PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Christmas Day is steeped in family rituals, but so is the night before Christmas.

For Susan Murphy of Marlton, Christmas Eve goes like this: It’s a trip to her brother-in-law and sister-in-law’s for dinner. And then, “we actually go to a house near them that does a light show that plays to music. And we all pile in the car and have hot chocolate and it’s a great night.”

But the children make it special, “…especially with the kids we’re really enjoying the holiday time and seeing the excitement on their faces. It makes my holiday season.”

Michelle Grasso of Mickleton in Gloucester County describes the Seven Fishes:

“It’s a big seafood feast. We’re Italian. (Do you do the seven fishes?) No. But I do at least seven dishes with fishes! Typically I cut it down to about five different fishes.”

Michelle says it’s not the number of fishes that’s important. It’s the tradition, “Ii’s back to our roots. It’s how we were raised. And I think there’s a lot of comfort in that. Especially in times like this.”

Reported By Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio.