Christmas Traditions

When the first settlers came to America, Christmas was not celebrated as it is today. Many men came to America alone to settle the land for the families that would join them later. After many hours of hard work on the land, the men gathered to share a Christmas dinner which often included plum pudding. As time went on, families came to America and Christmas traditions grew.

When the first settlers came to America, Christmas was not celebrated as it is today. Many men came to America alone to settle the land for the families that would join them later. After many hours of hard work on the land, the men gathered to share a Christmas dinner which often included plum pudding. As time went on, families came to America and Christmas traditions grew.

In those early days of America, before the Christmas tree became a popular symbol of the holiday, people celebrated Christmas by decorating with mistletoe, holly and wreths of evergreen. Neighbors helped one another decorate and plan for Christmas parties. These parties, like the Fezziwig’s in A Christmas Carol provided a chance for socializing, dining and sharing. Some common early Christmas activities included Parlor Games (Blindman’s Bluff and Charades), Ghost Stories (Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was popular), Attending Concerts and Pantomime Plays. By 1823 Santa Claus and the Christmas tree were Christmas traditions in American households and around the world.

Santa Claus, as he is known today, did not exist in the early days of America. Over the years and across the world, Santa Claus appeared in many different forms, finally making his way into American households. In 1823, Dr. Clement Moore created the poem “The Night Before Christmas” which described Santa Claus in detail. Over forty years later, artist Thomas Nast painted that description in Harper’s Weekly and added a little more history behind the “jolly old elf”. He gave him an address (the North Pole) and a job (employing elves to make toys for the good boys and girls on his list). Here are some more Santa facts:

The Christmas tree was introduced in Germany by Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran Church. He placed a tree in a nativity with candles on its branches to look like stars. Eventually other decorations were added and other countries adopted the tradition. The tree became particularly popular in England when Queen Victoria married Germany’s Prince Albert who shared the custom with her. Soon, people all over the world added their own customs to this tradition, and eventually the Christmas tree was laden with gifts and associated with Santa’s visit, as described in the poem below.

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