About 15 years ago, when we moved to where we are now in South Florida, my wife and I were discussing Christmas traditions that we should start for our young family. We were in a new place and Christmas was approaching. We saw an announcement for a “Festival of Lights” in a nearby park. It runs from shortly after Thanksgiving through Christmas. You drive through slowly and look at a variety of holiday light displays sponsored by local companies. We decided to get some burgers and go after work one day. 15 years later and it is still a tradition. This year, we figured out what date my older daughter would be home from university and set the date. The light displays change only marginally every year, the burger place we visit has changed occasionally, but we still go. We look for small changes like the huge lit teddy bear which this year seems to have changed which side of the road he sits on, and for new additions, although some of us remember them from the previous years and some are sure that they are new. On the way home, we normally drive through a few local neighborhoods and look at how people have decorated. I am of the firm opinion that you can judge the economy on the basis of these displays. This year looks good. This event always puts me in the holiday mood and is now one of our family traditions. We may eventually move from here but it is something that we will always remember fondly.