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Lights!
Kelliann Dearolf of Newton says she and her husband have found a way to tucker her kids out on Christmas Eve: They pile them in the car in their PJs, coats and boots, and go exploring for decorations. "The whole family enjoys looking for Christmas lights and calling out the holiday sights," she says. "'Christmas lights on Mommy's side!' 'Santa and his reindeer on Daddy's.' We just drive and drive until it is, indeed, a Silent Night."
Over in Winchester the McElhinneys also enjoy a "pajama ride," as 7-year-old Julia calls it. Their favorite spots are Stoneham, Reading, and Winchester centers. "Colored lights are best, but we cheer for white lights too - well, sometimes we don't."
Ann Killion of Weymouth says her family kicks off the season with a visit to Eileen Drive in Braintree. "We join a respectful line of cars slowly snaking their way through a darkened suburban street 'oohing and ahhing' at the magical light of the Christmas star ... thousands of them." To get there, take the Union Street exit off Route 3 and head east toward Weymouth; at the first light turn right on Middle Street; left at the third intersection onto Doris; right onto Andrea Drive, which ends at Eileen. Be warned: Andrea is the only access to and from Eileen.
Ed Nasif recalls a longtime family tradition of riding around neighborhoods, photographing and rating Christmas decorations. "I am now alone and I often think of it," writes the 82-year-old from Roslindale.
Two shrines figure in a number of your holiday traditions.
The Hagertys of North Easton beat the traffic to the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro by arriving at 4 p.m., leaving them time to tour the grounds and attend Mass. At 5 p.m., they climb to a prime viewing spot and watch the lights flash on. "We're out of there by 5:30, passing the long line of cars waiting to get in." Their next stop: pizza.
Phyllis Mays of Wellesley takes her grandchildren on an annual visit to the Fatima Shrine in Holliston. In addition to the life-size replicas of holy scenes, they are drawn to the "awesome" Rosary path. "Each bead [is] represented by a large boulder, each from a different land," Mays writes. " As the children pass the beads, the older ones recite the prayers, the younger ones murmuring in imitation. The shrine's Christmas lights are on from 5 to 9 p.m. daily.
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