Although December is a month known for the holiday season and spirit, it is also National Pear Month: a fun and appreciative time dedicated to pears.

According to Days of the Year, “National Pear Month, started by USA Pears and officially declared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a month-long holiday dedicated to educating people about how to tell the ripeness of a pear and how to make the most out of eating pears.”

National Pear Month is exclusively celebrated in the US. We celebrate it by buying pears from local farmers to support them, and by making delicious dishes with the pears. Some dishes you can make are baked pear pies, poached pears, pear cobbler, and fresh pear bread. You can find the perfect pear recipes for the holiday season on Delish, Taste of Home, and The Spruce Eats.

We celebrate delicious pears in December because that’s the time when these pears get harvested. Around this time, the 10 different types of Northwest Pears that get harvested. These aren’t the only pears you can enjoy though. Pears grow almost everywhere around the world.

There are many different varieties of pears, like the Asian Pear that’s known for being grainy and crisp. These pears aren’t usually baked into things because they’re more watery. These pears are often given as gifts in Asian culture. European pears, on the other hand, are a bit different. They change colors when harvested, unlike their Asian counterpart. They’re also bigger in size and their texture is smoother compared to the crispness of Asian pears.

When visiting family for Christmas, you should definitely consider bringing along a baked treat made with pears for everyone to enjoy, so you can not only celebrate Christmas, but National Pear month as well.