1. The Presidential Turkey Pardon (Thanks, JFK)
Every year around Thanksgiving, the President of the United States ceremoniously “pardons” a turkey—and we owe that quirky ritual to John F. Kennedy. In 1963, Kennedy was presented with a turkey but decided to spare it, saying, “Let’s just keep him.” It wasn’t formalized as a tradition until George H.W. Bush in 1989, but JFK’s spontaneous act planted the seed, according to Domenico Montanaro from NPR. It turned what could have been a forgettable photo op into an annual bit of holiday weirdness.
Now, the pardoning is a full-blown event with speeches, press coverage, and even backup turkeys. It’s a strange mix of humor, tradition, and oddly enough, compassion. Without JFK’s off-the-cuff decision, this spectacle might not exist at all. It’s a prime example of a celebrity moment snowballing into national tradition.
2. Halloween as a Costume-Driven Holiday (Thanks, Hollywood)
While Halloween has roots in ancient festivals and Catholic traditions, the modern American version—costumes, candy, and all—owes a lot to Hollywood stars. In the 1920s and ‘30s, film actors began hosting lavish, themed Halloween parties that caught the public’s attention. Their influence made dressing up glamorous, and soon regular folks followed suit. Costume parties became trendy because the celebrities made them cool.
By the 1950s, Halloween was firmly associated with costumes and parties, especially among kids. But it was the early involvement of movie stars and entertainers that made costumes the thing to do. Without that glitzy boost, we might still be bobbing for apples in our Sunday best. Celebrities gave Halloween its sparkle—and its masks, and according to Lauren Sanchez from Vogue, they still do.
3. Oprah’s Favorite Things (Thanks, Oprah)
Every holiday season, the “Oprah’s Favorite Things” list rolls out, and let’s be honest—it basically launched influencer culture as we know it. Back in the ’90s, Oprah began gifting her audience her favorite products, causing immediate sellouts and nationwide buzz. The segment became a massive part of her show and set the tone for how celebrities could shape consumer behavior. It wasn’t just product placement; it was Oprah-blessed magic.
The tradition lives on today, even post-show, with Oprah still curating a list and people still treating it like gospel. It kicked off a wave of similar celebrity-endorsed gift guides and “must-have” lists. Before that, nobody cared what someone else was putting in their holiday stocking. But Oprah made it feel like tradition—and a very expensive one at that. You can still find them on Oprah Daily.
4. The Met Gala as a Costume Extravaganza (Thanks, Anna Wintour)
The Met Gala wasn’t always the fashion Super Bowl—it used to be a rather stuffy fundraiser. That changed when Anna Wintour took the reins in 1995 and turned it into a spectacle of high fashion and celebrity, according to Demetria Osei-Tutu from The Mirror. Under her vision, the event became an annual moment for stars to show up in outrageous, theme-driven outfits. It’s now one of the most watched and talked-about traditions in pop culture.
Wintour’s insistence on a theme each year, coupled with a carefully curated guest list, gave the Gala new life. It became less about the museum and more about the drama—and America eats it up. Without her influence, the Met Gala would probably still be just another society event. Now, it’s a full-blown tradition that fans and fashionistas plan their calendars around.
5. The Super Bowl Halftime Show as a Big Deal (Thanks, Michael Jackson)
Before 1993, Super Bowl halftime shows were mostly marching bands and forgettable filler. Then Michael Jackson performed—and everything changed. His appearance drew record-breaking viewership and proved that big-name performers could turn the halftime show into the main event. From that moment on, it became a tradition for the NFL to book major music stars, according to Chuck Arnold from The New York Post.
Now, millions tune in just for the halftime show, even if they don’t care who’s playing football. MJ’s performance set a new standard for spectacle, production, and star power. It also paved the way for Beyoncé, Prince, Rihanna, and others to shine on that global stage. Without him, halftime might still be a snack break.
6. The SAG Awards “I’m an Actor” Openings (Thanks, Tom Hanks)
If you’ve ever watched the SAG Awards, you’ve seen those heartfelt cold opens where actors share how they fell in love with performing. That tradition started thanks to Tom Hanks, who came up with the idea in the first few years of the show in the mid-’90s. He wanted to honor actors of all kinds—not just A-listers—and humanize the profession. The result? A tradition that feels surprisingly sincere in an otherwise glitzy awards season.
It’s become a defining trait of the SAG Awards, setting it apart from the Oscars or Golden Globes. Each year, we get those little moments of vulnerability and inspiration before the big trophies come out. It’s a great example of a celebrity using their influence to shape an industry tradition. And it started with Hanks just wanting to give working actors their due.
7. Red Carpet Fashion Commentary (Thanks, Joan Rivers)
There was a time when red carpets were just about showing up in nice clothes—not dissecting every sequin. Then Joan Rivers hit the scene in the ’90s with Fashion Police and red carpet interviews that were part roast, part runway critique. She turned the red carpet into a performance of its own, one that millions of viewers eagerly tuned in for. Suddenly, what someone wore mattered as much as who showed up.
