Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The
Christmas story comes from the Bible. An angel appeared to shepherds and told them that a
Savior had been born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in Bethlehem. Three Wise Men from the
East (the Magi) followed a wondrous star which led them to the baby Jesus to whom they
paid homage and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
To people all over the world, Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents. In some
European countries, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicholas, comes into houses in the night and
leaves gifts for the children. Saint Nicholas is represented as a kindly man with a red cloak
and long white beard. Another character, the Norse God Odin, rode on a magical flying horse
across the sky in the winter to reward people with gifts. These different legends passed across
the ages to make the presentday Santa Claus.
Immigrant settlers brought Father Christmas to the United States. Father Christmas' name was
gradually changed to Santa Claus, from the Dutch name for Father Christmas, which is Sinter
Claas. Although he has origins in Norse and pre-Christian mythology, Santa Claus took shape
in the United States. Americans gave Santa Claus a white beard, dressed him in a red suit and
made him a cheery old gentleman with red cheeks and a twinkle in his eye.
Most children believe that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. All year he lists the names of
children, both those who have been good and those who have been bad. He decides what
presents to give to the good children. He oversees the manufacturing and wrapping of the
presents by his helpers.
Santa Claus supposedly gets his list of toys from the millions of children who write to him at
the North Pole. Children also find Santa Claus at shopping malls across the country. They sit
on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. Of course, their parents are probably
nearby listening in as well.
On December 24, Christmas Eve, Santa hitches his eight reindeer to a sleigh and loads it with
presents. The reindeer pull him and his sleigh through the sky to deliver presents to children all
around the world, that is, if they had been good all year.
Several American towns maintain the spirit of Santa Claus. The New England state of
Connecticut has a Christmas village where "Santa" and his elves give out gifts. In New York,
a small town called the North Pole was designed for Santa Claus. There is a post office, a
church and a blacksmith shop, to repair the shoes of the reindeer.
Santa Claus exists only in our imaginations. But he, Saint Nicholas, and Father Christmas are
spirits of giving. Christmas has been associated with gift giving since the Wise Men brought
gifts to welcome the newborn Jesus Christ.
In anticipation of Santa's visit, American children listen to their parents read "The Night Before
Christmas" before they go to bed on Christmas Eve. Clement Moore wrote the poem in
1823.
Christmas Cards
Another important custom of Christmas is to send and receive Christmas cards, which are
meant to help express the sentiment of the season. Some are religious in nature; others are
more secular. Americans begin sending Christmas cards early in December to friends,
acquaintances, and co-workers. The post office advises customers to mail early in the season
and avoid the Christmas rush. Some people heed the advice; others wait until the last minute
and then are upset when their loved ones have not received the greeting card or the present
which they sent.
It seems that nearly every family has its own unique Christmas observances. Many people are
especially proud of Christmas traditions brought to the United States from their countries of
origin. The wonderful diversity of foods, music and songs, prayers and stories all make
Christmas the holiday of holidays in the United States.
One custom in Texas and other parts of the American Southwest warmly welcomes
Christmas visitors. People cut designs out of the sides of paper bags. Then they put enough
sand in the bottom of the bag to hold a candle. They line their walkways with the bags, and
light the candles after dark. Guests can easily find their friend's walkway and follow the
candles up to the door.
In San Antonio, these "luminaries" are placed all along the River Walk, a paved walkway
alongside the San Antonio River, and an old custom called "Las Posadas" is acted out.
"Las Posadas" represents the journey that Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Jerusalem
on a winter night 2000 years ago. Mary was about to give birth to Jesus on their way to be
counted in the census. The inns were full and the only place they could find to rest was a barn.
Jesus was born there and was placed in a manger, or wooden bin for feeding animals.
Two young people are chosen to play the roles of Mary and Joseph. They follow the
luminaries up to a house and knock on the door. Joseph asks the owner if they can stay there
for the night. The owner refuses to let them in, because the house is full. They knock at several
more houses until finally someone lets them come in to stay the night. The house where the
couple is invited was chosen before the celebration, and has a doll in a manger, representing
Jesus. When the couple arrives at the house, they and the people who have followed sing
Christmas carols and eat the food provided by the "innkeeper."
Home for the Holidays
Going home for Christmas is a most cherished tradition of the holiday season. No matter
where you may be the rest of the year, being at "home" with your family and friends for
Christmas is "a must." The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the busiest times of the
year at airports, train stations and bus depots. It seems that all America is on the move and
Americans are on their way to spend the holidays with their loved ones.
This means that the house will be full of cousins, aunts and uncles that might not see each other
during the year. Everyone joins in to help in the preparation of the festivities. Some family
members go to choose a Christmas tree to buy and bring home. Others decorate the house or
wrap presents. And of course, each household needs to make lots of food!
On Christmas Eve, there are evening church services. Attention is focused on the nativity
scene, while all join in singing carols. On Christmas Day, there are other religious ceremonies
at churches which families attend before they make their rounds to visit friends and relatives.
The Christmas table looks much like a Thanksgiving feast of turkey or ham, potatoes and pie.
No Christmas is complete without lots of desserts, and nothing symbolizes Christmas more
than baked breads and cookies hot from the oven. Many American traditional desserts, like
other Christmas customs, were started long ago in other parts of the world. Guests bring
English fruit cake or plum pudding as presents to their hosts. "Crostoli," a fried bread spiced
with orange peel, is made in Italian-American communities. As an ending for the Christmas
banquet, Americans of German background eat "Pfeffernuesse," a bread full of sweet spices.
Doughnuts are a holiday offering in many Ukrainian-American homes. Norwegian
"Berlinerkranser" is a wreath-shaped cookie, dozens are made, but few are left by Christmas
morning! Candy doesn't remain for long, either, during the holiday weeks. Hard candies such
as peppermint candy canes and curly green and red ribbon candy are traditional gifts and
goodies.
At Christmas Eve gatherings adults drink eggnog, a drink made of cream, milk, sugar, beaten
eggs and brandy or rum. Plenty of eggnog or hot cocoa is on hand in colder climates for
carolers, or people who go from house to house to sing Christmas carols to their neighbors.
Long ago, each child hung a stocking, or sock, over the fireplace. Santa entered down the
chimney and left candy and presents inside the socks for the children. Today the tradition is
carried on, but the socks are now large red sock-shaped fabric bags still called stockings.
Each child can't wait to open his or her eyes to see what Santa has left in the stocking.
Giving gifts is a Christmas tradition. However, in recent years, more and more people have
complained that Christmas is too commercialized especially in large cities. Store owners begin
advertising and decorating very early in hopes of selling more goods. Children demand more
and more from Santa Claus because manufacturers and retailers saturate television with
advertising. Some people believe that the origin of Christmas has been lost. Commemorating
the birth of Jesus Christ is the very reason for Christmas and should be central to the
celebration.
Every year human interest newspaper articles remind readers of the origin of Christmas.
Shelters for the homeless and hungry appeal through the newspaper to send money or gifts to
those who are less fortunate. Members of organization such as the Salvation Army dress up
as Santa Claus and stand on the sidewalks outside stores to collect money for their own soup
kitchens. City police forces supervise a "Toys for Tots" donation, in which people contribute
new or used toys for children in hospitals and orphanages. Employees give a small part of
their paychecks as a donation to a favorite charity. Such groups and organizations try to
emphasize the true message of Christmas — to share what you have with others.
Source: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A., English Language Programs Division,
USIA, 1994
