Times change, and people change with the times. But to me, the magic of the holidays will always be rooted in childhood memories and traditions that make the season — probably for most people — the most nostalgic time of the year.

Traditions that hearken back to childhood memories of family gatherings lay the framework for most of my recollections of the holidays. Maybe a child’s perspective of Christmas or Thanksgiving carries a lot more wonder and fascination with it, and I’m sure that’s what makes it so special.

Regardless, I think a key to finding that warm and fuzzy holiday feeling is to embrace fond memories of the past and borrow from them to help make new memories – especially for the next generations of children and grandchildren who are still in the wide-eyed process of building that foundation of impressionable holiday experiences.

Yet, sticking to traditions can eventually become too … traditional. It can lead you into an annual holiday rut if you don’t do something to help shake things up.

Some of the memories that stand out the most in my mind don’t involve a picture-perfect, white Christmas scene reminiscent of a Thomas Kinkade painting.

In fact, some of the most memorable holiday happenings are often the most unusual, imperfect or even disastrous events at which we now can look back and laugh.

Several years ago, someone tried to tell me that the classic holiday movie “A Christmas Story” should NOT be considered a Christmas movie. They said it had as much to do with Christmas as “Die Hard” does (the Bruce Willis action film that just happened to be set during Christmas time … and, comically, is now viewed by many as actually being a Christmas movie!)

But I cannot disagree more. “A Christmas Story” is the quintessential Christmas movie, in my eyes.

No, the movie has little or nothing to do with Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman — let alone baby Jesus, for that matter. There’s no comparison to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street” or any version of “A Christmas Carol.” But “A Christmas Story” hits the nail on the head when it comes to capturing the stark reality of the quirky things on which most people’s best memories of the holidays are built.

“A Christmas Story” is narrated by an adult reflecting on his most memorable childhood holiday season.

That story is literally a series of train wrecks — getting chased by bullies, dropping the lug nuts, having to eat soap for cursing, being traumatized by the mall Santa, watching a friend get his tongue frozen to a pole, listening to his dad’s tirades as he battles a malfunctioning furnace, having the neighbor’s dogs invade the kitchen and devour the Christmas dinner — then having to eat Christmas dinner at the local Chinese restaurant. And, of course, nearly shooting an eye out with a BB gun … just like his mother warned him about.

Yet to the narrator, all the crazy antics are what make that story — and that Christmas –most memorable and special. All of the wacky events helped bring the family closer together and give them a unique holiday they’ll never forget. That’s really what’s at the heart of the holidays for most people.

For those who get it and who love “A Christmas Story” for that reason, it really strikes a chord.

While my own childhood memories of the holidays don’t involve outrageous elements like leg lamps and triple-dog dares, the memories that stand out the most are the ones that are farthest from a picture perfect holiday.

From the relatives who fall asleep sitting up and snoring after Thanksgiving dinner — comatose from tryptophan while trying to watch a boring Detroit Lions game — to those who are absolutely the worst players at after-dinner board games, thanks for the fond memories. As for the time when the most odd-ball collection of friends and relatives got together for a misfit Thanksgiving dinner and set off all the smoke detectors in the house, that non-traditional gathering sticks out in my mind and makes me shake my head and smile. For the rotation of gag Christmas gifts, the inside dad jokes and embarrassing episodes that some may wish to forget — I affectionately remember.

The biggest and best Christmas gifts are truly the ones that come outside of the box.

Maybe this year and for every season moving forward, we should all start a new tradition of being less traditional — by putting a little less effort into trying to make the holidays perfect and putting more effort into making sure they are distinctly memorable.