tavie.com

My aunt's friend Myra told me that every Christmas she has a personal tradition: she goes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see their Christmas tree, her favorite, and then takes a slow bus ride down fifth avenue and goes to look at the windows.

Mine and my family's traditions have changed over the years, but I still have some constants. My personal holiday traditions include:

Baking Wlliamsburg gingerbread (the only cookie I'll still bake this year, as I'm foregoing the annual cookie-baking party I host in order to stay on track with my weight loss) and decorating them with my friends; taking most of them to work to give away to co-workers.

A peppermint mocha from Starbuck's (tall, no-whip with skim milk is only 4 points, and I'm saving this one up.)

Watching A Muppet Family Christmas. Preferably with my family, but I'm not picky.

Buying gifts for needy kids through New York Cares Winter Wishes program.

Looking at the light displays in Bensonhurt.

I want to know everyone's personal traditions, even of the bah-humbug variety. Post 'em in the comments.

I've only named a couple of mine, ones that I've consistently done for the last few years, but I have many more. The more unique, the better. Mine tend to be very New York-y; despite the crowds, there is no place I'd rather be at Christmastime than here in my home town. We really do it up right.

Why are you in Tavie's head? 10:32 AM | shower me with attention