Since Thanksgiving recently passed and we are officially in the holiday season, I have been thinking about the yearly traditions I enjoy with friends and family in the festive months.

Thanksgiving is laid-back in my family. Everyone comes to my house, dressed casually, and we eat dinner and hang out most of the night. For the past couple years, we’ve been doing a fun little White Elephant gift exchange. Everyone buys a $10, Christmas-themed decoration, game or little keepsake, and we put them all in a pile to be picked from. We pick a number to see what order we choose, and we set rules so we aren’t arguing over how many times something can be stolen or who can steal what. This year I ended up with a bag of Grinch-themed Hershey Kisses and a little penguin and Santa Claus decoration to put on my desk. It’s a fun little game that gets us all excited for the holiday season.

Another tradition I am excited about continuing this season is a holiday cocktail night I enjoy with my friends. We get together one night leading up to Christmas, or right after, and we each make a holiday- or winter-themed cocktail, play games and just enjoy each other’s company. The one for this year is coming up, and I’m not sure what I am making yet, so if anyone has any recommendations, let me know!

One of my favorite holiday traditions, since I was a little girl, is getting matching pajamas on Christmas Eve. Every year when we would go to bed, there would be a present waiting for us, and I was always eager to see what they looked like — I still am! Every year, I stay in my pajamas all day on Christmas.

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

— Mary Melnick, social media & editorial manager