I’ve been in denial the last month or so. I’ve been refusing to acknowledge the fact that the holidays are upon us.

But they are! We’ve got the decorations up. My mailbox is full of catalogues. Everywhere I look is a big brown truck with a UPS guy hopping in and out. And yet here I am without a single gift purchased. I haven’t even made a shopping list yet.

And to make things more stressful, the holiday season is starting earlier and earlier each year. Did you notice the inflatable snowman at Walmart jostling for floor space with the plastic skeleton? Sometimes I wonder what it will be like, say, ten years from now when the holidays have become nothing more than a three-month shopping binge.

And then there’s the food. Every Thanksgiving, the women in my family (i.e. my mom) spend days working on a meal that ends up revolving around a football game.

In my family at least, seems like many of the things we put the most effort into don’t end up being that meaningful, but some of the simplest things end up being important. How is it in your family?

I took a poll this year and was surprised to learn that my kids’ favorite holiday activity has nothing to do with piles of presents and labor-intensive food. The vote was unanimous: their favorite holiday activity is to pile into the car and drive around looking at lights–the more outlandish, the better. And we listen to sappy music, too, like Anne Murray and Johnny Matthis. I have to admit, I love it every year. But what about all that shopping I did? What about all the elaborate dinners and painstakingly decorated cookies?

I think I’m making this too hard. Maybe what will matter in hindsight is the time spent together doing whatever activity no matter how sappy, because it’s the hanging out together that counts.

What are  your favorite traditions? I’m talking about anything, big or small, that you do to commemorate the holidays.

Leave a comment for a chance  to win a holiday CD I just picked up from Starbucks (it has everyone from Frank Sinatra to Rosanne Cash) plus a $15 gift card to buy yourself a coffee break.

Just share  your favorite holiday tradition! I really want to hear it!