Baking is as much a part of celebrating Christmas to me as fireworks are a part of the 4th of July celebration.

Having a baking extravaganza ushers in the holiday season. Your extravaganza might be making gluten-free apple strudel with your kids or assembling brownies gingerbread houses with a group of friends. Everyone plays a part in the holiday bake day. Applying sprinkles on cookies, chopping fruit, kneading dough or doing the dishes are all part of the baking process. There is always something to do in the kitchen.

Baking is a part of so many people's holiday traditions. It got me thinking on why baking? Why now? After all, most local grocery stores and super centers have bakeries that produce delicious goods for a decent price. However no store can make prettier sugar cookies than little kids. And no one does fudge and date pudding like my Grandma.

After some reflection, I came up with 5 reasons why baking is not only fun but essential during the Christmas season:

Baking brings many of us back to our childhood memories of family time, grandparents, neighbors, holiday activities and parties.