The holidays are a time of tried-and-true traditions, the rituals that your family and friends look forward to as a constant, a deeply enjoyable time together. For many people, they wouldn't dream of changing a thing. Their holiday events will stay the same as they've been for generations.

But if you feel inspired to do something new as well, hosting a brunch can be the perfect event for your group.

Here's why brunches are so popular right now:

Since brunches take place during late morning to early afternoon, your guests can enjoy your event and also make it to all of the evening events on their social calendars. Some guests find an earlier event time to work better for them, and thus they may be more likely to show up.

Brunch menus feature a wide variety of dishes, especially when they take place at a restaurant's buffet that features more selections than you'd likely make on your own. You'll find carving stations, omelet stations, endless salads, smoked salmon -- and then we get to more luncheon-style stations and displays. Plus, brunch menus will often feature specialty diet foods like vegan and gluten-free items that again might be beyond what you'd prepare personally.

Brunches held at a restaurant can often be more budget-friendly than a brunch held at home, where your grocery shopping list can run into the hundreds of dollars for all food and supplies.

Some really enjoy, during this season of doing for others, the treat of having waitstaff bring them a glass of champagne, a soda or a bloody mary. "When I host, I barely get to eat anything ... and definitely not hot things!" says mother of four Sally Branch of New Hope, Pennsylvania.

If you'll host at home, a daytime event shows off your home and yard in sparkling sunlight, a refreshing view. If you live in a temperate climate, you might even hold at least some of your event outside on a terrace or allow guests to mill about after brunch occurs.

A catered brunch can let you incorporate your family's own brunch dishes with the collection of items in a catered menu. So you might choose to fire up the waffle maker and serve hot, fresh waffles with customized additions.

*What's New in Brunch Offerings

For today's brunch, variety is the spice of it. From charcuterie and cheese platters filled with an assortment of meats and cheeses to more detailed platters and long tables covered with pick-your-own bites, slices and spreads, this brunch feature pleases the masses. Add in fresh, warm breads and a variety of breadsticks, plus creatively-cut fruits and vegetables, and you reach every dietary need. "Consider arranging multiple boards, so that vegan guests can hang around the vegan plate and non-vegans have assortments suited to them as well,' says Jenny Weinstock of Just Jenny's Boards in New Jersey.

*Drinks and Desserts

Everyone thinks of the classic bloody mary, which meets your festive red color scheme design, and a red, green and white cake might be on the menu. Or, you could veer away from traditional colors and opt for a menu that has virtually no red or green in it -- fresh greens aside. Some top trends for drinks include:

-- Champagne with bits of pomegranates and pomegranate juice

-- Island rum punch: half orange juice, half pineapple juice and a pour of rum over ice

-- Pink squirrels for a vintage feel

-- Your favorite craft beers and spiked ciders

-- Apple cider with cinnamon sticks and rum-soaked apples

Desserts might include:

-- Snowball cupcakes

-- Trifles with different layers of pudding, poundcake and berries

-- Brownies with snowflake sprinkles

-- Theme-cut fresh fruit

*Decor

Pennylyn Kaine of Blossom and Bee Designs suggests working with bamboo that can be cut to hold votives or used as bud vases. Some families love including the kids and having them make paper chains, but the chosen paper for this craft is mostly pastel or iridescent white for a more modern look.

"We display our collection of ornaments on our bookshelves and on various tables so that the tree doesn't get too busy or weighed down," says Branch. "Our ornaments then become conversation pieces for our brunch guests."

*Making it Special

Choose a playlist that blends classic and modern holiday songs. Ask relatives from every generation to make some suggestions, and of course a child or teen of the family might wish to make the playlist itself. If you're bringing a dish with a recipe to share, bring multiple copies for guests to take.