Every culture that celebrates Christmas also has its own festive ways to make the holiday special. Some of those involve dishes or treats that only appear once a year. Others give gifts that carry a particular meaning, and still others decorate in a particular way, hold festivals, parades or parties to ring in the season. Growing up, I know my family's holiday season just wouldn't have been the same if we didn't hang the Christmas pickle on the tree, if dad didn't read A Visit From St. Nicholas to my brother and I before we went to sleep on Christmas eve — or didn't enjoy the Feast of Seven Fishes. In some countries, people can say the same about a visit from the Krampus, eating KFC or pulling a Christmas cracker.

This year, the holiday might look different for a lot of us, but that doesn't mean we can't keep many of our most treasured traditions. Maybe you'll even want to try out some of the most beloved Christmas traditions from around the world in your own home. You might just find a new

cherished activity that your children and grandchildren (and their  grandchildren!) won't be able to do without.