A new section about "Days of Christmas Past" has just been added to my website. I'm also conducting a vote on "Days" fans' favorie Christmas episode since 1986, so please take a moment to e-mail me and vote. More information is available on the Christmas page. For all the info about the annual Horton family ornament tradition since 1986 (plus much more "Days" Christmas news), please visit http://members.aol.com/jason47b

"Days of Our Lives" celebrates Christmas each year with the long-standing tradition of the hanging of the Horton Christmas ornaments on the tree at Alice's house. Since 1986, 50 characters have been seen at the annual ceremony: 27 Horton family members (which includes the quick marriages of Lucas to Nicole; Jennifer to Peter; and Mickey to Bonnie) as well as 23 guests (only Belle and Emilio have attended more than once as a guest). That number looks to increase this year with the probable attendance of Nick Fallon and Shawn's daughter, Claire. The least amount of people to ever attend was 8 in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998). The most amount of people to ever attend was 21 in 2004. The only character to appear for all 20 years has been Mickey (that streak will be broken this year as no one is currently portraying the character). Alice and Maggie missed only one year each (due to Frances Reid's illness in 1995 and Maggie's "death" in 2003). 13 lucky characters (including one erroneously given to Carrie) have received a Horton ornament on the tree since 1986. That number is likely to grow to 15 this year with the introduction of Nick and Claire's ornaments.

Wait a second. Why in the world were Chelsea, Billie, Patrick, Rex, and Jan at the Horton gathering in '04?? I hope to God no one like that shows up this year....especially Patrick. Can you imagine??

Wait a second. Why in the world were Chelsea, Billie, Patrick, Rex, and Jan at the Horton gathering in '04?? I hope to God no one like that shows up this year....especially Patrick. Can you imagine??

Well, I know that that was when Shawn had amnesia and thought he was in love with Jan...so they came together. I don't know about the others.

Thanks for doing that, Jason! I love your statistics!

Thanks for doing this, Jason.

I wonder what Hogan's going to write this year for Christmas.

I liked the old days when Roman, Marlena, and Carrie lived next door to the Hortons. Marlena and Carrie were always welcomed as guests for Christmas. I wonder if that's when Carrie received her ornament. ???

Carrie's ornament had to do with dating Mike, I think. Mike and Carrie's exit was supposed to be some sort of happily ever after, I guess, they sent Alice a joint card for her birthday in '01. So it was that close to marriage or somesuch, I guess.

Wait a second. Why in the world were Chelsea, Billie, Patrick, Rex, and Jan at the Horton gathering in '04?? I hope to God no one like that shows up this year....especially Patrick. Can you imagine??

I remember thinking the exact same thing when the episode aired. Chelsea and Billie came as guests with Jennifer, Patrick, Abby and JJ. Rex and Mimi were obviously Bonnie's guests since she still felt she was part of that family since her marriage to Mickey had yet to be annauled. Jan was Shawn's guest. Shawn and Jan's scenes were hilarious that Christmas. First of all, everyone was appalled to see Jan there. Then, she and Shawn kept making out and it was sickening to all the family. 04 was the funniest Salem Christmas.

What I never understood was why Chelsea was given an ornament? She's a Brady, not a Horton. I hope Hogan "forgets" about that this year. It should never have happened.

What I never understood was why Chelsea was given an ornament? She's a Brady, not a Horton. I hope Hogan "forgets" about that this year. It should never have happened.

I guess because she was Hope's stepdaughter? I guess it was meant to be a gesture on the Hortons' part, set up for the angst to come when Chelsea ran over Zack.

Just more plot writing by the one and only...