{"id":12550,"date":"2019-12-12T13:00:50","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T13:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/?p=12550"},"modified":"2022-12-06T09:17:01","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T09:17:01","slug":"traditional-celebrate-christmas-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/traditional-celebrate-christmas-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Traditional Ways To Celebrate Christmas In America: A Retrospective"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s starting to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go!\u00a0 But, then again, what Christmas looks like depends on where you go.\u00a0 The myriad ways in which people choose to celebrate Christmas varies starkly by country.\u00a0 And, even within countries, you\u2019ll find a lot of diverse traditions, customs, and novel ways to drum up some Christmas cheer.\u00a0 And, the United States<\/a> is no different.\u00a0 So, how do Americans celebrate Christmas?\u00a0 Well, here are some of my favorite, old-fashioned ways to celebrate Christmas in America:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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One Gift on Christmas Eve<\/h4>\n

Opening one gift on Christmas Eve represents every kid\u2019s favorite Christmas tradition.\u00a0 The excitement and anticipation has built up to a crescendo and most parents simply can\u2019t take it anymore.\u00a0 Surely, tearing the wrapping paper off a single present will help release some of the suspense.\u00a0 And, in some households, the night before Christmas in America means the kids get to open two gifts each\u2026because pajamas don\u2019t count!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Leaving Cookies Out for Santa<\/h4>\n

For those kids who still believe in Santa, leaving out a few cookies and a tall, cold glass of milk for the big man is one of the top ten American Christmas<\/a><\/strong> traditions.\u00a0 On the one hand, it\u2019s a thoughtful gesture.\u00a0 On the other, it\u2019s a bribe.\u00a0 If Santa particularly likes your cookies, then maybe you\u2019ll find an extra toy in your stocking.\u00a0 And, waking up to find an empty glass of milk and a partially eaten cookie really sells it to the kids.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Hanging Stockings<\/h4>\n

Christmas in America brings out the creativity of parents across the country.\u00a0 And, nowhere is this more apparent than the custom-made stockings. \u00a0While some children hang the basic red and white stockings, other kids, such as myself, get to hang highly decorated keepsakes made with love.\u00a0 Furthermore, the super-lucky little ones also use collectible stocking hangers in the shape of their favorite cartoon or fairytale characters.\u00a0 Fun!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Picking out a Christmas Tree<\/h4>\n

For many households across the country, picking out a tree marks the beginning of Christmas in America.\u00a0 After the tree gets dragged through the house, shedding needles all over the floor and furniture, it\u2019s time to decorate the house before hanging up tree ornaments.\u00a0 But, picking out Christmas tree can prove stressful.\u00a0 It is the right size and shape?\u00a0 And, does it have any holes or bare spots?\u00a0 There\u2019s an art to the selection process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Topping the Christmas Tree<\/h4>\n

Then, once the Christmas lights, wall decorations, and tree ornaments have been hung, it\u2019s time to top the tree if you’re celebrating Christmas in America.\u00a0 Usually, Americans place a Star of Bethlehem or an angel on top of their trees.\u00a0 These items usually hold a special place in their owners\u2019 hearts because they are often kept for decades.\u00a0 And, the topping of the tree puts a punctuation mark on the decorating process.\u00a0 It means the house now stands ready to receive St. Nick and his bag of goodies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Caroling<\/h4>\n

Maybe I\u2019m a Grinch or a Mr. Scrooge; but, I have to admit that I\u2019m not a big fan of caroling, regardless of whether I\u2019m the one listening or singing.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 I just feel uncomfortable with it.\u00a0 If carolers come to my door, I feel awkward just standing there and smiling.\u00a0 Plus, it seemingly creates an obligation to give them some eggnog and cookies or even pay them.\u00a0 And, I don\u2019t sing.\u00a0 Nevertheless, it remains one of the cherished Christmas traditions in the U.S.A.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Driving around to See Christmas Lights<\/h4>\n

As a kid, my absolute favorite Christmas tradition in America was driving around the neighborhood to look at our neighbors\u2019 Christmas lights<\/a>.\u00a0 Even before I could speak, I would \u201coooooh\u201d and \u201cahhhh\u201d, much to my mother\u2019s delight.\u00a0 Then again, I would get excited by the traffic lights for the same exact reason.\u00a0 I also enjoyed seeing which houses won and displayed the awards for \u201cBest Decorations\u201d, \u201cMost Lights\u201d, and so on.\u00a0 Now, that\u2019s some wholesome family fun.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gingerbread Houses<\/h4>\n

My family probably constructed a Gingerbread house at some point.\u00a0 But, this beloved American Christmas tradition definitely fell by the wayside when it came to the Lewis household.\u00a0 However, many homes absolutely love getting the kids together to create an edible edifice.\u00a0 All you need are graham crackers for the walls and roof, frosting for the mortar, and candies to decorate your miniature house.\u00a0 Delicious!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Secret Santa<\/h4>\n

Most people understand the Secret Santa Christmas tradition.\u00a0 But, for those who don\u2019t, a group of Christmas revelers get together and agree that each individual will buy one gift for a randomly selected person.\u00a0 That way, no one has to buy a gift for every person in the group.\u00a0 So, you draw names and buy a gift for that person.\u00a0 And, when the receiver of the gift opens the present, he or she has to guess who served as his or her Secret Santa.\u00a0 It\u2019s perfect for a office full of coworkers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Making your own ornaments<\/h4>\n

Christmas ornaments made by your children represent a keepsake that you can enjoy for years to come.\u00a0 I remember making ornaments out of paper, food items covered in a sealant, and even trash.\u00a0 It\u2019s not about how it looks or the quality of the craftsmanship.\u00a0 It\u2019s truly the thought that counts when your kid brings home a custom-made ornament as a gift.\u00a0 More recently, making homemade ornaments has evolved into a creative passion for many.\u00a0 So, go out there and express your love of Christmas through crafts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Notice something?\u00a0 We intentionally left out some of the most beloved Christmas traditions.\u00a0 So, in the comments, let us know which ones you expected to see.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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‘Tis the Season To Be Jolly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":12565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,21,26,639,557,558,544,511,538,378,359],"tags":[41,61,63,64,66,107],"yoast_head":"\nTraditional Ways To Celebrate Christmas In America: A Retrospective<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Join us as we joyfully survey some of the most popular, traditional ways to celebrate Christmas in America through the years!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/traditional-celebrate-christmas-america\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Traditional Ways To Celebrate Christmas In America: A Retrospective\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Join us as we joyfully survey some of the most popular, traditional ways to celebrate Christmas in America through the years!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/traditional-celebrate-christmas-america\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Guidebook - 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