Kardashian Christmas card 2015: A look back through the years as North West and Penelope Disick steal the show

It is a tradition that has run in their families for decades but the Kardashian clan have passed the torch to the new generation. The reality stars have released their Christmas card for the 2015 season with one twist – the photo features only Kourtney Kardashian's children Mason, Penelope and Reign Disick plus Kim Kardashian's daughter North West. The adults have taken a break this year but it is not the first time the family have shaken up their Christmas card greeting.

The photo shows two-year-old North kneeling next to her cousins Penelope, three, Mason, six and one-year-old Reign. Missing from the photo is North's baby brother Saint West with the card presumably shot before his birth earlier in December 2015. It is a pared down photo but the message is even simpler: "ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE," reads the accompanying caption. Kourtney explained: "This year, we needed some extra joy, so we figured that a photo of ALL kids was the most joyful card there is."

The Kardashian family have not released a Christmas card since 2013 so the children-only photo has come as a pleasant surprise for fans who have hailed it their best version to date. With matriarch Kris Jenner taking centre stage, the Kardashian clan and their extended family typically pull out all the stops for their themed cards. Kim, 35, once wrote on her blog: "We have a lot of traditions in our family, but I think our family Christmas card tradition is one of my favourites. We create a new family snapshot every year that we can look back on and as our family grows we create new memories together."

Khloe wrote earlier on her blog: "Christmas cards have always been a REALLY big deal in my family. For as long as I can remember, my mum has made it a point to go all out, whether it was a ninja turtles themed card, or bringing a Santa into the mix, each year she always managed to top the year before. I'd have to say though that our card this year might be my favourite."

In celebration of the Kardashian Christmas cards' gallery, IBTimes UK takes a trip down memory lane to look at the clan's best offerings.