After I moved to metro Atlanta in 1992, I started a new tradition in my family: Christmas Day at the Christmas House. For days in advance I cooked and prepared for an onslaught of friends and relatives who often numbered as high as twenty-five. Time marches on, though, and friends have passed away, family members have other obligations, and children have grown up and lost interest. Last year I changed my party to the day after Christmas, rather than Christmas Day, hoping to earn back some of the people who were unavailable Christmas Day. I did the same this year.