Christmas traditions

Merry almost Christmas to all! I was in the store today buying all of my ingredients for my annual Christmas baking day with Mom, and I got to wondering what everyone's favorite Christmas traditions are.
I must say the the baking day with Mom and my friend Sandy and Christmas Eve at Mom and Dad's are my two favorites. Every year, about 4 days before Christmas Mom, Sandy, and I get together to make a bunch of goodies for trays to give to our friends and co-workers and to put out for Christmas Eve. We make fudges, breads, chocolates, cookies, just anything that strikes our particular fancy for the year. I always do hand dipped chocolates and they are the thing that I dread the most (making the home made toffee is not a cake walk either!), because it is so time consuming and SO messy! The time spent in the kitchen with Mom is something that I would never give up though! I hope that it will be a tradition that I will be able to have with my daughter.
Christmas Eve has stood out in my mind as such a special time as well. We started the tradition after my Grandpa Witherell died and we had my Grandma Witherell and my Uncle Steve over for steaks on Christmas Eve so that they would not be alone that first Christmas without Grandpa. It has grown to include family and friends each year. The fun and love that we share on this most special night can not be compared. Dad always leads us off before we go carolling on that night with all of us singing "Silent Night." I look more forward to Christmas Eve than any other day of the year!
Merry Christmas to everyone! Love to all! Cyn

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale