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For Mariah Carey<\/strong><\/a>, the holiday season starts when she takes off her Halloween costume. This year, she\u2019s marking the 30th anniversary of Merry Christmas \u2014 the best-selling holiday album of all time \u2014 with a rerelease and 21-city concert tour. Plus, the icon, 55, has partnered with Virgin Hotels to launch festive pop-up bars that serve cocktails made with her signature Irish cream liqueur, Black Irish. Here\u2019s how else Mariah will no doubt be celebrating, away from the spotlight, alongside twins Moroccan and Monroe, 13.\n<\/p>\n The ultimate diva, Mariah doesn\u2019t usually spend much time in the kitchen, but she makes an exception for the holidays<\/a>. \u201cI cook Italian food on the 23rd because my father had a recipe for linguine with white clam sauce,\u201d she has said. \u201cIt\u2019s really special to me because\u2026he used to make [it] when I was little.\u2026 As he was passing away and we were going through that, he wrote down the recipe for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Christmastime is family time. An activity the singer and co. do \u201cevery year\u201d? Play Taboo, according to the Grammy winner: \u201cI\u2019m pretty competitive.\u201d They also watch movies \u2014 holiday-themed, of course. \u201cI love It\u2019s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Four Christmases<\/em> and Love Actually<\/em> \u2014 my song is in that,\u201d she has said, adding, \u201c[And] everybody loves Home Alone<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n Mariah and the children \u2014 who are longtime skiers \u2014 head to Aspen, Colorado, each December, and are often joined by the twins\u2019 dad, Nick Cannon<\/strong>, 44. \u201cWe have hot cocoa,\u201d she\u2019s said. \u201cThen we\u2019ll go through the woods on a two-horse open sleigh with blankets and real reindeer. It\u2019s freezing cold, but it\u2019s beautiful and you\u2019re looking at the stars. It\u2019s an incredible moment I love every year.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t even think about changing the tunes at Chez Mariah during the holidays. \u201cI don\u2019t let anyone listen to anything but Christmas music when I\u2019m celebrating Christmas<\/a>,\u201d she has shared. And while her song \u201cAll I Want for Christmas Is You\u201d may be the bestselling holiday single of all time, it\u2019s not the entertainer\u2019s personal fave. \u201cMy favorite all-time Christmas song is Nat King Cole\u2019s version of \u2018The Christmas Song,\u2019 \u201d she\u2019s said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot of Christmas trees,\u201d Mariah has noted. \u201cNot a field\u2026 per se.\u201d But it\u2019s pretty close! The songstress has been known to put up trees in her bedroom and kitchen, plus a 17-foot one in the living room \u201cwith decorations I\u2019ve had for years,\u201d she\u2019s said. \u201cGold lights with off-white light, angels wearing white and butterflies.\u201d Mimi likes to hang Polaroid pictures and fan-made ornaments on a smaller, colorful \u201cCharlie Brown tree\u201d elsewhere in her home, too.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMariah Carey Is Passing on Heartfelt Traditions<\/h2>\n
Mariah Carey\u2019s Cozy Movie and Game Nights<\/h2>\n
Mariah Carey Embraces the Winter Weather<\/h2>\n
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Mariah Carey Listens Exclusively to Christmas Music During the Holidays<\/h2>\n
Mariah Carey\u2019s Over-the-Top Decorations<\/h2>\n