Embassy of the United States of America U.S. HOLIDAYS
Christmas The Christmas Tradition In America
Decorating trees and gift giving are important American Christmas traditions. AP Photo
hristmas, celebrated by Development of the American celebrated with gusto, with cos most Christians on Christmas tumed revelers passing door to December 25, commemo door and receiving small gifts of C The early New England Puritans rates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. food and drink. frowned on boisterous Christmas Americans, like many of the celebrations. In 1659, the Massa The modern, more commercial world’s peoples, have developed chusetts colony briefly criminal ized Christmas began to emerge their own Christmas traditions ized observance of the day, and in the 19th century, with the and observances, and these have Christmas remained a regular new custom of purchasing gifts changed greatly over time. Today, workday in much of New England for young children. Seasonal most Americans blend religious and Pennsylvania. Other parts of “Christmas shopping” began to and secular customs with their British North America, however, assume economic importance. own family traditions. Christmas
Other Christmas traditions simi larly began during the 19th cen tury. Santa Claus — derived from the Dutch Sinter Klaas and the German Saint Nicholas — assumed the persona of a jolly dispenser of gifts and pilot of a reindeer-drawn sleigh through such works as the 1823 poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore and an 1863 portrait by illustra tor Thomas Nast in the magazine Harper’s Weekly. Christmas trees are believed to date back to Martin Luther, the 16th century German cleric. According to legend, Luther A young girl lights an Advent wreath candle during Christmas Eve services. AP Photo brought home to his children a fir tree one Christmas Eve to remind Christmas gifts appear under the — most prominently the African- them of the wonders of God’s cre tree on the morning of December American Kwanzaa and the Jewish ation. The custom spread to Britain 25, deposited there by family mem Hanukkah — blend into a broader and the United States in the 19th bers, or, as smaller children might “holiday season.” century. Today, many Americans believe, by Santa Claus. Christmas-themed programs such either purchase a cut, fresh ever as the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful green tree or a reusable aluminum Contemporary Observances Life and the animated Rudolph the and plastic model. The Christmas With Christmas shopping vitally Red-Nosed Reindeer often appear tree is decorated with lights and important to retailers, Christmas on television. An increasing num ornaments. In many families, has expanded into a “season” of its ber of radio stations now adjust own. The day after Thanksgiving their formats to feature Christmas The Mejia Dance Folklorico group rides a float in the annual is known as “Black Friday.” An music, sometimes exclusively, dur Christmas parade in Alamogordo, New Mexico. AP Photo important shopping day, it pushes ing the four to six weeks before some businesses into profitability December 25. for the year, or in accounting ter The holiday’s original religious minology, “in the black,” and can meaning remains for many its most account for a substantial propor important element. Churches hold tion of annual profits. well-attended Christmas Eve can This extended Christmas sea dlelight or midnight services. Some son, from Thanksgiving until include a Mass of the Nativity or a Christmas, is about far more than dramatization of the birth of Jesus. shopping. For many Americans, it As with so many aspects of U.S. is a time of goodwill and an occa cultural life, Christmas in the sion for charitable work. Non- United States reflects the values of Christian holidays celebrated at a free and diverse people. roughly the same time of year
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Published December, 2011 BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS