Gathering around the Christmas tree in festive attire to decorate the bush, sing old time carols and drink hot cider, what could be better? Can’t you just see the scene unfolding on the card you need to send to your mother-in-law?

In truth, we at the Young household do all the above with the exception of singing Christmas carols (we’re not very musically inclined, we’re just loud.) We also do something Christine found appalling after I hoodwinked her into marrying me… We open gifts on Christmas Eve! She thought that more shocking than your six-year old’s reaction when his friend tells him that the image he has of Santa Claus was largely invented by Coca Cola in the early part of the 20th century.

The kiddies like the bit about getting presents a day early, but upon Chris’ demand, we keep a few brightly colored packages intact for the Christmas morning round…right before brunch.

Those are just a few of the many traditions to which different families tightly cling – and fight over when marriage introduces new blood. For example, what time do you serve dinner? And does the mistletoe hang from the front door or the back? And of course, everyone’s favorite, who’s the sucker who’ll be the first to try your crazy aunt’s fruit cake?

I’m okay with breaking tradition if it involves a nice roast, like my mother-in-law made two years ago…very tasty. But as a general rule, we’re pretty traditional.