People know that candy canes, trees, eggnog, caroling and Santa Claus are all part of the Christmas season in the U.S., but not many are familiar with the various Latin American traditions that have also been an important part of Christmas for years.

Latin Americans have taken on some popular American traditions, but many still celebrate with unique -- and sometimes religious -- customs they learned back home, which they continue to pass on to their children.

Check out the various Christmas traditions from around Latin America below.

Brazil: Large Christmas Trees

Every year, in different cities in the country, Brazilians prepare big Christmas tree-shaped light displays. This year, in Rio de Janeiro, the biggest floating Christmas tree was revealed. Santa Claus is called Papai Noel or Bom Velhinho. Children leave socks on their windows in exchange for a present from Santa.

Colombia: Novenas Navideñas

In the U.S. many go out to bring Christmas cheer through caroling. In Colombia, families and friends get together to sing and pray around the nativity scene for nine days, beginning on Dec. 16. This is called Novenas Navideñas.

Mexico: Radish Carvings

Every year on Dec. 23, the people of Oaxaca City, Mexico gather in the main plaza for what is known as Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes). While a display of vegetables may seem strange to some, the carvings of nativity scenes by artists from around the world are definitely in the Christmas spirit.

Panama: Life-Sized Dolls

Perhaps one of the more unique traditions comes from Panama, where people create life-sized dolls to put outside their homes. The dolls will sit outside their homes until the new year begins, when they will blow them up. This symbolizes the end of the old year and the beginning of a new start.

El Salvador/Guatemala: Fireworks

In America, fireworks are solely designated to celebrate July 4 or the new year, but in El Salvador and in Guatemala, they are used to signal that it is Christmas.

Puerto Rico: Lechón and Coquito

Lechón asado, a pig cooked in a pit, is one of the main dishes on the dinner table in most Puerto Rican households on Christmas Eve. Puerto Ricans also traditionally enjoy coquito, an eggnog-like drink made out of coconut milk, rum, vanilla, egg yolk, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.

Honduras: Tamales

As in Puerto Rico, in the central American country of Honduras, traditions also surround food. People eat traditional tamales for Christmas Eve, and on Christmas day, they wake to make chicken sandwiches with a homemade, traditional sauce.

Argentina/Cuba/Bolivia: Buñuelos

Argentinians, as well as Cubans, Bolivians, Colombians and a few other Latin American groups, celebrate the holidays by enjoying Buñuelos for Christmas. These are a popular dessert made out of fried dough and topped with sugar or honey. They are eaten regularly in Mexico, but are a holiday specialty in other Latino countries.