American Christmas traditions range from
religious symbols to the
mythos of
Santa Claus. Their origins
are both
Christian
and
pagan.
Introduction
The
Christmas holiday is a very
popular staple in
American culture. With over 96% of
Americans—Christian and non-Christian
alike—claiming to celebrate Christmas, it is one of the
most cherished holidays on the calendar.
[565] Many
American Christmas traditions exist, some exclusive to the US and
some that are shared around the world.
Christmas traditions in the
United States encompass
the customs, history,
folklore, family practices, interior and exterior
decorations, religious and secular symbols, and perennial
television shows and movies connected with this holiday. Many
American Christmas traditions originated as
Germanic Christmas
traditions.
France
Hi you are about to learn about
christmas in France! In France christmas is a great deal. All
people are expected to have a Nativity seen in their home or yard[i
think]. Christmas trees are not popular in France but they are
growing population in France. The tradition of the yule log is
fading away so they make a cake called a bunche de Nol to represent
the yule log. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Children either get to open their
presents on December 6th or 25th. It depends on where you live. On
christmas night children put the shoes in the living room hoping
that their [Santa, it's called something else though] will put
items in them. Midgnight they enjoy their last feast before
christmas. Again they might have Ham, Rolls, Bunche de Nol, and
Lemon Cookies! MMMMMMMMMMMM! Lemon is very popular in France.
Mostly the French people just dress in normal clothes like us. I
might not know alot but I do know Spainish! Hola! Como Te Llama! Me
Llama Kassidia! No enteindo why peopleo are so Fayo, Gordo, and
Stupido! Me El Stupido Uno! Not! WEll GOT TO GO! But you people
have a good christmas and while your at it go see the Movie The
Nativity Story! Adios Amigos! Which means Goodbye
everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christmas tree
The
Christmas
tree is often explained as a
Christianization of the ancient
pagan idea that the
evergreen tree
represents a celebration of the renewal of life. In
Roman mosaics from what is today
Tunisia, showing the mythic
triumphant return from
India
of the
Greek god of
wine and male
fertility,
Dionysus (dubbed by some modern scholars as a
life-death-rebirth deity), the god
carries a tapering coniferous tree.
Medieval legends, nevertheless, tended to
concentrate more on the miraculous "flowering" of trees at
Christmas time. A branch of flowering
Glastonbury thorn
is still sent annually for the Queen's Christmas table in the
United
Kingdom.
Patron trees (for example, the
Irminsul,
Thor's Oak and the figurative
Yggdrasil) held special
significance for the ancient
Germanic tribes, appearing throughout
historic accounts as sacred symbols and objects. Among early
Germanic tribes the
Yule
tradition was celebrated by sacrificing male animals and
slaves by suspending
them on the branches of trees. According to
Adam of Bremen, in
Scandinavia the
pagan kings sacrificed nine males of each species at the
sacred groves
every ninth year. According to one legend,
Saint Boniface
attempted to introduce the idea of
trinity to the pagan tribes using the cone-shaped
evergreen trees because of their triangular appearance.
Santa
Claus
The name
Santa Claus is derived from
Sinterklaas, the
Dutch name for the
mythical character based on
St. Nicholas. He is also known there by the
name of Sint Nicolaas which explains the use of the two fairly
dissimilar names Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas or St.
Nick.
Sinterklaas wears clothing similar to a bishop's. He wears
a red miter (a liturgical headdress worn by bishops and abbots)
with a 'golden' cross and carries a bishop's staff. The connection
with the original bishop of Myra is still evident here. He rides a
white horse over rooftops and his helpers climb down chimneys to
deposit gifts (sometimes in children's shoes by the fireplace).
Sinterklaas arrives from Spain on a
steamboat and is accompanied by 'Zwarte Piet', his
negroid helpers.
given during this feast are often accompanied by poems, sometimes
fairly basic, sometimes quite elaborate pieces of art that mock
events in the past year relating to the recipient (who is thus at
the receiving end in more than one sense). The gifts themselves may
be just an excuse for the wrapping, which can also be quite
elaborate. The more serious gifts may be reserved for the next
morning. Since the giving of presents is Sinterklaas's job presents
are traditionally not given at Christmas in the Netherlands, but
commercialism is starting to tap into this market.
In other
countries, the figure of Saint Nicholas was also blended with local
folklore. As an example of the still surviving
pagan imagery, in
Nordic countries
there was the
Yule
Goat (Danish
julebuk, Swedish
julbock,
Norwegian "julebukk", Finnish
joulupukki), a somewhat
startling figure with horns which delivered the presents on
Christmas Eve. A straw goat is still a common Christmas decoration
in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. In the 1840's, the farm
gnome in Nordic folklore
started to deliver the Christmas presents in
Denmark, but was then called the "Julenisse",
dressed in gray clothes and a red hat. By the end of the 19th
century this tradition had also spread to
Norway and
Sweden (where the "nisse" is called
Tomte), replacing the Yule Goat. The
same thing happened in Finland, but there the more human figure
retained the Yule Goat name.
Nativity scene
A
nativity
scene, also called a crèche (meaning crib in French), refers to
a depiction of the birthplace of Jesus. These are generally either
life-size or near life-size outdoor displays situated in yards or
public squares, or small miniature scenes placed in homes. At the
very least it includes the figures of Mary and Joseph with the baby
Jesus situated in the manger. They are somtimes supplemented by the
Three Wise Men, the stable boy, the innkeeper, and other characters
involved in the story of Christ's birth.
Christmas
card
A
Christmas card is a greeting card that is
decorated in a manner that celebrates Christmas. Typical content
ranges from purely Christian symbols such as nativity scenes and
the
Star
of Bethlehem to more general Christmas images such as Santa
Claus, Christmas trees,
snowmen, and similar themes.
Christmas
carol
A
Christmas carol is a song whose lyrics are
on the theme of Christmas. A Christmas song is often only
considered a carol after it has been in existence for many years.
The tradition of Christmas carols dates back to the 13th century
A.D.
Christmas gift
In the United States, children
receive their gifts from "Santa Claus." Christmas presents are
usually opened on Christmas Day, but some people open their gifts
on Christmas Eve.
In the Christian sense, gifts are exchanged in
the spirit of the Magi bringing gifts to the Baby
Jesus.
Christmas lights
Christmas lights are strands of
electric lights used to decorate Christmas trees, homes, and other
buildings during the
Christmas season.
Television and
movies
In France children put their shoes in the living area
and hope that their [santa clause] will put things in their shoes.
Hola! Camo TE Yama? Me Ya Ma Kassidia! No Entindo why Peopleo are
so fayo, gordo, and stupido! Me El Stupido Uno! NOT! Adios Amigos
Ei Ei EIIII! In france Chriatmas trees are not popular at the time
but are currently growing. Due to the yule log tradition fading
away. Instead they make a cake called bunche de Nol to represent.
Sorry did this crap in the wrong part!
A popular tradition of the
entertainment establishment in the United States is to produce
films, television specials and episodes of established television
series generally set during the Christmas season. Some of the most
notable of these include:
A
Charlie Brown Christmas A Christmas
Carol A Christmas Story
Frosty the Snowman
How the Grinch Stole
Christmas! It's a Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
National Lampoon's
Christmas Vacation Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer Santa Claus is Coming to
TownSources
Hal Siemer (June 2006). Celebrating an
American Christmas: Traditions, Customs and History. Quest
Magazine. Retrieved June 4, 2006.See also
Christmas
worldwideGerman Christmas
traditionsHal
SiemerYuleYule
log
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