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.
