The Most Unique Christmas Tradition in Every State

Alaskans parade a wooden star from house to house to represent the Star of Bethlehem.

The Russian Orthodox tradition of Selaviq, also known as starring, is celebrated in Alaska.

In the days leading up to Russian Christmas on January 7, parishioners parade from house to house carrying a wooden star, which represents the star of Bethlehem. At each house, the size of the group increases as the residents of that house join the party.

At the end of the trek, there are food, gifts, and hymns sung to celebrate the culmination of the Three Wise Men’s journey.

Chandler, Arizona, is home to the world’s largest tumbleweed Christmas tree.

One of the most popular tourist attractions during the holiday season in Arizona is the giant tumbleweed tree in Chandler, Arizona.

Workers begin to assemble this dry Tannenbaum in September until it is lit for the Christmas season. The tradition of lighting a tumbleweed “tree” goes back over 60 years in Chandler.

This year’s tree-lighting ceremony was on December 4, but the tree is still standing for people to look at.

In Arkansas, people follow the Trail of Holiday Lights from one end of the state to the other.

Ostentatious Christmas lights displays may have caught on in all four corners of the globe, but in Arkansas, each of the state’s holiday light displays is connected on a giant “trail” that covers the whole state.

The Trail of Holiday Lights is mapped so that you can easily drive from one awe-inspiring display to another, making it the perfect COVID-friendly activity.

Santa rides the surf instead of a sleigh in California’s Surfing Santa competition.

In sunny Dana Point, California, surfing is sprinkled with a little holiday spirit in December for the Surfing Santa competition.

Athletes enter this Christmastime contest wearing white beards and jolly hats. Proceeds from the event support Surfers Healing, a surf camp for children with autism.

This year’s contest was held from November 20 to 21.

In Colorado, Hispanic residents re-enact the nativity during Las Posadas on Christmas Eve.

Las Posadas, or “The Inns,” is a Mexican Christmas tradition, during which people of all ages gather to re-enact the story of Christmas — specifically the journey of Mary and Joseph from inn to inn searching for a place to stay before Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ.

On Christmas Eve, the Tesoro Cultural Center in Morrison leads a procession of children dressed as Mary and Joseph, as well as shepherds and angels, to travel from house to house asking for shelter. At the end of the re-enactment, there is a celebration with hot chocolate and sweets for children.

Christmas gets spooky in Connecticut with the lantern light tours in Mystic Seaport.

Every December in Mystic Seaport, actors put on an interactive play that’s set around Christmas Eve.

This year, the lantern-lit tour of the Mystic Seaport museum is all about the “Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World.”

Tours will take place on December 10, 11, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22.

In Delaware, children leave out milk for the mischievous Tomte spirits on Christmas Eve.

For Delaware’s Swedish population, Christmas is associated with a visit from Tomte, the devilish imp who leaves gifts for good children.

According to the legend, tomten were mischievous and vengeful creatures who guarded farmsteads, but today they are regarded as benevolent Santa Claus or St. Nicholas-like figures.

Wreaths Across America lays holiday wreaths on every single grave in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC.

On December 18, Wreaths Across America, a non-profit organization, lays out holiday wreaths on thousands of graves in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, as well as 1,200 other locations across America.

Florida heat means decorating lifeguard chairs instead of trees during the “Deck the Chairs” bash.

Deck the Chairs on Jacksonville Beach is one of the largest holiday lights celebrations in Florida.

Volunteers decorate the iconic red lifeguard chairs of the American Red Cross with elaborate holiday lights displays, combining the spirit of the holidays with the balmy warm weather of the Sunshine State.

This year’s chairs will be available to visit from November 24, 2021, to January 1, 2022.

Macy’s iconic pink pig train makes its annual holiday appearance in Atlanta, Georgia.

Unless you live in Atlanta, you likely have never seen the pink pig train that comes to Macy’s Lenox Square every holiday season. The pink pig tradition began in 1953 at Rich’s downtown store, and has become a holiday mainstay for Georgia residents who recognize it as a unique staple of the holiday season.

After 50 years of children taking photos with Priscilla the Pig, climbing aboard, and, of course, purchasing pink pig merchandise, Priscilla retired in 2021. However, there is still Priscilla merchandise available for any nostalgic fans.

In Hawaii, a roast over an open fire is a longstanding tradition.

In Hawaii, celebrating Christmas with a hula that ends in a pig roast over an open fire is a tradition that dates back to the first Christmas in Hawaii. Celebrated in 1786, a merchant ship docked off the shores of Hawaii during Christmas sent a search party ashore who hunted a pig, killed it, and roasted it.

Later, they are said to have participated in a gift swap with the island’s natives, when a local chieftain sailed out to the docked ship and gifted them with a roasted pig.

The tradition, which resembles the American Thanksgiving story, continues today with a roast pig on almost every Hawaiian table on Christmas.

In Idaho, you can take a Christmas cruise to watch the Lake Coeur d’Alene fireworks and light show.

Lake Coeur d’Alene’s Journey to the North Pole cruises are some of the most popular holiday events in Idaho. The cruises are happening from November 13 to January 2 this season.

