Christmas Traditions

Christmas

From its puritan roots to rampant commercialism, Christmas in America is filled with traditions, some date back to the 16th century Germany and Ancient Greece, while some are more modern or new.

Here’s someways Americans have celebrated the Christmas season, singing songs, reciting poems, decorating trees, cookie exchanges and drinking eggnog.

Christmas trees…date back to Germany and the Middle Ages, with German and European settlers. Christmas trees became popular during the 19th century.

The Rockettes ..since 1925 first known as the Missouri Rockets, became the New York City Rockettes in 1934 at radio city music hall as their annual Christmas spectacular.

Charlie Brown Christmas ..first arrived December 9th 1965 winner of an Emmy and a Peabody award this endearing classic has bean around for almost 60 yrs.

Christmas pickle… started in the late 1800’s as a Woolworth marketing gimmick when they received German Christmas ornaments shaped as a pickle.

Elf on the shelf ..since 2005 moms and dads have been hiding the iconic elf, starting thanksgiving night up till Christmas.

Yule log.. .. was a part of the winter solstice

Advent calendars … started in Germany in 1903 it offers a way for a child to count down till Christmas by opening a door or window, that reveals a bible verse, poem or a small gift.

Gingerbread houses… these stem from when the Grimm brothers wrote Hansel and Gretal a holiday tradition was born.

The nutcracker.. premiered in 12/18/1892 in Saint Petersburg Russia —performed in England, music by Tchaikovsky, is a romantic story of young Clara on Christmas Eve.

Cookies and milk for Santa

Leaving treats for Santa dates back to ancient mythology

Americans started doing it during the Great Depression during the 1930s as a sign of showing gratitude during a time of struggle

Candy canes

Date back to 1670 Germany, arrived here in 1847 by German —Swedish immigrants who hung them on their trees, in 1950 a customized candy cane machine was invented.

Eggnog.. nothing makes the holidays happier than spiked eggnog, the Yuletide cocktail stems from posset, a medieval drink from England made from curdled hot milk and ale or wine 🤮 lol, Americans are credited for adding rum 👏 historically George Washington had his own recipe.

Door wreaths… have been around since the ancient Greeks and Roman’s but eventually took on a Christian meaning. The circular shape representing eternal life, the Holly and berries representing Christ’s crown of thorns and blood.

Christmas cards

In 1843 England the official Christmas card debuted with a simple message Merry Christmas and Happy New year, Kansas City the Hall bros ( Hallmark ) created the folded card in 1915.

It’s A Wonderful Life 1946 premiered what can I say. 🤷‍♀️

Poinsettia’s….America’s Christmas flower, native to Central America, brought here by US ambassador to Mexico Robert Poinsett in the 1820s.

A visit from Saint Nicholas…best known as The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore. The reading of this American classic, a holiday tradition for sure !! Believed to have been written in 1822.

Moore was inspired by a sleigh ride home, Moore being a New York professor at a theological seminary was embarrassed by his writing and didn’t publish it until 1844 … who knew 🤷‍♀️

These are only a few there are so many more.