This is a guest post by media personality and entrepreneur Debi Lilly, a Woman on Fire and a most sought-after event planner.  In a contest she created for Women on Fire, Debi chose the winner of the 2010 Women on Fire Holiday Traditions.

Debi Lilly

Wow.

I never expected this.

I now know you can never, ever choose just one winner in a contest filled with holiday traditions from thoughtful, kind, caring, nurturing, generous and world-changing women. What ever was I thinking?

So, with great excitement I want to thank you all for your lovely, important, accessible, relatable, holiday celebration traditions, stories and comments.  I poured over each and every one of them – my eyes tearing up, my heart filling with joy, and my list of new holiday, family traditions growing with every single post.  Here are some honorable mentions:

Debra Bachelder – Your Rockette kickline a la olives and toothpicks is hysterical!

Heather Wilson, Donna Kim-Brand and Lisa Aucoin – I, too, collect ornaments with each and every travel adventure.  I will now think of you with each ornament I place on my tree next season, reliving all the worldly family jaunts and travels.

Vera Nicimpaye– The African celebration and rituals were amazing, transporting, and so inspirational to read.

Ashley Smith – I, too, grew up opening one single gift each Christmas Eve.  Mine too was always pajamas – made by my grandmother out of Lanz flannel for every single aunt, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and family female to wear for our annual Christmas Eve family photo.

Dianne Phillips – You had me at Miracle Day…

Nan Katzenberger – Baby Jesus cake is one of my many new Women on Fire holiday traditions.  Starting this week!

Lorna Bricco – I could picture the winter alphabet photo session like it was in my own backyard.

June Zeringue – Turkey Day Awards are on my 2011 Thanksgiving to-dos.  I help clients plan their holiday dinners, too  — and hope you don’t mind if I share this fantastic family celebration with them as well.

Melissa Brummerstedt, Anne Harmody, Whitney Ferre and all the cookie bakers – I can’t think of a more perfect tradition than gingerbread house making and holiday cookie and coffee cake baking.  I can’t imagine the holidays without picturing my entire four-generation family (and now my own children for a fifth generation) making gingerbread houses, and my darling Grandmother pressing her holiday-shaped butter cookies into green Christmas trees, red wreaths, and more.  These are still my very favorite sweet any day of the year.

And, to Lindy Hudson – I loved your Santa story. I am also a believer – and my whole life long the tree will be laden with gifts from Santa. ‘Tis the season!

So, without further ado, my first place winner of the 2010 Women on Fire Holiday Traditions contest for her story of giving to a little boy she didn’t know and his mother is…

Melissa McClain!

I read the post so many days ago, but I continue to see Melissa on Christmas Day, unable to stop picturing the little boy beaming with sheer joy over his new train, and, in turn, his mother beaming with gratitude.

It’s the perfect holiday story.  Giving to those — even researching the most perfect train model  — for someone that you don’t even know. Melissa, your tradition goes down in my book right there next to “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

But I couldn’t stop there, because there were two others that again I just couldn’t get out of my mind.

So I would like to announce a second place winner…

Sharon Harvey, your story of keeping the spirit of your whole family, while Daddy is away on duty, has stayed with me.  I am in awe of your creativity (I need you on my team!) and brilliant hands-on activities to celebrate Dad both inside your home and on his ship at sea.  Bravo!

And last, my third place winner is (trust me I wish I could have 30 winners!)…

Alice Harra, the empty box under the tree is again the very essence of a Christmas tradition.  I think it took me two minutes to place the very same under my own tree after reading your post.  And about 10 minutes for my kids to excitedly fill it up for other children on Christmas morning.

Thank you, thank you to everyone.

(You can read all of the inspiring entries in the Comments Section below the post here.)

Our Valentine’s on Fire contest will be coming up next…and I personally cannot wait for more beautiful stories of love, compassion and life from all of you.

Cheers to happy holidays!

Debi Lilly

Chief Eventeur

A Perfect Event

3050 N. Lincoln Ave

Chicago, IL 60657

www.aperfectevent.com