Growing up, this time of the year was always full of time-honored customs my family and I would come together for in the lead-up to Christmas.

The Christmas season would always begin on Thanksgiving, actually, as we would get together with my mother’s extended family to celebrate the day and watch “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

It’s hard to for me to pick a favorite part of the movie itself, but I always enjoyed watching the reactions of different family members as their favorite characters or favorite scenes filled the screen.

Even though time has passed and it has become harder to get the entire family together for the annual screening, I was happy to hear it was shown again at Thanksgiving just a few weeks ago.

Living in Ohio, Thanksgiving was often followed shortly there after by the season’s first snowfall.

As a child in Ohio, snow meant sledding, snowball fights and school cancellations.

Snow also meant Mom would make hot cocoa and Dad would build a fire in the fireplace.

Unfortunately, there were many occasions where a fun snowball fight would end in tears from my sisters or myself after a well-intentioned frozen ball of ice would smack one of us in the face.

After drying off the snow flakes and the tears, we would help mom ice cookies with a neighborhood friend.

I’m not sure how many cookies they make every year, but I have no idea how the local grocers keeps enough sugar on the shelves.

Even as a child, though, one of my favorite traditions was to attend the midnight mass on Christmas Eve with my parents and sisters.

Decked in poinsettias, the church was the most beautiful sight of the season year after year.

Being the only two men in the family, my father and I were pretty quiet most of the time, but when the midnight service rolled around we would join with the others to sing some Christmas carols.

After hurrying home, and passing out, my sisters and I would arise early … too early for my parents’ liking … upend our stockings, tears open our presents and stare for hours at the new gifts Santa left behind.

Last year, I spent the holiday with Rachel and her family, and took part in their traditions.

Breakfast and presents at home and then lunch with the extended family.

It meant the world to share the special season with them, and I can’t wait to do it again this year.

As a newly-married couple, Rachel and I will soon put up and decorate our first tree together.

For us, it will be a first, but it is the start of what will be another cherished tradition.

Whatever your Christmas traditions may be, I hope this season brings you joy, love, laughter and hope.

Jay Sowers is photo editor of Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at jay@gulfcoastmedia.com.