In our culture, most Christmas celebrations include eating eat ham and turkey, decorating trees with tinsel, candy canes and handmade ornaments, giving gifts and singing carols. They're a time when families from all over come together to share the love and joy of the season.

But there are families that celebrate Christmas in unconventional, nontraditional ways, too. Instead of ham and turkey, Dave Godfread, principal at Grand Forks Community High School, eats crab legs for his holiday feast. Godfread said he couldn't recall how this tradition began, but it started about 15 years ago.

The family of Troy Almen, a sophomore at Community High School, eats lasagna every Christmas. He and his extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents have been gathering in an aunt's house for lasagna for as long as he can remember.

Amy Devoe's family has a traditional Christmas dinner, but they add a unique twist to desert. Her family gathers at the dinner table to light candles in an apple pie while singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" together.

Not all nonconventional traditions are food-related. For Christmas entertainment, sophomore student Janna and her family roll up a TV Guide magazine and hide it for the young kids in the family to find.

"When my uncle married a woman of German descent, she brought with (her) the tradition of polka music," Woodard said. "They love to dance around with limbs flailing during our family celebrations."

Many people may be eating ham and turkey this Christmas, but others may be celebrating in their own unconventional, nontraditional ways. Either way, friends and family are what make the holidays so cherished.

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