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Christmas in the United States also known as ‘Christmas Day’ is a time of joy, wonder, and family traditions. With its blend of religious and secular celebrations, it’s a festive season that captures the hearts of millions. The United States of America transforms into a winter wonderland during the Christmas season. From dazzling lights to heartwarming traditions, the festive spirit is palpable across the nation. As you will read this blog, you will find more about how Christmas in USA is celebrated, the traditions that are followed, how markets look like and much more.
This Blog Includes:
- How is Christmas Celebrated in USA?
- Top 10 USA Traditions for Christmas
- How do Markets Look During Christmas USA 2024?
- 10 Best Places to Visit During Christmas USA 2024
- Cheap Places to Travel During Christmas USA 2024
- Christmas Events that Take Place in US
- Ten Interesting Christmas in the USA Facts You Must Know!
- FAQs
How is Christmas Celebrated in USA?
Christmas in the USA is a joyous occasion filled with traditions and festivities. The festival is celebrated in the USA on 25 December every year which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. The festive season begins with the Thanksgiving dinner, after which comes the ‘Black Friday’ —marking the start of the Christmas shopping season.
This is the time when towns in the US can be seen brightening up for the festive season, streets covered with snow and how can we forget the sweets! The month of December is considered to be festive with windows displaying Christmas trees, Santa Claus and the happening markets.
As for celebrating Christmas with family, some people take this as an opportunity to host dinners where they have roasted turkey and ham. While, in other regions, tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya and roast pork are consumed.
Let us look at how Christmas is celebrated in other regions of the US:
- People from the Southwest, celebrate with luminarias or farolitos (lanterns made from brown paper bags weighted down with sand and illuminated by a lit candle) on Christmas Eve. They represent ‘lighting the way’ for somewhere for Mary and Joseph to stay.
- Many Mexican Americans celebrate Christmas by carrying out a procession named Las Posadas where they re-enact Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to bed down in Bethlehem.
- Swedish Americans hold St. Lucia festivals, and in Puerto Rico, there are parrandas, where friends go from one house to the next singing traditional songs and waking people with their music.
- Finally, in the south of Louisiana, on Christmas Eve families in small communities along the Mississippi River light bonfires along the river banks to help ‘Papa Noel’ (the name for Santa in French) find his way to the children’s homes!
Also Read: Why Christmas is Celebrated?
Top 10 USA Traditions for Christmas
The holiday season in the USA is a time like no other season of the year. From movies to decorating Christmas trees to baking cookies, Christmas is the perfect definition of holiday spirit.
Here are some of the most common USA traditions for Christmas that people do to celebrate their holidays:
- Decorate Christmas tree: Bringing a Christmas tree and decorating it is one of the most classic traditions that has been going on since the beginning, no matter if it is a real one or fake. A Christmas tree is considered to be one of the most traditional symbols of the holiday season.
- Bake Christmas cookies: Who doesn’t like sweets The holiday season is the best time. People often bake cookies in trees, stars or wreath-shaped.
- Build a gingerbread house: A Gingerbread house is something that doesn’t get much attention but it is considered to be the start of the Christmas tradition. One can easily make it using the readymade DIY kits available in the market.
- Sing Christmas Carols: Christmas would be so boring if there were no Christmas carls, both classic and modern.
- Exchange Presents: Finally, people around the world exchange gifts to celebrate the people they love. Two popular traditional Christmas gift exchanges that take place during this festival are: Secret Santa and White Elephant.
Here is an additional list of American Christmas traditions that are carried out in the USA:
| Christmas Trees | Carol Singing | Watch Christmas movies | Build a gingerbread house |
| Baking cookies | Christmas Chicken | Decorate the tree | Advent calendars |
| Christmas pickle | Christmas stockings | Elf on the Shelf | Hanging Christmas lights |
| Leave cookies out for Santa | Send Christmas cards | Attend a Christmas parade | Christmas presents |
| Send Santa a letter | Christmas cards | Church attendance | Dressing up |
Also Read: Christmas Traditions and Celebrations Around the World
How do Markets Look During Christmas USA 2024?
Now that you are aware of Christmas and its traditions, let us now look at how the US markets look during the festive season.
Christkindlmarket, Chicago
Christkindlmarket, where people can find a wide variety of genuine German goods, from hand-carved decorations to comfortable sheepskin slippers. The best part about this market being is that all are inspired by the Christmas customs and marketplaces of Nuremberg, Germany.
Savannah Christmas Market
This market is located in the Plant Riverside District and is the best place to find local businesses such as wooden stalls, and garlands which will take your breath away. Upon entering the market you will come across the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra performing live music, followed by the Savannah Harbor Boat Parade of Lights, and a synchronised light and water display.
Downtown Holiday Market, Washington
What would a festive season be without music? Well, if you are looking for some music, you must visit the Downtown Holiday Market in Washington which is filled with several types of musical performances. Not only this, but you can also enjoy world-famous chocolate churros that are sold.
