My favorite holiday tradition is our Christmas Eve jammy search. Every year, our elf hides a second time while we’re at Christmas Eve service and brings a map with a riddle. The riddle sends the kid on a search around our house to find their Christmas pjs, which are actually just extra special jammies with their favorite characters on them (we usually get our Christmas jams earlier in the season so we can enjoy them all month long). The kids look forward to this with that special anticipation that only a child can have. And, whenever they wear them, I like to think they are reminded of that special moment we had together just before the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day begins.

Another tradition we love: whenever you take family photos, make sure to relieve some anxiety and giggles and tell everyone to make the silliest face they can think of! It might not be a picture-perfect photo but it sure is fun!

In our family we celebrate Hanukkah. Each evening during the eight nights of Hanukkah, we actually get excited when the sun sets and it is time to light the Hanukkiah, which is the nine-branched menorah that we light during the holiday to remember the triumph of the Maccabees over their oppressors in the 2nd century B.C. and the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight nights. While this is actually a fairly minor Jewish holiday, because it falls during the holiday season, it tends to get a little extra attention and we do our best to make it special. The glow of the Hanukkiah brings warmth and joy and after the lighting we have our daughter open one of her eight gifts. The fun of deciding which gift to open on each night really draws out the excitement of gift giving.

On one weekend during the holiday, I will spend an entire day peeling, grating, and frying potatoes to make latkes, or potato pancakes. I’ve won a couple of latke contests so my latkes are pretty popular and I always figure if I’m going to get my kitchen all greasy, I might as well make quite a few to give away as well. Our friends and neighbors also look forward to their holiday deliveries of fresh latkes paired with homemade applesauce.

Growing up, it was an event to visit our local tree farm for apple cider, to bring home a big, symmetrical pine for the front corner of our living room, adjacent stained glass and a decorated hearth. The cats would play with the ornaments as soon as my family members would put them on. A velvet tree skirt around the base quickly accumulated gifts. Advent calendars didn't last long, because I've never had any self-restraint. Christmas Eve began a multi-day feast. We'd open one gift, read stories like The Night Before Christmas, and we'd leave out cookies and milk for Santa. My parents are also big fans of caroling, driving around looking at holiday lights, and good food! Finally, we like to visit the river where my grandma's ashes are scattered.