What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Happy Thursday! Today marks the 40th year with my mother and sister on "Girls Day Out". Mom always buys lunch, we always go holiday shopping and spend the day together. When we were toddlers living west of Chicago, my mother used to load my sister and I up on the train and take us into the city for lunch and shopping at Marshall Field's in downtown Chicago. We tweaked the tradition when we relocated to Florida many years ago, but it continues regardless. As the years have passed, my neice has joined us and throughout the years other female friends and extended family have tagged along on occasion. We have gone so many places ~ Hyde Park, St. Augustine, Mt. Dora, Celebration, Park Ave, St. Armand's Circle, Clearwater, Deland, Brooksville, etc. It isn't really about getting a lot of shopping done, but it is about being together, exploring places and just having fun with the girls. Anyway, since the board has slowed to a crawl again, I thought some of you might want to share some of your favorite holiday traditions, wishes or plans with the group. Make it a great day! Amy

Hi Amy, My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas Eve and the feast of the seven fishes. It is an Italian tradition that is a food fest beyond belief. As far as shopping goes, I love to shop and do it all year...lol I am also from Chicago. Born and raised in Forest Park. Where were you from? What school did you go to? Have a great holiday! Terese

I really dont have any traditons that I enjoy every year. But the thought has crossed my mind the past few weeks of what traditions will I start for my child. I look foward to others answers. Hope everyone has a wounderful Holiday season. heather

We do an advent wreath, and our tree is called a Jesse Tree because all the ornaments represent the lineage from Jesse to Jesus. Mine is done in a victorian theme. On Christmas day, we have a birthday cake for Jesus, and I usually bake cookies (a set of 5) that tell the Christmas story and hand those out to people like the mailman, the clerk at the store, etc. Merry Christmas, Tami

I enjoy getting ready for Christmas. I have been single more than I have been married during the Christmas season and not having any children on my own, I have not made anything into a tradition. One thing we used to do as a family and we have carried it on is going for a drive and looking at Christmas lights. I enjoy seeing the different ways people decorate. This year Alton and I have discussed Christmas and think we will have a great Christmas. Both of us will have each other and will not be lonely. Even though I have family all around me, it was still lonely. I am also doing something different for him. I have bought 12 small presents that I will give to him one a day starting on December 12th. We have put up 2 Christmas trees and started putting presents under them. I have already made some Christmas cookies and gotten most of the shopping done and the presents wrapped. Although Christmas is meant for kids, adults also can enjoy that time of year.

Since I'm also single and barren, I don't have any grown up Christmas traditions other than whatever is going on at church. As a kid we used to go to my Aunt's for her traditional Christmas Eve party and I miss her since she passed away. We also used to do a family dinner on Christmas Eve that was nice. Christmas was such a nice holiday when we were kids, but now that we're all grown and there aren't any kids of our own (my brother also is allergic!!) it's quiet and not much to write about. Amy, your shopping tradition sounds lovely! My mom enjoys day-long shopping sprees with her daughters any time of the year! Jan