Whilst we are busy being thankful, it’s also ok to plan. It leaves more time for thankfulness on Thanksgiving. If you’ve ever cooked a giant meal without a plan, you know that you weren’t as thankful on that day. You were more sweaty and unkempt and feeding people from the stovetop, than filled with gratitude. To avoid any future appreciation pit-falls, we’ve assembled a handy guide to help you get your meal on the table, and be happy about it. And for more holiday how-to's, check out our Holiday Guide.

You don't have to be Christian to love Christmas carols. Crooning these classic songs on a brisk evening amongst neighbors, pals or friendly strangers is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season.

Carolers of all levels mingle at these events—wannabe Broadway stars and shyer singers blend together to serenade the city with a message of peace and joy. While caroling is often thought of as a rural or British tradition, there are actually many Christmas caroling events right here in New York City, and everyone is welcome to chime in.

Here are a dozen gatherings where you can literally sing in the holidays. Also consider attending a Christmas tree lighting. Many illuminations end with impromptu caroling.

Among the many things we romanticize during the holidays, trains are right up at the top, but usually it's the "choo-choo" kind, not the "screech-screech-unh-unh-eh" variety, a.k.a. the subway.

The exception is the MTA's annual Holiday Season Nostalgia Trains, vintage subway trains running along the Sixth Avenue line from Long Island City, Queens to Lower Manhattan. Read on to find out how you can catch a trip back in time courtesy of the MTA, all for the price of a regular fare!

Whether you're full of Christmas spirit or feeling a little "bah-humbug," seeing a performance of Charles Dickens' classic story of redemption, A Christmas Carol, can be an uplifting and delightful family holiday activity. 

This holiday season, there are multiple versions of the story being performed in a variety of ways in the Boston area, including the unique “in-the-round” performance by the North Shore Music Theatre and a comedic version performed by puppeteers at the Puppet Showplace Theater. Keep reading for details, and if you're looking for more classic holiday performances, take a look at our roundup of Boston-area productions of The Nutcracker. 

Editor's note: We're in the process of updating this post for 2015. Check back soon for the latest news. The holiday season is a great time to expose our kids to what it means when we say, "It takes all kinds."

From a traditional Mexican celebration to boombox Christmas caroling, you know you're in New York City when your family's holiday traditions include some of these fun, multicultural, artsy or just plain wacky events. Enjoy!

After visiting Concord Museum's annual exhibition Family Trees: A Celebration of Children's Literature for the first time last year, my family now has a new holiday tradition. Concord Museum celebrates the town of Concord's rich literary heritage year-round with exhibits featuring literary giants, and during the holidays, the presentation becomes even grander. For almost two decades, the museum has celebrated classic and contemporary children’s books with Christmas trees and wreaths inspired by those books. Each tree pays tribute to or brings a story to life in its own unique way. Here's more about the exhibition and what’s happening at the museum during the holidays, plus some tips for getting the most out of your visit with kids.