One of our favourite family traditions is our annual ‘Candle Party’ which we have on the day the clocks go back in the autumn. We all make lanterns by sticking tissue paper onto a glass jar. At teatime we have a lovely Sunday tea with crumpets and teacakes and cake; we turn all the lights off and light all our lanterns.

Ulrike, Luton

I invented ‘Son’s Day’ the last Sunday in May. This is a day out for just the four of us. We have had some really nice days out – depending on the funds available. This year it was London for the day to take in the sights.

Lynne, Reading

Each year, we have an Easter Egg hunt! I write little poems including cryptic clues on post-it notes and hide them with a couple of mini-eggs throughout the house. The day starts with ten minutes of brain racking and running from room to room, accompanied by much laughter. It makes me smile to think of how important it is to my daughters and something tells me this tradition will be carried on when they become mums!

Susan, St Albans

We live near the sea, so every Christmas morning we all go down to the beach and the children go for a (quick!) swim, followed by mulled wine and hot blackcurrant.

Michael, Bournemouth

Our memorable moments are Halloween. We make hot sausage soup, using some of the pumpkin, and toffee apples. Last year we had great fun making and decorating meringue ghosts. We lit candles in the dining room, put Mr Pumpkin-head, lit, just outside the window and read ghost stories while eating our apples and ghost meringues.

Marie, Swansea

Every year my children and I make Christmas gifts together. We start the Christmas cakes in November and then, when the kids finish school, we make truffles and sweet treats. It gives the children a lot of satisfaction and we have a lot of fun doing it. I was very sick this year and my children surprised me by taking over and doing most of the work. It was great.

Pauline, Glasgow

On New Year's Eve we have a lot of fun sharing a chocolate fondue together. Then we spend the rest of the evening in the lounge, with an open fire and the Christmas tree lights, playing charades, telling stories, playing word games, acknowledging blessings of the past year, sharing hopes for the next year, cuddled up in sleeping bags until putting on the TV at 11:55 and seeing in the New Year with Big Ben! We have done this with the children ever since they were toddlers, and they still love it now they're late teens!!

Janna, Birmingham

My husband and I have always made a real effort to create “happy memory boxes” for our two boys. Every bank holiday we have a family cooking day. We write on slips of paper – “starter”, “main course”, “pudding” and “baking” and then we put the slips of paper in a box. We each pull a slip out of the box and choose a recipe to fit. On bank holiday Monday we cook what we have chosen, with my husband and me helping the boys out where necessary. We have had great fun, and we now have two confident cooks who are more than happy to help out with cooking dinner – an added bonus!

Craig & Sarah, Milton Keynes

The Sunday after Easter we always have an 'egg smashing session'. Everybody's eggs are put in a tin together which comes out every evening after dinner. Everyone enjoys the smashing up and it has become a bit of a family fun moment - plus mum and dad get to share in the chocolate!!

Elizabeth, Gillingham

Each year at the beginning of October we have a date in the diary for “Shoebox Sunday”. We put on a Christmas DVD (usually The Muppet Christmas Carol!) and pack up shoeboxes for street children in the Philippines. Everybody has a £10 limit to spend and everything is individually wrapped. It’s such a highlight that our boys now invite their friends. Food plays a key role – it’s time for the first mince pies of the year and we each bake a cake and choose and then make a plate of our favourite sandwiches.

Craig & Sarah, Milton Keynes

As a single Mum, I found birthday partys both expensive and stressful, with to much to do to be able to enjoy my children's special day. So we started the tradition of "Special day out with Mummy". My parents look after my other child (who also has a nice day with them) and I take the birthday child out for the day. Our outings have been very varied - we have been to museums, exhibitions, a rope course, build-a-bear, an aquarium and even to see The Lion King in London. In all these cases I had some special time with my children, they had an excellent treat and it was cheaper that having a party like their friends (even the theatre trip!)

Nicola, Dunmow

We have taken to celebrating every possible occasion and our favourite 'adopted' festival is Thanksgiving at the end of November. We relish an extra turkey dinner followed by Pecan or Bannoffee pie and shared with different relatives or friends each year. After eating, we take it in turns around the table to say what we've been most thankful for in the past year. Much hilarity and/or groaning usually ensues - but some very tender thoughts can be expressed.

Susan, Chelmsford