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Christmas in United States

True to the spirit of the cultural melting pot America is a large country with a
huge diversity of customs and traditions within it. This diversity of culture is
reflected in the celebration of Christmas as well. Though after so many years
of coexistence all of them have gained a flavour which is uniquely American, but
a little closer look will divulge their diverging roots.
As far as the celebration of Christmas goes, a strong British orientation is
found in most of them. Meanwhile, other communities settled in America have
kept their own traditions as well.
Father Christmas became Santa Claus in America. And the Americans have
really tried to confine a wandering Santa by building homes for him. There is
one in Torrington, Connecticut. Located in a Christmas village this place houses
real life Santa. There Santa gives out presents along with his elves.
In Wilmington, New York, on the side of Whiteface Mountain, a man called
Arto Monaco designed a permanent home for Santa Claus. It has a blacksmith
instead of the reindeer, a chapel, and a post office. Around 100,000 people
visit the village every year.
There is also a town called Santa Claus. All the letters which are posted in
America addressed to Santa go there to be dealt with. An average of three
million a year are posted to Santa in America. A twenty-three foot colored
statue stands in Santa's honor.
In 1924, the first national living Christmas tree was planted in Washington, D.
C. Since then every year the President of the United States ceremonially turns
on the lights.
In the South, the custom has been to celebrate noisily with fireworks and the
shooting of firearms. Early settlers had sent greetings to their distant
neighbors in this way. It was thought to also frighten off evil spirits and
spread to Hawaii and the Philippines.
In Alaska going round with star' is a feature of the season. Boys and girls with
lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star, covered with bright colored
paper, from door to door. They sing carols and are welcomed in for
refreshments. On the next night another party of boys and girls, dressed as

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Herod's men, try to destroy the infant Jesus.

In New Mexico, semi-nomadic Navajo have a big feed' at Kismus' given by
friends of the native American people. Meat, beans, potatoes and onions are
boiled in huge iron pots over campfires. Coffee with donuts, bread and buns
complete the menu. In other parts of New Mexico, luminaires are placed along
the streets and on flat roof tops. These candles in paper bags filled with sand,
light the way for the Christ Child'.
Polish Americans keep up their homeland customs. They spread hay on the floor
and under the tablecloth to remind them of an inn or the stable and manger. No
meat is eaten on Christmas Eve during the day, but in the evening when the
first star appears the fast of Wigiliais over. Beetroot soup, various fish,
cabbage, mushrooms and sweetmeats made from honey and poppy seeds are
features of the meal. An oblong wafer called an oplatek is given out by the
head of the house. It has the Nativity scene imprinted on it. As the family and
guests recall the birth of Jesus and wish each other a happiness in the coming
year, they break off a piece of the oplatek. An extra place is set at the table
in case Mary and the child Christ should come by seeking shelter.
Hungarian Americans place greater emphasis on church services and carolsinging on Christmas Eve and Day than many fellow Americans. They gather
around their tree on Christmas Eve and presents are handed out at the
appearance of the first star of the evening. After the presents, seasonal foods
are baked, rolls of walnut and poppy seed, dumplings with honey and poppy
seed, and biscuits with caraway, sesame, or aniseed.

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