It seems as though the American holiday experience is embodied by present-littered Christmas trees and Santa's descent through our dusty chimneys. The 75% of Americans who identify as Christian, as well as the hundreds of thousands of secular families that celebrate this time-honored gift-giving tradition, shouldn't be surprised to know that countries around the world celebrate the Christmas season with a variety of traditions and superstitions. While we cherish memorable moments with our loved ones, it's fun to take a look at what our global peers are doing, too.

Possibly mirroring the traditions of the U.S. most closely is Italy. In place of our jolly friend Santa, Befana the festive witch distributes gifts to the well-behaved and places lumps of coal in the stockings of the naughty. The night before the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 5, the kind witch will traverse the country with a sack of presents on her back.

Germany celebrates elements of Christmas as well. However, they celebrate on Dec. 6 with the Feast of St. Nicholas. Instead of stockings, children can expect to find their little shoes stuffed with candy and toys. Think that's odd? Germans are also expected to plan and finance their own birthday parties. Nothing close to the pseudo-royal treatment bestowed on lucky Americans.

On a more wholesome note, Peruvian Christmas Eves involve adults waiting until midnight with a few glasses of champagne while the children sip on hot chocolate. As the fireworks go off, long hugs and kisses are exchanged with loved ones before gifts are opened. The gifts are spread out around a Nativity manger as opposed to a tree. One lucky family member is chosen to place a baby Christ figurine in the manger.

Feeling a little bitter about the frosty cold during your white Christmas? Think about the trade-off when you're living in the Southern Hemisphere. Australians celebrate Dec. 25 with beach barbecues. Meanwhile, they've coined the term "Christmas in July" and swap gifts in the middle of their mid-year winter.

How about a trip into the realm of superstition? In China, there's a long list of gifts that are strictly forbidden.

--Sharp objects like knives and scissors symbolize the cutting off of a friendship.

--Anything given in sets or multiples of four is bad luck because the phonetic spelling of "four" in Chinese resembles the Chinese word for "death" too closely.

--Mirrors attract ghosts and are easily broken.

--Shoes are considered bad gifts in relationships, as the phonetics for "shoes" too closely resemble the phonetics for "evil." Giving shoes is basically telling your partner to lace 'em up and get lost.

Many other Asian cultures contain these unspoken superstitious guidelines. In India, giving with your left hand is stigmatized in every cultural norm. Even when passing the salt at a dinner table, your right hand should be used to support your left, almost as an apology for doing the incorrect thing. Giving a Singaporean a handkerchief is bad luck as well; its association with tears makes it inherently sad. Nine, or "gao," is a magical number in Thailand. "Gao" sounds similar to the Thai words for "moving forward" and "rice," so giving in sets of nine is always great when possible.

The traditions of other countries are more than just food for thought or fun facts for the day. They're a glimpse into the lives of families spread out across the world. While they operate under different trigger points and celebrate different figures, the similarities are striking as well. Adoration of the young and respect for the elderly are universal values that no language can set boundaries for. While we battle the Christmas Eve Target rush hour, taking our blessings for granted, it's vital to place ourselves in the shoes of our fellow global citizens and absorb some of their wisdom.