The most unusual Christmas tradition in every state

Joanna Fantozzi,Gabbi ShawDec 2, 2020, 03:13 IST

"A Miracle on 34th Street" lights display in Baltimore, Maryland.Mladen Antonov/Getty Images

Christmas traditions vary depending on weather, culture, or location.
Minnesota has a large population of Scandinavian people, so they celebrate with lutefisk, a traditional Nordic food.
In New Mexico, wreaths are often made up of dried chiles.

Christmas is celebrated very differently throughout the world. And in a country as large as the United States, it's no surprise that every state adds their own individual spin to the holiday.

No matter what state you're in, you can be guaranteed to find a special holiday celebration happening in December, whether it's a Christmas tree decorating competition in Washington, or a Christmas lights drive-thru in West Virginia. While some events have changed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, many are still going ahead with social distancing and other safety measures in place.

Keep scrolling to see the most unique holiday celebration in every state.

In Alabama, Mobile residents try to break the world record for most elves in one place in "Elfapalooza."

Santa's little helpers gathered in Mobile, Alabama. Photo courtesy of LODA Art Walk

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

A member of the Russian Orthodox Church spins the Christmas star in Anchorage, Alaska. Al Grillo/AP

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

Christmas in the desert. Photo courtesy of Tomigirl22/ Instagram

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

The Lights of the Ozarks display in Fayetteville. Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights

Santa rides the surf instead of a sleigh in California's Laguna Niguel Surfing Santa competition.

Santa's on winter break. Steve Bruckmann/ Shutterstock

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

Donkeys lead the way to Bethlehem in this reenactment. Photo courtesy of Tesoro Cultural Center

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

A lantern-lit tour during the Christmas season. Photo courtesy of Mystic Seaport

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

Tomte, the Swedish Santa Claus. Getty Images

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

Honoring the fallen. Photo courtesy of Macdill Air Force base.

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

Floridians can still be festive even in the warm weather. Photo courtesy of Hal Padgett/ Deck the Chairs

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

Macy's iconic pink pig train. Photo courtesy of Mike Raker/ Instagram

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

A traditional pig roast. Marta Iwanek/Toronto Star/Getty Images

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

A view of the lakeside Christmas fireworks Photo courtesy of Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises

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

A bird's eye view of the market. Photo courtesy of Christkindlmarkt of Chicago

It isn't Christmas in Indiana without a trip to the Indy Auto Show.

A Christmas-red convertible in the Indy showroom. Photo courtesy of Indy Auto Show

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

The Common Room as decorated by White Willow Events. Photo courtesy of Salisbury House & Gardens

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

A young woman wearing the traditional lighted wreath of St. Lucia Day. Photo Courtesy of Visit Lindsborg

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

Fruitcake made with nuts and dried fruit, also known as twelfth night cake. Brent Hofacker/ Shutterstock

Christmas bonfires light up the night on the Louisiana bayou.

A traditional bonfire effigy made to celebrate the holiday season. Nancie Lee/ Shutterstock

In Maine, no Christmas dinner is complete without seafood chowder.

A bowl of Christmas chowder. Carolyn-Parsons James/Shutterstock

A whole block gets decked out with lights on Maryland's own "Miracle on 34th Street."

The "Miracle of Lights" tradition. Patrick Semansky/AP

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

A view of quaint Main Street in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Photo courtesy of Tracey_Anne/ Instagram

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

Just one corner of this giant Christmas store. Molly Riley/Reuters

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

A Nordic lutefisk dinner. Fanfo/ Shutterstock

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

A boat all decked out for the holidays. Photo courtesy of Kathy Martini Images/ Instagram

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

The Fairy Princesses from 2015 decked out in white. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Museum

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

Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival. Photo courtesy of Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival

Buffalo Bill's house puts on a fantastic display in Nebraska for "Christmas at the Cody's."

The Cody House. Photo courtesy of the International Cody Family Association

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

Hundreds of Santas. Facebook/Reno Santa Crawl

New Hampshire inns participate in the "Inn to Inn Cookie Tour."

Nothing better than a plate of cookies by the fire. Photo courtesy of Country Inns in the White Mountains

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

Storybook Land. Google Maps

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

Ristras are said to bring health and good luck. Jumping Rocks/Contributor/Getty Images

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

The Genesee Keg Tree in 2017. John Kucko/AP

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

Santa rappelling down Chimney Rock. Angela Wilhelm/Asheville Citizen Times/Reuters

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

Old-time Christmas. ClassicStock/Contributor/Getty Images

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

The house was restored recently to look like the film. Karen Longo/Contributor/Getty Images

Oklahoma residents fire "Christmas guns" every year.

Hitching a ride to the ceremony. Courtesy of Historic Fort Reno/Facebook

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

The Singing Christmas Tree consists of over 350 people. Courtesy of Portland's Singing Christmas Tree

In Pennsylvania, Santa Claus ditches the sleigh and rows his way across a lake.

The tree floats in the middle of Children's Pond. Courtesy of Handsome Red Productions/Facebook

Rhode Island's Block Island creates a tree made from lobster traps every year.

Block Island's lobster trap tree. Courtesy of Block Island/Facebook

South Carolina celebrates its past with "Christmas 1860."

Celebrating a Civil War-era Christmas. Courtesy of Edmondston-Alston House/Facebook

South Dakota has an entire town that's a designated a National Landmark, and it goes hard for Christmas.

Deadwood. Courtesy of Historic Deadwood/Facebook

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

The Station Inn all decorated for Christmas. Courtesy of @bob_johnsen/Instagram

Texans ditch the normal Christmas pine tree and decorate a pecan tree instead.

A pecan tree. Courtesy of Highland Parks Texas Parks and Recreation

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 choir has performed in Salt Lake City for over 100 years. Courtesy of Mormon Tabernacle Choir/Facebook

A town in Vermont gets locals in the Christmas spirit with a scavenger hunt.

The event is part of A Very Merry Middlebury. Courtesy of Vermont Book Shop/Facebook

Virginia remembers the US' first president by keeping his Christmas traditions alive.

George Washington brought a camel home one Christmas. Courtesy of Aladdin the Camel/Facebook

Washington has an entire festival dedicated to tree decorating.

One of the contestants. Courtesy of Seattle Festival of Trees/Facebook

West Virginia's Winter Festival of Lights spans 300 acres.

Winter Festival of Lights. Courtesy of Oglebay Resort

The Cave of the Mounds in Wisconsin usually offers Sing-A-Long Caroling Tours in an unusual setting.

Carolers in the cave. Courtesy of Cave of the Mounds National Natural Landmark/Facebook

In Wyoming, you can actually ski with Santa.

Santa takes selfies. Courtesy of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort/Facebook

Inside the real Mustique island, the glamorous private getaway Princess Margaret keeps returning to on 'The Crown'

Cookies on the Business Insider India website