The holiday light show on the water features floating displays of Santa, Rudolph, The Grinch, and more, as well as fireworks.

Shoppers flock to the Chicago Christkindlmarkt, the largest Christmas market in Illinois.

The most famous American Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market) is in Chicago. Styled after the traditional, centuries-old markets of Germany, this Christkindlmarkt features hundreds of vendors selling traditional crafts and trinkets from Germany, Austria, and local artisans.

There’s also plenty to eat and drink, like glühwein (mulled wine), hot cocoa, and giant German pretzels.

The Daley Plaza location is open from November 19 to December 24, 2021, while the Wrigleyville location is opened through New Year’s Eve.

See Christmas from a whole new perspective at Indiana’s Jingle Rails.

At the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis through January, the Jingle Rails exhibit features 1,200 feet of model railway track. This year’s theme is the Great Western Adventure, and there are seven trains riding the rails across downtown Indianapolis landmarks, Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Old Faithful, and San Francisco.

In December, Iowan residents get together to decorate rooms in the Salisbury House mansion.

The Holly & Ivy is a holiday decorating tradition at the Salisbury House in Des Moines, Iowa. Community groups and organizations each adopt a room of the spacious mansion to decorate with trees, ribbons, baubles, and more. The Salisbury House then hosts tours a few days before Christmas to show off the volunteers’ decorating skills.

This year, the event is going virtual.

In Kansas, young women dress up as Saint Lucy for the St. Lucia festival.

Lindsborg is widely known as the Swedish capital of Kansas, so it’s no wonder that the community throws an impressive St. Lucia Day festival every year. This year’s festival on December 11 will have plenty of outdoor events and a drive-thru pancake breakfast.

On this Swedish holiday that celebrates the life of the martyr Saint Lucia, the eldest daughter of every family — wearing a white robe and crown of ivy and candles — serves traditional Swedish food to her family. Her appearance is supposed to represent light and hope during the Winter Solstice.

Fruitcake soaked in whiskey is a traditional Christmas dessert in Kentucky.

Fruitcake is known around the world as the laughingstock of Christmas culinary traditions. But in Kentucky, you’d be lucky to get your hands on the famous fruitcake made by monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani.

Also known as Twelfth Night cake, this fruitcake made with dried fruits, nuts, and spices, which is often soaked in bourbon (after all, this is Kentucky), is a popular Christmas delicacy.

Christmas bonfires light up the night on the Louisiana bayou.

Christmas Eve bonfires on the levees are a holiday tradition synonymous with Creole culture.

Every Christmas Eve, locals burn log structures that stand up to an impressive 30 feet. Most are built as traditional teepees (like the one pictured above), but some depict shapes like houses and ships.

A whole block gets decked out with lights on Maryland’s own “Miracle on 34th Street.”

Over two decades ago, in Baltimore, Maryland, a man living on 34th Street placed a string of Christmas lights in the tree in his front yard. Soon, his neighbors mimicked his tradition.

Now, more than 25 years later, the humble Baltimore block is transformed every year into a decorative spectacle known as the “Miracle on 34th Street.”

Every house participates in the annual lighting tradition that draws visitors from all over the country — this year, visitors are encouraged to mask up before heading over.

Stockbridge is the Christmas capital of Massachusetts, as made famous by Norman Rockwell’s paintings.

Not many people know that the nostalgic paintings created by the popular artist Norman Rockwell actually depicted a real place, and not just small town Americana from his imagination. That place — Norman Rockwell’s hometown — is Stockbridge, Massachusetts. 

Stockbridge Main Street goes all out every year in December to recreate the idyllic New England setting with parades, caroling, and holiday concerts.

This year, as the town’s site states, the “‘Main Street at Christmas’ event is cancelled,” but “the town will still become a magical New England setting decorated with holiday wreaths and festive lights for the season.”

Shoppers come from all over to visit Bronner’s, the world’s largest Christmas store, in Michigan.

Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland claims to be the largest Christmas store in the world. Open all year round, the 320,000 square-foot store contains multiple floors of decorations, gifts, trees, and any holiday trinket you can possibly think of.

Minnesota residents serve lutefisk on Christmas, whether they love it or hate it.

Lutefisk dinners began as a Nordic holiday tradition, and are now part of a quintessential Christmas dinner for Minnesotans across the state, regardless of their ethnic background.

Lutefisk is a dried white fish soaked in water for several days and treated with lye. The dish has a Jell-O-like consistency, and is reminiscent of gefilte fish served during Jewish Passover.

It has become popular in the Twin Cities region due to the large population of immigrants from Scandinavia.

Decorated boats line the shores of Biloxi Beach for the largest Christmas boat parade in Mississippi.

Instead of just decorating houses, Mississippi residents look forward to the decked-out boats that take part in the Biloxi Beach Water Boat Parade. Boaters decorate their vessels to the nines, and the show culminates in a stunning fireworks display.

This year’s event was on December 4.

In Missouri, kids are just as excited to meet the Fairy Princess at the Kansas City Museum as they are to see Santa.

