Holiday activities?
 

So, I'm in a new place and I'm wondering what to do for the up-coming Solstice/Christmakwanzakah/New Year's season. I'm looking for events to attend as well as personal traditions (as I'm trying to establish a new life with new traditions). What do you do to mark this time of year?

I'm actually looking for Holiday activities to attend too, this'll be my first December in OC.

We're embarking on new traditions this year too.

Instead of a bunch of little gifts, we're using funds from my in-laws to buy a Wii and a few games.

We're also formally celebrating Yule with a log, spiced cider, and a lavish home-cooked dinner.

Does avoiding one's family count as an activity?

I work during Christmas. It's loads of fun and very fulfilling. I wouldn't understand it if no one else desired the same festive Holiday. (At least my clients tip.)

New Years - well you all know bout that. And, soon, there will even be an evite making it "official" - and even more racist.

Along with the holidays, there are an inordinate number of family birthdays in December, including my mom, my sister, CP's brother, and my soon-to-be-a-year-old niece. And our families tend not to get together very often (it's better that way), so we are left with very little free time.

Not that we don't enjoy what we're doing with that time.

I used to HATE the holiday season for the sole reason of having DJ'd company Christmas parties. For many years, it was every Friday and Saturday in December (before Christmas) plus many additional parties. Last year was the first year in twenty where I did not have a single party.

Susan has been working hard to get me back in the spirit.

I love Xmas lights. They are a must every year. It seems the neighbor's are adding so that the neighborhood look very festive and it wouldn't be the holidays without decorations. Just really relaxing and very soothing i find them as well.

My grandpa used to add rum to the egg nog. How i miss him but sometimes keep the tradition going. As well as making rum balls this year falls on my mom and then i will help her roll them and sort them to give out as gifts to my fellow coworkers. :) Helping make right before Xmas very merry.

I do miss our tradition (my grandparents have both passed on) of us going to Vegas together as a family right before Xmas or to go snow skiing in a nice storm in Big Bear making the holidays seem postcard perfect.

Oh, a good activity is the boat parades at the various harbors around SoCal.

Here's a list