Her brand of cheeky, fearless fashion commentary made red carpet coverage a media event. Other networks followed suit, and now pre-show coverage is just as hyped as the ceremony itself. Joan built a tradition where fashion was fair game and bold choices were both rewarded and ridiculed. That sass became a staple of awards season thanks to her.
8. The National Reading Month Push (Thanks, LeVar Burton)
March is National Reading Month, and while it’s officially tied to Dr. Seuss’s birthday, it really owes a lot to LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow. In the ’80s and ’90s, Burton made reading exciting for kids with his show, bringing books to life with storytelling, animation, and interviews. He became a national reading icon, making books cool and accessible. The show inspired school events, library programs, and themed activities that popped up every March.
LeVar’s passion turned what could’ve been a sleepy observance into a full-fledged educational tradition. Teachers still build lesson plans around it, and kids look forward to the month as a time to dive into new stories. While the Seuss connection is official, the energy behind the celebration is 100% Burton-fueled. He made reading fun—and made a month-long tradition stick.
9. National Donut Day Hype (Thanks, Ellen DeGeneres)
Technically, National Donut Day dates back to World War I, but it was Ellen DeGeneres who brought it roaring back into pop culture. On her talk show, she’d celebrate the day by giving away free donuts, featuring donut-themed games, and generally turning it into a whole thing. Her infectious enthusiasm helped revive public interest in a forgotten holiday. Suddenly, donut shops were giving out freebies, and the media took notice.
Now, brands compete for the best National Donut Day promos and influencers hop on the trend every June. Ellen’s flair for celebration turned a niche commemoration into a sugary social media event. While she didn’t invent it, she absolutely made it fun again. A once-forgotten day now has frosting and fanfare.
10. Puppy Bowl Obsession (Thanks, Animal Planet… and Snoop Dogg)
The Puppy Bowl debuted in 2005, but it was Snoop Dogg and his viral-level involvement that took it from cable curiosity to national tradition. In 2021, he co-hosted with Martha Stewart and added his signature humor and cool to the broadcast. His love of dogs and internet-savvy personality gave the show a whole new audience. Suddenly, people were watching the Puppy Bowl before the actual Super Bowl.
The event is now packed with ads, sponsors, and halftime shows of its own. And Snoop’s stamp made it not just cute, but cool. The blend of animals and pop culture wouldn’t have worked without someone like him to legitimize it. He didn’t invent the Puppy Bowl, but he definitely made it a tradition worth tuning in to.
11. The Ice Bucket Challenge as a Fundraising Tradition (Thanks, Celebs)
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 was a viral sensation—but it became a fundraising powerhouse once celebrities joined in. When stars like Bill Gates, Oprah, and LeBron James dumped ice water on their heads, people paid attention. Their videos drew millions of views and helped raise over $115 million for ALS research in a matter of weeks. It transformed the way people thought about viral charity campaigns.
Suddenly, fundraising became fun, competitive, and highly shareable. And every summer since, people have looked for the “next Ice Bucket” challenge. That concept—of blending internet trends with cause-driven goals—owes everything to celebrities jumping on board. Without them, it might’ve been a one-week trend, not a tradition.
12. The Rise of Celebrity Book Clubs (Thanks, Reese Witherspoon)
Oprah may have been the first, but Reese Witherspoon made celebrity book clubs a permanent fixture in publishing. Her club, Reese’s Book Club, launched in 2017 and rapidly became one of the most influential forces in American reading habits. Books she selects often skyrocket to bestseller lists and get adapted into movies or shows through her production company. That cross-platform influence turned her monthly picks into a cultural event.
Now, other stars—from Jenna Bush Hager to Emma Roberts—have followed her lead. Publishers actually time releases to line up with potential celebrity endorsements. Reese helped make book clubs cool again and gave people a reason to read together, digitally. A simple idea became a tradition for readers everywhere thanks to her consistent championing.
13. Twitter Live-Tweeting of Award Shows (Thanks, Chrissy Teigen)
Remember when award shows were just something you watched? Chrissy Teigen helped change that by turning live-tweeting into a must-watch activity of its own. Her hilarious, often brutally honest tweets during big events like the Oscars gave fans a second screen experience that felt intimate and communal. Soon, everyone—celebrities and fans alike—was tweeting along in real time.
Now, live-tweeting award shows is expected, and platforms even create hashtags and special emojis just for the night. Teigen didn’t invent Twitter, but she helped pioneer how stars interact with fans during events. It’s become a modern tradition to scroll as you watch, hoping your favorite celeb drops a spicy take. That’s all thanks to Chrissy making it feel like a giant, snarky group chat.
14. National Selfie Day (Thanks, Kim Kardashian)
While National Selfie Day (June 21) was technically started by a radio DJ in 2014, it caught fire because of—you guessed it—Kim Kardashian. Her obsession with selfies (remember her Selfish book?) helped normalize and glamorize the concept. When she acknowledged the day on social media, it basically became official. Brands, influencers, and fans immediately started jumping on the trend.
Now, people plan their outfits, lighting, and captions just for National Selfie Day. It’s a day of digital self-celebration that owes everything to a celebrity who turned self-photography into a lifestyle. Kim didn’t create the holiday, but she definitely gave it its staying power. She made taking pictures of yourself a tradition—and we’ve been posing ever since.
