Unique ways Americans celebrate the holidays, from skiing Santas to Festivus feats

Skiers participate in last year's "Santa Sunday" event at the Sunday River resort in Newry, Maine. (Marina French/Sunday River)

This holiday season, many Americans will be decorating Christmas trees, lighting Hanukkah candles, building gingerbread houses and savoring time with family and friends.

And across the country, many people will be celebrating with less conventional — but no less beloved — local traditions, from lighting lobster trap trees in New England to caroling in caves in Wisconsin to watching Santa surf in California.