

Marry a club member

Read at least 10 unique books over the course of the generation

Have at least two biological children and adopt at least one child

Volunteer with family at least once a week

Generation Eight: “Archaeology is my passion”

Growing up, you were constantly surrounded by family and close friends who loved you. But you desire more than just the daily interaction with your family. Exploring the jungle is your passion and so is digging up old relics. You eventually create a store where you sell the things you have collected from your journey. Even though starting up your own business means you have to live with your parents longer than most of your friends, you don’t mind because it means you’re close to the people you love. In fact, closeness and similar interests cause you to fall in love with someone who accompanies you during your trips to Selvadorada, and they don’t mind that you can’t yet afford a place of your own. In your “spare time” (hah!), you enjoy photographing places near and far, searching for that perfect shot. Between trying to run a successful shop and your photography hobby, you’re not able to spend as much time with your children as you like. But that’s okay; you’re out there living your dreams.

Traits: Cheerful, Self-Assured, Cat Lover OR Dog Lover (player chooses)

Aspiration: Archaeology Scholar

Career: Self-Employed (runs a store)

Rules:

Live with parents until they die while trying to get retail store off the ground

Have a child as a YA with a Selvadoradian local

Marry the father/mother of their child once parents die

Master archaeology skill, and photography skills

Must take at least one photo in every world

Generation Nine: “Business-minded and musically-inclined”

Your parents worked hard for every penny that they earned, but you were just left feeling like they didn’t care about you as much as the expensive relics in their shop. Your grandparents are your closest friends while they’re still alive. After all, they practically raised you. As a young adult, you desire the family you feel you never had and start a family quickly…only to find out that you’re married to someone you don’t love as much as you should. You have a “responsible” 9-5 interior decorator job, but you also possess real musical talent. Even though you would never consider leaving your job, investing in your music is something you do quite regularly. You eventually remarry after finding real love, and enjoy the rest of your life mediating a mixed family. Will you find true happiness amidst the wealth and your demanding job?

Traits: Creative, Ambitious, Clumsy

Aspiration: Musical Genius

Career: Interior Designer

Rules:

Become good friends with one or both grandparents

Marry and have at least one child; divorce spouse

Later remarry and have at least one child (think “Yours, Mine & Ours”)

Master violin and piano skills

Achieve level 5 of either the singing or guitar skill

Hire and keep a butler

Eat out at a restaurant at least once per week

Generation Ten: “To the stars”

Objectively speaking, your life is great. You never really wanted for anything as a child. The overactive imagination that you possess lends itself perfectly to your love of space. You create a group with people who love the same things as you. The stars fascinates you, but more than anything you desire to find true love. So you find one in your club. You and your significant other would do anything just to discover the worlds unknown to simkind. It was your dream together. But when your significant other suddenly dies while tweaking with the rocket ship when you were young adults, you were devastated. You couldn't finish the rocket ship that you and your loved one had started. As you mourn, drinking becomes your method to quiet a broken heart and provide a false sense of peace. But at a time when your hope begins to lag, your decision to adopt a child despite your own childlessness is the final push you need to persevere. You eventually create the rocket ship and go to Sixam, bringing the love of your life's urn and placing it there as their final resting place. You go back to earth, and live the rest of your life in peace as you have succeeded in creating your own bittersweet ending following a long line of sims with odd stories: some happy, and some not.

Traits: Hot-Headed, Genius, Erratic

Aspiration: Nerd Brain

Career: Astronaut

Rules:

Master rocket science, handiness and logic skill

Find true love at a young age, significant other dies through electrocution

Successfully travel to Sixam and place the urn your beloved there

Adopt a child or children

Retire from the astronaut career and spend the rest of your living days writing 10 stories about you and your ancestors