This is so because it is a strategy used to maintain peace and unity. Christmas has a lot of meaning in the United States. Read this article to the end to know how Christmas is celebrated in the United States.
American Christmas Traditions
If you are a visitor or immigrant this information will be very useful to help you adapt to the new system. We’ll go ahead and talk about the different cultures that celebrate Christmas in the United States.
Let’s start with this piece of information.
When does Christmas start in the United States?
Unlike many other places, Christmas in the United States starts very early. It begins with the celebration of Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. It is one of the most important holidays in the United States.
If you wish to travel to USA for Christmas, you can also visit in early December. This way, you can get the full December experience.
What do people in the United States celebrate at Christmas?
There are two main events celebrated during the Christmas season in the United States.
christmas day
Christmas Day, December 25, is the most important day in the United States. It is usually celebrated in the style of a Thanksgiving dinner with a large family dinner, including roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and savory meat pie.
This is the day Santa Claus arrives, and that’s why many families usually have breakfast together after they open all their presents the night before.
new year
In the United States, New Year’s Eve is usually spent with friends and lots of partying. That is why fireworks are displayed in most cities across the country as soon as the New Year begins.
It is said that a first love encounter is a good sign that everything will go well for the rest of the year. As a result, one of the most well-known customs is to kiss the first person you meet at New Year.
American Christmas Traditions
The United States has a lot of heritage. Seeing as the United States is a country of diverse cultures, many of these cultures will already be quite familiar to you because they are similar to the regions surrounding the United States. Some of these cultures are:
Gingerbread Cookies
Sweets cannot be missed during Christmas celebrations in the United States. Gingerbread and cookies in doll form are very common. There are famous gingerbread houses to assemble next to the Christmas tree.
mistletoe
We’ve all heard of mistletoe, right? It is usually hung at the front door or in the living room. And it is said that if two people meet under it, they must kiss. It is good enough to leave in your memory for a long time.
Decoration and lighting
The most important part of celebrating Christmas in the United States is the decorations and lights. At Christmas it is very common to decorate the exterior of the house with colorful and beautiful lights. Most of the time, these lights come from figures like Christmas trees or Santa Claus.
Just like you see in some movies, part of celebrating Christmas is making sure you go out and walk the streets and see the neighbors’ light decorations.
Natural Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is one of the most popular cultural and traditional symbols of Christmas in the United States. It is an annual ritual where the whole family comes together and decorates a Christmas tree. Under this tree, Santa Claus will leave all the presents that year.
Christmas knitting
Christmas stocking is one of the most characteristic symbols of Christmas. Each family member hangs his stockings on the fireplace and Santa leaves candy and some presents there.
The best places to spend your Christmas in the USA
Christmas in the US is a very fun event. Here are the best places in the United States for a fun celebration.
New York
New York is the best place to spend Christmas. One of the main attractions is the famous Rockefeller Center ice rink in front of a giant Christmas tree.
Moreover, when the New Year comes, more than a million people usually gather in Times Square, where there are always fireworks at 12 o’clock.
Las Vegas
Christmas in Las Vegas in the southwest of the United States can be an unforgettable experience. All its hotels and shopping centers compete for the best Christmas decorations.
There are gardens decorated like the Bellagio, dozens of Christmas shows, and you can enjoy Christmas food and drink in any of the tents for this time of year on its main street.
Aspen
With an average of 4.5 meters of snowfall per year, Aspen meets all the criteria of being the city with the most festive atmosphere.
During the 12 Days of Christmas in Aspen, there are free caroling events, ice skating and parties for Christmas decorations and card making. You can even meet Santa’s reindeer in person!
San Francisco
Christmas in San Francisco is exceptional; All its hills are lit up, and there are Christmas shows starting in November.
You can go ice skating, see the Christmas lights and see a life-size gingerbread house made of 10,000 gingerbread bricks – you’ll want to bite into it!
Chicago
During the Christmas season, the city of Chicago comes alive with festivities, and its most exclusive commercial thoroughfare, the Magnificent Mile, is decorated with over a million white lights adorning the trees.
A huge Christmas tree has also been installed in the city center and you can ice skate at the rink located at the famous Cloud Gate.
Boston
Christmas in Boston is celebrated in all the streets of Boston where Christmas trees as big as the Boston Common established in 1634 are put up.
Also, you’ll witness the 7-minute Blink, a show that uses over 350,000 LED lights to illuminate the horizon mostly to the beat of Christmas songs.
Conclusion
Here’s everything you need to know about Christmas traditions in the United States. However, you can share this article with immigrants so that they can adapt to celebrating Christmas in the United States.
