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Florida doesn’t do anything by the book -- that includes celebrating the holidays. So this season, WUSF is extolling all the ways to enjoy the holidays with a Florida twist... and we want your input.Tell us about your Florida holiday tradition. Does your family take part in a lighted boat parade, lace up for a jingle bell run or spend New Year’s Eve making sand sculptures?Then there are the decorations. Show us your seashell ornaments, palm trees wrapped in lights and flamingoes in Santa hats.We want your recipes, too. Do you dress your gingerbread men in Bermuda shorts or dip your latkes in Key lime jelly?And how to do show out-of-town guests a good time in the warm weather? Do you take them caroling down the beach or spend all eight nights of Hanukkah at Disney?Get creative. Share your photos, videos, recipes, tweets, memories, short essays and anything else that would make us say, “That’s so Florida!”Your submission might end up on wusfnews.org/floridaholidays... or even on the radio.Here are some ways to join the fun:Post a photo or short story on our wall at Facebook.com/WUSF.Send a tweet to @WUSF with the hashtag #floridaholidays.Leave a phone message for WUSF reporter/producer Dalia Colón at (813) 974-8636.Email Dalia at daliacolon@wusf.org.We’ll collect your submissions through Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. Check this blog daily for new content, and listen WUSF 89.7 through the end of the year to hear how your fellow Floridians celebrate the season.

Florida Holidays: Over-the-Top Christmas Lights Video

Courtesy of Dalia Colón

My husband, Braulio, and I had this Florida holiday tradition for years: First we’d meet up in downtown St. Petersburg with our friends Cara and Quincy to watch the Palladium’s free annual performance of Black Nativity.

Then our foursome was off to South St. Pete for a visit to the home at 2719 Oakdale Street South – which we lovingly referred to as the Tacky Christmas House. See for yourself in this video:

Floridians aren't exactly known for being subtle. With approximately a half-million holiday lights, the Oakdale house has been featured everywhere from HGTV to the Today show. It even has its own website.

Over time, the display got bigger – and so did our families, as illustrated by this 2008 photo featuring a very pregnant Cara:

A few years ago, Cara and Quincy moved to Dallas with their two kids. As the saying goes, everything’s bigger in Texas. But when it comes to Christmas lights, Florida’s the one to beat.

Is there an over-the-top light display in your neighborhood? We'd love to see a photo or video as part of our Florida Holidays project. For details, click here.

"I host a food podcast" is a great icebreaker at parties.
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