Highlands Ranch, CO USA This year, for the second year in a row, is applying to PhD programs. But add to that 14 house guests, 40 people over for Xmas day feast, Anthony's parents meeting mine for the first time, and my own instability, you have a volatile holiday. Amy, 24
New Orleans, LA USA We open the stuff in our stockings and then our presents. Christmas used to be just our immediate family, pretty much all day, but now it has sort of extended. Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames, IA USA I was raised Unitarian Universalist, but culturally, I'm Jewish. I grew up celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas, and I still celebrate both today. etoile, 19
Washington, DC USA Assuming this is about Christmas, I start to get into "the spirit" of the holiday about a week before. By then I've either been invited to, or have attended one or several holiday parties - and usually learn just how obnoxious some people can get with a few drinks in them. Then I start to shop for my loved ones. I do this right up until Christmas Eve day...rushing around like a lunatic thinking I've surely forgotten something or someone. If I'm cooking, which I did this year for the first time in many, I plan the meal and try hard to prepare at least one favorite thing for each person attending; it never works out evenly. On Christmas Eve, I fight with myself all evening over whether or not I should go to church. If I end up going, it's usually just cause I like to see people sing Christmas songs -even religious ones - in large groups...and rather enjoy it the sense of group spirit toward the end of the night. In the house, we each get to open one gift before bed. Usually something small. This is like a preview of things to come. Then I wrap. I wrap and swear and worry that I'll run out of paper the whole while then get pissed that I have so much left over (this happens almost every year). I drink a little eggnog with cinnamon. (oh boy, a party animal) Then it's off to bed; a long enough sleep to turn over twice before it's time to get up at the crack of dawn. We all enjoy the day...first being excited and nutty in the morning...then winding down and wanting naps...then perking up for Christmas dinner. I love having someone stop over during the holiday. I hate the dishes after dinner - HATE them. Then I like to really relax and enjoy my new stuff :) and just hang out with the family in the evening. I had to work the next day this year and I know now that I will never let that happen again. It's too constricting to know that I have to worry about work clothes and watching the clock later in the evening. Nothing like having the day after Christmas to finally completely unwind. As for New Year's Eve...I stay home, year after year. By choice. I enjoy watching all the knuckleheads at Times Square in Manhattan - and I love to be with my family when the ball drops. I enjoy this season tremendously!
Fisch, 45
Preston, CT
USA
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this question, but my family celebrates Christmas and New Years over break.
Sarah S., 17
Ithaca, NY
USA
Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
Melodi, 19
Hlliard, OH
USA
Christmas eve at my dad's brother's house, Christmas morning with my parents and my son, Christmas afternoon at my mom's brother's house..... busy busy busy.
Maggie, 20
Sandwich, IL
USA
No set tradition for myself yet. This year I've been going with my girlfriend to her family events. Her family came to the US in the early 60's so the food is always good and the conversations don't seem to have that self-censorship thing going that I'm used to but not fond of in Amercian conversations. Also her grandmother makes this killer raspberry wine using berries they grow in the back yard that'll give you a hangover in three sips or less. I love raspberries.
Alias Irrelevante
I got a singing tie from my friend Erin. It has dogs on it and it barks "Jingle Bells"...
Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch, CO USA
EVERY NEW YEARS I COOK SPAGHETTI AND MEAT BALLS WITH SAUSAGE AND HOMEMADE BREAD. MY DAD DID IT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND AFTER HE PASSED I CONTINUED THE TRADITION. AS MANY THAT CAN COME OF MY FAMILY COME TO EAT WITH US ALONG WITH OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND FRIENDS.
Marci, 55
Diamond, OH
USA
Christmas -New Years
Stephanie, 25
TX USA
My winter holiday celebration is Christmas, Christ's birth. But, my family and I also celebrate with the tree, the presents and all that good stuff. I love it. But the past couple of years, it hasn't been as exciting as it used to be. I guess because, I don't get toys anymore. I used to love that.
Lisa J., 22
TN USA
It's never anything exciting, just getting together with family. This year, for Christmas Eve, my dad's side of the family came over for dinner after we went to church, and for Christmas, after we opened our own presents, we went to my cousin's house to exchange presents and to eat.
Karen2, 15
Boston, MA
USA
My husband and I are celebrating Christmas in Tennessee with my mom, her husband, my brother Jeff and his wife.
Tina, 31
Medford, MA
USA
Christmas, complete with carol service, gathered family, excited little ones, overstuffed meals.
Jane, 60
West Linn, OR
USA
I celebrate Christmas, but for a variety of reasons, not in the way most Americans do. For the most part it is a quiet day that starts with prayer and Mass and ends with Chinese food with my husband and a few friends. New Year's Eve is the holiday that I enjoy the most. My parents married on New Year's Eve and they very frequently had family and friends to the house for a party. My sister took up the tradition after my parents died and it's almost become de rigeur that she have a party. It's usually spent eating too much rich food and drinking to the point of silliness, but not drunkeness.
Laura, 35
Lowell, MA
USA
My family celebrates Christmas. There use to be a tradition, but since my siblings and I have moved away from home the consistency of my younger days is gone. This year the celebration entailed a trip to Atlanta, GA, six nights in a resident / suite hotel, lots of sitting around, Mass on Christmas morning, Xmas dinner at my sister's house, and opening presents in the late afternoon. Somehow it didn't really feel like a holiday. Personally, I'm more in tune with the Winter Solstice and the idea of renewal promised by both it and New Year.
Felicia, 34
Lowell, MA
USA
In a strange way, I suppose you could say I celebrate most of them. I celebrate the Solstice with a group of friends, Hannukah with another friend, and Christmas with my family. I couldn't tell you which one is more important to me.
Kim, 30
New York, NY
USA
I celebrate christmas. Not for religious reasons but because its fun.
Talia, 23
Wilton, CT
USA
Christmas.
Dianne, 16
Oshawa, Ontario CANADA
The winter solstice. I light a candle on the longest night of the year and think of times past and my present blessings.
Jill, 60
Saylorsburg, PA USA
X-mas: This year, although too short, I spent it at two different relatives: It worked for me.
Bruno, 31
Denver, CO
USA
I celebrate Christmas. We do Christmas Eve at my grandmother's with the whole family and then we wake up Christmas morning to Santa gifts and open presents from our family (mom, dad, and sisters).
Angela, 16
Aiken, SC
USA
X-mas and new years'
Savannah
We celebrate Christ's birth for Christmas. Have dinner with y family and siblings. Then go to Cap may for 3 days the days after Christmas. cap may is a Victorian seaside town at the tip of NJ. The house are all decorated with white lights and it is like stepping back into the past. It's a quite, beautiful reflective time. We stay with friend who own and bed and breakfast and we are the only guests there. There is no TV. So we play parlor games, Guestures, cards and play the guitar and sing a long. It's great fun. Janet, 42E. Brunswick, NJ USA Christmas. Tracy, 24
Ocean City, NJ USA I celebrate New Year's and Chanukah and the Winter Solstice. Eric, 18
Beverly Hills, CA USA