What is a unique or meaningful holiday tradition that you or your family look forward to this time of year?

Julie Miller:
Because my family is so spread out--across three states with one of us deployed overseas--just getting us all together in one place at one time once a year to hang out is what we look forward to most. We eat, of course, but pretty much on paper plates anymore because we hate to lose our precious time to doing too many dishes. But we play games and put puzzles together. Watch some sports and favorite holiday movies (White Christmas, It's A Wonderful Life, The Christmas Story, Holiday Inn and Die Hard are usually on the list). We attend church, go for walks, see the holiday decorations around wherever we are (at my place in Nebraska this year). But mostly, we talk and laugh and trade hugs. This year, we hope to work out a massive computer camera link with all of us and my brother overseas so that we truly will be all together.

Family is also important to the Kincaids in my Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge miniseries from Harlequin Intrigue. Don't miss the final installment featuring the fourth and eldest Kincaid brother, Edward, in Kansas City Christmas. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Dana Marton:
In addition to ornaments, we also hang candy on the tree, wrapped in shiny paper. Makes putting up the tree, and also taking it down, more fun. We also pick a new ornament each year as a family. I put the year on the bottom. We try to pick something that symbolizes that year. (New home, new baby, etc.) 

B.J. Daniels:
Our holiday tradition is going out in the wilds and getting a Christmas tree. I always want a bigger one than our house can hold. But last spring we raised our ceilings in our old house back to the original 10-feet so, you guessed it, I am going for a really big tree this year! Meanwhile, I'm working on the continuing Whitehorse, Montana series. The series has grown to 18 books! Watch for when the Corbett brothers hit town in April!

Sylvie Kurtz:
With the kids growing older and scattering, I look forward to having the whole family together again.  Like any holiday, food plays a big part.  We have the sticky cinnamon buns from my husband's family and the Yule log from my family, and the Cornish hens that became our own tradition over a decade ago.  The kids still enjoy going through their stockings before breakfast and opening presents after.  We have a fire going in the wood stove and Christmas songs playing in the background.  But the best part is being together.  I wish you all a warm and happy holiday season! 

Mallory Kane:
My family members are big jokers. At Christmas, we have a good time with Christmas gifts.  Christmas is the one time of year that absolutely the whole family is there--kids, grandkids, inlaws. So Christmas morning is a wonderful experience for all of us. My brother hands out the presents from under the tree. Since we all enjoy a good laugh, we've seen lots of pranks pulled with gifts. The beautiful earrings packaged in five individually wrapped nesting boxes (from ring size to microwave oven size!)  The set of solar lamps individually wrapped, so that my sister-in-law got twelve gifts rather than one. The present of ONE stereo speaker to my husband (who really thought my technology-impaired dad was serious about him just needing one.) The year I put my mother's gift (3 sterling silver serving pieces) in her stocking. Her name never got called for a present, until he "noticed" the stocking. And of course, the engagement ring hidden in the toe of the dollar-store house slippers.  

Okay, yes, some of the jokes bordered on mean (ONE speaker!,) but now the grandchildren are asking when THEY are going to get'pranked.'  Traditions, whether joking, nostalgic or poignant, are precious, as are memories. My family will have a lot of both this year. Speaking of stockings, my latest Intrigue, High School Reunion, on shelves December 9, 2008, fits perfectly! Happy Holidays to all of you!

Rita Herron:
On Christmas eve we always attend the evening candelight church  service where all our neighbors and friends go. At the end of the  service, everyone lights a candle and they turn the lights off and we sing Silent Night. A few years ago, my family decided to have the  neighbors  drop by for coffee and dessert. My kids also invite all their friends. It was such fun that it's morphed into a tradition for  all of us. One year I thought of not doing it, but my neighbors all said that it had become part of their family tradition, too. In fact,  in November, they start asking if I'm doing it again. So we've kept it up. That night always reminds me what the holidays are really  about. Church and friendship and family and love. I hope everyone shares that this holiday, too.  

Pat White:
Unique or meaningful holiday tradition?? Why food, of course.? But not turkey or cranberry sauce or even pumpkin pie.? Since our family moved to Seattle from Chicago, we been missing our Chicago deep dish pizza!? So every Christmas? when folks are eating the traditional fare, The Whites of Washington are diving into deep dish sausage pizza from Lou Malnatti's.? Pizza for Christmas -- that's livin'!!
 

Patricia Rosemoor:
For more than thirty years, I always had a Christmas party with more people than should fit in my city flat. I would try to have it the weekend before Christmas so old friends who came back into the city to see relatives might be around to stop by. That all changed when my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer four years ago on Christmas Eve. After he was gone, I had no interest in having a large party again, but I wanted to do something. So I had a holiday luncheon for my writer friends who had been my support system while my husband was ill. The next year I hosted a potluck for the critique group I started with ex-students. Last year I had a luncheon for my female relatives--a cousin, a cousin's wife and their adult daughters. This year I'm having a book launch party/luncheon for a writer and dear friend and will probably host the family luncheon again. I love entertaining, but now am glad to do it on a smaller scale where I can actually talk to each of my guests.