• Don’t shut yourself in the kitchen…it will stress you out and make your guests feel guilty. Buy pre-made dinner items (they’re available everywhere from your supermarket to a local caterer) and/or make the meal a pot-luck.

• Use several generations’ worth of china, silver, and table linens on the dinner table. Use heirlooms you’ve inherited, or ask family members to contribute serving pieces or place settings to use for the meal.

• Laminate your kids’ special seasonal artwork for place mats, and let the young people be in charge of setting and decorating the table.

• Invite friends, not just family members. Encourage them to bring ideas that celebrate their own traditions and treat them like family when they’re in your home.

• Involve your guests in creating seasonal décor. Whether it’s decorating a holiday tree or simply collecting gorgeous leaves in the yard, everyone can help create a festive ambience.

• Ask your guests to bring with them something related to their family history, and during the holiday meal, have each take a turn at “show and tell.” I’ve done this one, and it’s really interesting how much we learned about one another.

• Have guests bring canned goods – collect them all in a box and deliver them to a soup kitchen or other aid organization. Better yet, spend a few hours volunteering as a group for the charity organization of your choice.

What meaningful traditions have you and your family shared over the years?  What keeps your focus on the spirit of the holidays?