When I was younger, I really loved the holidays: notably Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Interestingly enough, all three of these holidays involve traditions created with my older brother. As I grew up, I didn't really enjoy them as much. I found myself feeling like they were just another day where I was forced to spend a lot of time with my family. That is until a couple years ago when my brother went to college. It was then I realized that our traditions meant more now than ever and I began to love them again. The past two years I have really invested myself in making these holidays special for both myself and those around me.

Traditions are an important part of our lives. We all have traditions within our families or communities that mean something to us. On Halloween, my family always got a pizza for dinner and then my brother and I would go trick or treating together all night long. When we were finished, we would come back home and sit down in the living room to watch movies and trade candy. This was an all night affair sometimes. Although we don't do this anymore, it's something that will always be special to me. The two traditions we have managed to keep up are Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve/Christmas.

On Thanksgiving morning, my brother and I get up and eat blueberry muffins in the living room while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Why blueberry muffins? Who knows. But that's always what it's been. Meanwhile, my family's up in the kitchen cooking a delicious assortment of foods. I also fondly recall Thanksgiving's that included playing lots of Mario Kart with him. On Christmas Eve, my brother and I have a little sleepover in his room and then we wake up early and go open presents. We used to also set out a plate of cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. It was so much fun to wake up in the morning and see that everything was gone. These traditions might seem silly, but we cherish them!

Whether it's the special place your family goes to celebrate Thanksgiving, decorating the Christmas tree, or the opening of presents on Christmas morning, these traditions mean something different to every person. I love my traditions because they make me feel so much love and warmth. Spending time with my brother and the rest of my family is what makes the holidays so important to me. I can't wait until I have my own home and family to carry on old traditions and start new ones with. What are some of your traditions? What do they mean to you?