CALL OUT: What Are Your Favorite Holiday Traditions?

With all the stress, commercialism and hype that can surround the holiday season, we can easily forget what it is about the holidays that are truly important.

Patch that she's hoping to steer the focus this year away from gift giving and more toward the experiences with her children, like nighttime walks through the neighborhood to see the lights.

So what is it that makes your forget about all the gifts you have left to purchase; all the carbs you'll be taunted by during those feasts; those in-laws you'll be cleaning the house for? What is it that you hope will remind your kids, there's more to the holidays than receiving presents?

What are your favorite holiday traditions that you share with your family?

Is it the in Riverdale Park; the in Greenbelt; the ; or the ?

Or is it something else entirely?

Last week, I came across what has the potential to be a new tradition for myself: the festival of lights at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro. It's a beautiful display, open nightly into January. A $5 admission fee is charged per car or van, but it's worth it. I highly recommend blaring Christmas music and rolling down your car windows, no matter how cold it is.

That’s one of my new traditions. Share your favorite traditions in the comments below.