Holiday Dishes and Family Traditions

Which dish makes a holiday meal feel complete in your home? Tell us the occasion, what you serve, and the tradition behind it. The everyday details that surround the meal are welcome too.

For anyone planning a similar gathering, how many people do you usually feed? What can you prepare ahead, which dish needs the oven at the last minute, and how do you organize a crowded kitchen?

If you have made the same favorite for a smaller celebration, explain what changed in the quantities, cookware, or timing.