Home, during the holidays, is when it feels the home-iest. It’s when we build up our arsenal of unique celebrations that – while similar in spirit to everyone else’s – are real all our own.

It’s the slightly burnt yams that the kids away at college crave, not just the perfectly cooked ham. It's the uncle whose stories of "the good old days" make us smile when we think of them, just as much as carol-singing by the fire. It's the quirky White Elephant gift exchanges and the pajama-clad Christmas mornings that stick with you year after year -- and the silly photos of both that always make you laugh.

The only thing almost as fun as revisiting one’s own little holiday traditions – be they traditional or not – is reading about other people’s. Here’s a handful to get you in the spirit.

Why not share yours with us too?
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“My sisters and I wait until Christmas Eve -- when we all congregate at our  mother's house -- to wrap all of our gifts. We stay up really late drinking wine, laughing and wrapping … I love it!” – Debbie

"My only brother, who's also one of my best friends, lives in Africa. When he's home for Christmas, everyone wants to see him, leaving very little time for the two of us. So to create our official 'together time,' we do the grocery shopping for my mom. For an Italian Christmas feast, this is not a quick trip -- last year's list began with 12 pounds of mozzarella. Somehow, maybe 'cause he's a guy, it wouldn't work if we sat down across a table with the intention of having a big important chat. But under the disguise of counting out 45 cans of tomato sauce, we really get to talk." -- Jen [via Ladies Home Journal] http://www.lhj.com/health/stress/mood-boosters/unusual-holiday-traditions/

“My mother puts bows from the gifts in her hair.” – Anonymous

“Every Christmas Eve we go to church and then meet our dear Jewish friends for dinner for Chinese food.” – Christine

“We play Bingo on Christmas Eve. It gets quite competitive. The winner invariably leaves with a handful of prizes, mostly from the 99 cent store.” -- Carey

“For the last two years, my girlfriend and I have really gone all out with our Christmas cards. We're good friends with a talented photographer, and he's helped us set up professional photo shoots to capture us in some zany Christmas settings. When the cards come back from the printer, we enjoy pulling an all-nighter to write personal notes to all our friends and family members. We cue up the Pandora Christmas channel, brew some tea, bake some cookies, and stay up til dawn writing cards and sealing envelopes.  Although this tradition is just a couple years old, it already doesn't feel like Christmas without it.” -- Brian

“We try and go to the Zoo on Christmas day, because in Houston it’s never too cold to be outside in December and the animals are usually more active in the cooler weather.” [The Nest]

“My mom plays an ancient cassette tape with Christmas music before we start our meal. The quality goes down every year, but she still plays it.” [Airliners.net] www.airliners.net

My husband and I watch Love, Actually every year, as it is my favorite new Christmas Classic. We make some egg nog, cuddle up, and laugh. -- JP

[Main Image: Andy Reynolds | Lifesize | © Getty Images]