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Families Exchange Gifts, Celebrate Togetherness, On Christmas

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Families around the Tri-state area are gathered this Christmas night -- some enjoying Christmas dinner, others already packing away gifts and looking forward to next year.

1010 WINS' Samantha Liebman spoke to parents and children about what they got for Christmas, while CBS2' Carolyn Gusoff joined one Long Island family as they took part in their annual Christmas celebration.

The Puliafico family, of Manhasset, celebrates Christmas with four generations bearing gifts and timeless traditions.

Their big Italian celebration begins Christmas Eve, with the Feast of Seven Fishes. But on Christmas, they celebrated with plenty of Italian dishes, like rice balls with prosciutto and cheese Stromboli straight out of the oven.

But the centerpiece of their celebration is family and faith.

"Just get together, enjoy each other, and remember that it's the birth of Jesus -- that's really the important thing," Michele Puliafico said.

The Puliafico's great-grandma, Lena,said togetherness was the greatest gift.

"Just to see the family -- just to be like this --this is my gift," she said.

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