Christmas and New Year's Eve are fast approaching, and the planets are more active than a team of reindeer this holiday season. So we're here to help you have that gingerbread-trimmed celebration of your dreams ... even if it takes some extra planning. On the "eves" this year, the Moon will be in Fire signs, making people restless and excitable. Too much sitting around could stir tension, as boredom leads to bickering. One prevention? Get moving! Physical activity will release the pent-up energy (and burn off the heavy meals). Bowed heads and somber reflections? Forget it. Plans can change at a moment's notice, so prepare for a colorful (and sometimes chaotic) mix of energies around tables and trees.

Christmas Eve will feature a Leo Moon, making people's egos a bit fragile. This isn't the night to tell the cook that the stuffing would be better with chestnuts, or that white lights would look better on the tree than those multicolored strands. Leo is a playful and creative sign, so organize fun games or go out caroling. Unwrap that XBox Kinect or karaoke machine a night early and hook it up for everyone to try. On Christmas Day, the Moon moves into Virgo, a mellower Earth sign. Virgo rules health and service, so power-walk off those Christmas cookies or go volunteer at a local food drive.

New Year's Eve starts off with a more private, internal Scorpio Moon.
Spend the day reflecting, writing resolutions, journaling and getting sexy for the night ahead. Grab some quality one-on-one time with your sweetie. By sundown, the Moon moves into jolly Sagittarius, making everyone's spirits bright. Adopt a more-the-merrier approach and join the flow of revelers. Variety is key, as Sagittarius brings out our exploring natures. If you're invited to four parties, hit them all, or as many as you can. You'll want to remain as flexible and spontaneous as possible.

We've been writing a lot about Mercury retrograde, the cycle that scrambles communication, travel and technology three or four times a year. Mercury is retrograde this holiday season (December 10-29), and we're already hearing stories of computer crashes, gifts lost in the mail, and family fights. Check out our earlier post about how to navigate this tricky transit. And if you're still shopping for presents, our astrological gift guide has fun, affordable gift ideas for loved ones of every zodiac sign!