The Bank of America Winter Village, New York
It is said that Christmas shopping in New York City is irresistible to miss because of its beauty and uniqueness. This market hosts more than 100 artisanal exhibitors housed in “jewel box” stalls and the 17,000-square-foot ice skating rink; giving one of the most picturesque holiday shopping experiences in the city.
Peoples Gas Holiday Market, Pittsburgh
This market is decked out in Christmas decorations and twinkling lights. One can find stores selling Irish wool jumpers, Spanish pottery, and Lithuanian candle houses, as well as mouth-watering traditional European delights like bratwurst and strudel.
Also, when in this market, do not forget to visit the Steel Tower to view Pittsburgh’s Creche, the only authorised replica of the Vatican’s nativity scene in the world
10 Best Places to Visit During Christmas USA 2024
If you are thinking of celebrating Christmas in the US, then you should probably look at this list of the best places you can visit during Christmas to witness the real beauty of the festive season. We assure you that these places are known for the ways they breathe life into Christmastime.
| New York City | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
| Asheville, North Carolina | Denver, Colorado |
| Charleston, South Carolina | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Dallas, Texas | Chicago, Illinois |
| Nashville, Tennessee | New Orleans, Louisiana |
Also Read: Christmas Destinations for International Students
Cheap Places to Travel During Christmas USA 2024
Check out some of the cheap places where one can travel during Christmas in the USA where you will get to experience the magic of the holidays without breaking the bank.
| Solvang, California | Leavenworth, Washington | Portland, Oregon |
| Asheville, North Carolina | Williamsburg, Virginia | Branson, Missouri |
| Fredericksburg, Texas | Newport, Rhode Island | Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Not only this, you might also be looking for cheap and affordable cities where you can spend your holidays with your family. Following is the list:
| Orlondo | Arizona |
| Las Vegas | Grand Canyon |
| Utah | Texas |
| North Carolina | Vermont |
| Chicago | San Antonio |
Christmas Events that Take Place in US
Many Christmas events in the United States take place every year, here are some of them:
Santa Claus Christmas Celebration, Indiana
| Events | Dates |
| Santa Claus Land of Lights | 22 November to 23 December 2024 |
| Ornament and painting classes | 15 December 2024 |
| Santa Claus arts and crafts show | 14 December 2024 |
| Candlelight evening at the farm | 14 December 2024 |
| Breakfast with Santa | 14 December 2024 |
| Christmas bell choir concert | 14 December 2024 |
| Grinch Day | 14 December 2024 |
Other Christmas traditions in the United States include:
- Decorating the tree
- Baking Christmas cookies
- Writing a letter to Santa
- Building a gingerbread house
- Singing Christmas carols
- Exchanging gifts
- Wearing an ugly sweater
- Making spiked hot cider or hot cocoa
- Making a wreath
Also Read: Christmas Day Activities for Students
Ten Interesting Christmas in the USA Facts You Must Know!
The holiday season in the USA is full of traditions, laughter, sweets and joy. Celebrating Christmas in America has come a long way, with lots of traditions that have now changed. Let us look at some of the interesting facts about Christmas in the USA which you probably didn’t know.
- Every year the US receives 3 billion Christmas trees.
- Christmas trees have been sold in the US since 1850.
- It takes 15 years to grow the average Christmas tree.
- Alabama was the first state to officially recognise Christmas in 1836.
- St. Nikolas of Myra is a real person who served as the inspiration for Santa Claus. He is the patron saint of New York City, orphans, banking, pawnbroking, and sailing.
- The U.S. Postal Service handles billions of pieces of mail during the holiday season.
Explore more blogs on Christmas here!
FAQs
Christmas in USA 2024, like every year will be celebrated on 25th December which will fall on Wednesday.
Christmas is primarily celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, a central figure in Christianity. It’s a time for Christians to reflect on the significance of his birth and the message of love and salvation he brought.
How many days is the Christmas holiday in the USA?
Christmas Day itself is a single-day holiday in the USA, celebrated on December 25th. However, many people take additional time off around Christmas, often including Christmas Eve (December 24th) and the day after Christmas (December 26th). Some businesses and schools may also have extended closures during this period.
Yes, the concept of the 12 Days of Christmas is recognised in the USA.
– The 12 Days of Christmas: This period traditionally runs from Christmas Day (December 25th) to January 5th.
– Cultural Significance: While not as widely celebrated as the single day of Christmas, some people may acknowledge the 12 days through the well-known song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
– Religious Context: The 12 days have religious significance, representing the time between the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the Magi.
It’s important to note that the 12 Days of Christmas are more widely observed in some European countries than in the USA.
In the USA, the day after Christmas is most commonly referred to as December 26th or the day after Christmas. While the term “Boxing Day” has some recognition, it’s not as widely used in the US as it is in many other countries. It is said that on this people give gifts to the needy but over the years it has evolved and people simply use to extend their festivities.
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in America are similar in that they include gammon or turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Eating Chinese food is customary for American Jews, and the majority of Chinese eateries are open on this occasion.
We hope this blog on ‘Christmas in USA’ was informative and helped you navigate study in USA options. For more information on study abroad opportunities, follow Leverage Edu now!!
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