I don't know about your family, but ours has several traditions that it's just not Christmas without. For instance, we always leave decorated sugar cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve with a small glass of milk. Also, we always open one present on Christmas Eve. The past two years it has been a set of pajamas from Mrs. Clause. The tree always comes out the day of or the day after Thanksgiving and usually stays until after the New Year.
When I was young every Christmas Eve my dad's side of the family had a dinner at my aunt and uncle's house. It happened every year no matter how bad the weather. We used to draw names and exchange gifts but that faded over the years when we started to get older. My grandma and grandpa always gave us an envelope with $5 in it as well. I remember driving out to the house, my aunt and uncle lived out in the country, and looking at the lights here and there. It was so magical just driving to their house in the dark of Christmas Eve searching the sky for any strange object that might be Santa. It was best when it was snowing. I love to watch the snow fall.
When I got into my teens my mom would let me have a very small glass of Asti Spumante with her on Christmas Eve before bed. This was something that was shared just between us.
Does your family have any traditions for the holidays? What are they?