How the Rest of the World Spends Christmas

There are many things to love about the holidays -- gifts, an excuse to shop, extra vacation days. But what I love more than anything else is family tradition: decorating the tree with mom, Dad's amazing white lasagna for Christmas Eve dinner, the fact that as the youngest I get to choose who opens the first present. It all got me thinking: What does the rest of the world do to bond with family and friends this time of year?

Whether you're looking to start a tradition or add to those long-standing ones, here are my 10 favorites from around the world -- as well as my twist on how you can make them your own for many years to come.

*Note: Some of these traditions may be practiced in only a small segment or culture of the individual country or they could even be long-forgotten traditions of the past. But that's not really the point, now is it? So fact checkers, please put your red pens aside and enjoy it for what it's worth. Happy holidays!

1. The Tradition: In Belarus, during the period between Christmas and the New Year, straw is used for fortune telling. It's done in a variety of ways, but my favorite is one where young girls sit in a circle holding an ear of corn. A rooster is placed in the center of the circle, strutting his stuff, eventually choosing to eat corn from one girl who, according to tradition, will be the next to get married.

The Twist: Assuming that roosters aren't plentiful around your house, have your dog join the party. Sit in a circle with dog treats in hand; the first person to be "tagged" by Fido gets a prize.

Or try a clean version of spin the bottle. Have everyone write out a fun fortune and put in a hat or bowl. Spin the bottle, allowing each person the bottle points out to draw a fortune. If a person gets hit more than once they can choose to keep the new fortune and pass an old one on to someone else, or allow someone else to draw a fortune. You could even attach prizes or gifts to each fortune. ("You'll marry a chef" comes with a dozen home-baked cookies, for instance.)

2. The Tradition: We have our eggnog. Belize has Rum-Popo.

The Twist: The well-known Belizean version of eggnog is a favorite during the holidays. But why should any country get stuck in a beverage rut? Create a tradition of making a new culture's token holiday drink for your holiday party each year. Guests will always look forward to what's to come. Start with Rum-Popo this year!

3. The Tradition: In some regions of Germany they have what's known as the Christmas pickle (get your mind out of the gutter). The last ornament put on the tree is a glass pickle. It's hidden within the tree and the first child to find it receives an extra present.

The Twist: Designate your own "Christmas pickle" ornament (even if it's just an ordinary ball with a special marking) and repeat this same tradition with your own family. Or, make it a game at an adult party. Hide the "Christmas pickle" somewhere in the room and give a special honor to the first guest to find it, like designating one person to sing a Christmas carol for the group.

4. The Tradition: A handful of countries have their own twist on one tradition. It basically goes like this: you hide a small object in a baked good and the person who finds it gets a prize. In Orthodox Bosnia, it's a golden coin in bread that supposedly grants wishes for an entire year. In Quebec, it's a bean baked into a cake with the recipient being crowned king or queen for the day. In Denmark, it's a whole almond hidden in pudding that earns the individual a special prize, typically a small pig molded from fine marzipan.

The Twist: Have a little fun at your annual adult holiday dinner party. Pass around a plate of holiday cookies with a coin baked into one. Award a nice bottle of wine or an aged Scotch to the person who finds it. Just be sure guests are on the lookout for the coin, otherwise you'll have a new tradition -- of doing the Heimlich.

5. The Tradition: In both Finland and Estonia, Christmas Eve festivities are kicked off with a cleansing. In Finland it's a steam bath, while in Estonia it means a trip to the nearest sauna.

The Twist: Who doesn't like a trip to the sauna? A little treat of relaxation would be a welcome antidote to holiday stress. Make it a tradition to enjoy an afternoon of spa treatments with your significant other or group of best friends. Or, host a spa day at your home complete with themed goodie bags.

6. The Tradition: In Mexico, after prayers are said, the fiesta begins. Children from the procession are blindfolded in turn, spun around and given three chances to break a piñata, which is filled with nuts, fruit and candy.

The Twist: Just about everyone loves piñatas. Find a store-bought one at a local party supply store, or have the kids in the family make their own. Give everyone a try to break open the piñata as a way to kick off the holiday partying.

7. The Tradition: Caroling is an important part of holiday traditions in Wales. Christmas day is spent gathered in the public square for the announcement of the best new carol submission. That song is then added to the official Welsh list of caroling music.

The Twist: Whether or not you like to sing (or care to hear Uncle Larry's drunken rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" one more time), caroling does have a way of, you know, "making spirits bright." So take an extra big swig of eggnog and join in!

8. The Tradition: In Lithuania, in order for the children to receive their gifts they must perform a song or dance.

The Twist: Make this fun tradition your own. If you have kids, entice them to put on a holiday show for your Christmas Eve party. If you're a bunch of adults, bring out your inner children and require each person perform at least 30 seconds of their favorite Christmas song. Have a karaoke machine or the RockBand video game? Even better -- each person needs to tackle lead vocals before receiving a gift.

9. The Tradition: In the Netherlands, children, in addition to receiving their regular gifts from St. Nicholas, go on a scavenger hunt for special gifts hidden throughout the house.

The Twist: So this may be eerily similar to our traditional Easter egg hunt, but try sticking to the traditional Netherlands way of hiding gifts throughout the house for kids and adults alike, or (here's where it gets exciting) create an actual scavenger hunt where teams race to hunt down a random assortment of items or complete funny tasks.

10. The Tradition: Throughout the world, Christmas is celebrated in vastly different ways -- the one common thread being the holiday itself. The previous nine traditions are a mere sampling.

The Twist: Open up your world to the world around you (yes, we're getting serious now). Make it an annual tradition to sample another part of the world. Pick a country and prepare its holiday meal (even just one dish will do) on a night leading up to Christmas -- or even on Christmas night, if you aren't committed to your holiday ham and cornbread stuffing. Everyone likes a little adventure.