My family's holiday traditions take many different forms: some large and absolutely mandatory, some more modest- the kind we might do every year without even realizing it. I'm sure many of you can relate. So today, in the interest of you lovely readers, I've tried to pinpoint "the big ones." The ones that really make up my nostalgia.

The Black Friday Tradition

Late one Thanksgiving night years ago, Mom and I decided we'd try a bit of the Black Friday fun. Ever since that first year, it has been an awesome experience and such a fun tradition for my mom and sisters to share. Now every year, us girls roll out of bed before dawn to go out on the town. We pile into the car, start up the Christmas music, grab some coffee, and gather our cash. The morning is always cold and still, but inside the shops there is life untold. By 11 am, almost all of the major Christmas shopping is done! It's such a magical day- the real start to our Christmas season.

The Tree, Ornaments, & Egg Nog Tradition

Over Thanksgiving weekend, our family puts up the giant (and I mean gigantic) Christmas tree. We all help with the stringing of the lights and the hanging of the ornaments, usually with some Nat King Cole carols as our soundtrack. Once the trimming of the tree has been properly completed, and all of the other lights have been turned off, we gather in the living room to conclude the ceremony with glasses of egg nog, toasting, and admiring of the tree. Usually Dad brings up the idea of skipping presents this Christmas, to which we all shake our heads and laugh. Sometimes this is my only glass of egg nog for the year, so I really look forward to this particular night!

The Christmas Morning Tradition

When we wake up Christmas morning, we are not allowed to go downstairs. All of us "kids" wait on the stairs until we Mom and Dad come to lead us into the living room, where the stockings are filled to bursting. We fly to the stocking that has our name on it, sort all of our stocking goodies, and are even allowed to make trades with siblings. Next on the schedule is breakfast- which is always Mom's traditional Christmas breakfast casserole. Our favorite breakfast of the whole year! After we've eaten till we're full, we gather around the tree for the reading of the Christmas story and the opening of the presents!

What's your favorite holiday tradition?