Just about every family that celebrates Christmas has their own traditions that are carried out each year during the splendid holiday season. These traditions generally stay with us into our adult lives and even possibly are passed down when we have our own children. Although we generally move away from home for school, work, love, or a change of scenery as we grow up, these traditions stay with us for a long time.

Holidays and traditions have always had a special place in the heart of my family, making this personally the most wonderful time of the year. The traditions brought along with the magical holiday season begin the day after Thanksgiving:

Treasure The Tree & Get Festive

Our family goes to different Christmas tree lots in order to decide which tree will reside in our living room for the next month. We always have to compromise depending on different preferences of tree height, fullness, and price. After this has been decided, we take the tree home and transform it from an evergreen tree into our personal Christmas decoration. This process begins as we fill the tree with string lights and the various ornaments in which we have collected over the years. This is when it ~begins to look a lot like Christmas.~

After decorating has been finished, the next traditions don't take place until Christmas Eve:

Santa's Coming To Town

As we're expecting jolly 'ol Saint Nick, my brother and I sprinkle the front yard with "reindeer food" (oats and glitter) and we prepare cookies and milk to ensure Santa and his reindeer have something to munch on during their visit.

Present Picking Roulette

Each year we get to open one present the night before Christmas, which started as pajamas and has evolved into a present of choice. This is always exciting to have a sneak peek into the other gifts we will open the following morning.

As the long awaited Christmas Day arrives, so do more traditions:

Look Festive, Feel Festive

Although not opened as our present on Christmas Eve, we get new Christmas pajamas every year. These are worn when received on that Christmas Eve and into the glorious Christmas morning.

Stocking Stuffers

We always kick off Christmas morning by unveiling what is in our stockings stuffed with goodies. Two things we have always been guaranteed to find are a set of lottery tickets and a new ornament to expand our already vast collection.

Stuck On Santa

Even as my brother and I have entered our adult years, some of our presents are still labeled from Santa in order to signify the "bigger" presents from the "smaller" ones.

Even though my family has many traditions that we carry out each year, the holiday season would not be the same without them. These activities allow us to cherish this time of year as we further bond with our loved ones.