If you live outside of Missouri, you probably have no idea who the Fairy Princess is. But for local kids, the Fairy Princess is a holiday icon. Young local women dress up in crowns and royal regalia to meet with children. Each child who meets a Fairy Princess gets a toy that comes out of a secret treasure chest.

The Fairy Princess was a tradition started by Kline’s Department Store in 1936. The Klines came up with the idea because they were Jewish and did not wish to hire a Santa Claus. Thus, the non-denominational (and sparkly) figure was born.

This year, the Kansas City Museum is celebrating its 35th anniversary of hosting the princesses. Events were held on December 9, 10, 11, and 12.

December in Montana is about athletic endurance during the Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival.

The Bozeman Ice Festival may sound magical, but this annual ice climbing competition is all about athletic grit.

Held every year right around Christmas in Bozeman, Montana, the festival features daring climbing contests on the face of the Bridger Mountain Range, as well as the annual Adventure Film Festival.

This year’s festival was held from December 4 to 12.

Buffalo Bill’s house puts on a fantastic display in Nebraska for “Christmas at the Cody’s.”

Yes, Buffalo Bill was a real person. William Frederick Cody was well-known as a historical figure of the Wild West, but these days his mansion — the Cody House — is popular for its holiday traditions.

Local organizations “adopt” rooms of the Cody Mansion and decorate them for the holidays. Visitors can take a tour of the house and will receive hot cocoa and Christmas cookies.

In Nevada, people normally don their Christmas outfits for the annual Reno Santa Crawl.

The Reno Santa Crawl in Reno, Nevada, is one of the largest Christmas-themed pub crawls in the country. It’s also a charity fundraiser that donates proceeds to local schools.

This year, the crawl was on December 11.

New Hampshire inns participate in the “Inn to Inn Cookie Tour.”

Inns and bed and breakfasts across New Hampshire take part in what’s become known as the “Inn to Inn Cookie Tour.”

Participants can travel to different lodging locations in the White Mountains area to sample homemade holiday cookies and hot chocolate, and mix and mingle with guests at each inn.

2021’s tour was set for December 11 and 12.

New Jersey’s own Storybook Land is tailor-made for celebrating Christmas.

Storybook Land has been a prime spot for New Jersey kids for over 60 years, and their Christmas Fantasy With Lights parade has been around for over 25 years.

The evening’s highlight is when Santa appears, lighting up the entire park with a wave of his magic wand.

In New Mexico, “ristras,” a type of red pepper, are hung up as decoration.

They don’t have white Christmases in New Mexico, so it makes sense they’d decorate with something a little spicier, which is why dried peppers are often strung across homes or turned into wreaths. The peppers are said to bring health and good luck.

In Rochester, New York, locals look forward to the unusual Genesee Keg Tree all year long.

A beer keg tree is constructed in Rochester, New York, annually. This year’s tree is made out of 532 kegs and covered in 2,000 feet of lights. It reaches 27 feet tall, and will be up until mid-January.

In North Carolina, Santa Claus rappels down the biggest chimney in the state every year: Chimney Rock!

Every year in Asheville, Santa climbs down the 315-foot Chimney Rock, and then joins in other Christmas festivities at the park — there’s hot chocolate, cookies, as well as a kind of petting zoo.

The entire town of Garrison, North Dakota, transforms into the Victorian-era Dickens Village Festival for the holiday season.

Garrison is known as the Christmas Capitol of North Dakota, and for good reason, as the entire town transforms into a Victorian-era village for the holiday season. There’s a fruit cake toss, English high tea, top hat decorating, live performances of Dickens’ works, horse-drawn carriages, and a whole lot more old-school festivities.

2021’s dates were November 26 and 27, December 3 and 4, and December 10 and 11.

Residents of Ohio (and people all around the world) flock to Cleveland to remember “A Christmas Story.”

Take a tour or even stay overnight at the house with the leg lamp in the window from “A Christmas Story.”

Oregon takes caroling to a whole new level with the Singing Christmas Tree.

Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree completed its 59th season this year, and prides itself on never being canceled. This year, the “tree” sang on December 4 and 5.

The tree consists of over 350 singers, and the event, which is around two hours long, includes dancing, a nativity scene, and a light show.

A band in Tennessee gives away a Christmas ham to a member of the audience every year.

The Nashville Bluegrass Band performs at the Station Inn in Nashville’s hippest neighborhood, the Gulch, every December. And every year, the band gives away a Christmas ham to someone in the audience, after they perform the song “Ham Beats All The Meat.” If not just for the ham, go for the music and the banter.

Taking a stroll down San Antonio’s River Walk during the holiday season is a Texan tradition.

One of San Antonio’s most beloved attractions is the River Walk, a park that lines the San Antonio River. During the holiday season, the walk is decorated with over 100,000 lights (or 2,250 strings of light), that are turned on from dusk til dawn.

As you walk, you may even catch a caroling boat sailing down the river.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is constantly on tour, but during the holidays they take a break and perform in their home state of Utah.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was founded in 1847, making it one of the oldest traditions on this list. The Choir has released over 10 albums, including one this year called “When You Believe: A Night at the Movies.” But the best place to see them perform is in their home state of Utah, which they do around Christmas every year.