Everyone's got them, even if their tradition is not to celebrate the holidays. :) My family and I have a ton, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Every year, my youngest daughter decorates the house (that ends this year with her marriage), my oldest sister has a caroling party and we torment her neighbors with our joie de vivre and off-key voices, and there are lots of get togethers that keep my extended family on both sides connected.

But one of my favorite traditions by far, is one my sisters and I started with friends over two decades ago. (Again, my oldest sister was both master-mind and instigator.) At first, we got together to make and exchange candy. Our little one ran amok amongst us until they were old enough to go to school (though I homeschooled mine until 5th & 6th grade, so they were with us longer). After a few years, once the kids were in school for most of us, we added a yearly service project and can food drive. We stopped making the candy together and only get together now for the service project, the candy exchange and the visiting. Well, we do a craft project too, but that's all part of the fun.

It's come full circle and we're having the service project/candy exchange at my house this year and our young adult daughters are now joining in as well. It's a pretty amazing tradition and one I don't want to give up.

What are some of your favorite traditions?