Christmas Celebration in America
America is a large country where different customs, tradition and culture co-exist side by side. This cultural diversity can be seen in the celebration of Christmas festival. Although amalgamation of different culture provided unique American culture yet closer look can reveal the cultural difference in Christmas celebration. British impact of celebration can be found in American style of celebration. Meanwhile, other communities settled in America have preserved their own traditional style of celebration as well.
Santa Claus is one of the prominent figure of American Christmas celebration and Father of Christmas becomes the Santa Claus. It said that Santa Claus was born in US in the 1860's he was named this because he had a white beard and a belly. Santa Claus is the Dutch word for St Nicholas, Sintaklaas. . The Dutch had bought him with them in the 17th century; he did not become an important person at Christmas until the Novelist Washington Irving put him in a novel that he wrote in 1809. This first Santa Claus was still known as St. Nicholas, he did smoke a pipe, and fly around in a wagon without any reindeer, but he did not have his red suit or live at the North Pole, he did however bring presents to children every year.
The Americans tried to confine wandering Santa by building homes for him. 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 that are posted in America by an address of Santa Claus reach there. An average of three million letters posted every year to Santa Claus in America. In these letters people discuss their wishes, problems and dream in order to get solution. These letters were posted to Santa Claus through out the year and supposed that their wishes will be fulfilled in coming Christmas and this would be their gift from Santa Claus. In this village a twenty-three foot colored statue stands in Santa's honor.
In 1924, the first nation’s natural Christmas tree was planted in Washington, D. C. Since then every year the President of the United States ceremonially turns on the lights with this begins the official celebration of Christmas festival. The President of America also addresses whole nation to wish Merry Christmas and good luck.
In Alaska boys and girls carrying lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star, covered with bright colored paper, moves from door to door to wish good luck and meanwhile they also sings Christmas carol. Alaskan people decorate their entrance door with figure of pineapple, which is also a symbol of hospitality.
In south European settlers celebrate Christmas by massive fireworks and by blowing crackers in order to greet Merry Christmas to distant neighbors. It is also thought that the noise and fire will frighten off evils spirit and keep them away for their hometown.
In Arizona celebration of Christmas festival is followed by a Mexican tradition of building Las Posadas. A dramatic version of Lord Jesus birth is enacted in which families play out the parts of Mary and Joseph searching for somewhere to stay. They form a procession and visit their friends and neighbors homes where they admire each family's Nativity crib. In some parts of New Mexico people place lighted candles in paper bags filled with sand on streets and rooftops to light the way for the Christ Child.
In Hawaii, celebration of Christmas starts with the arrival of Christmas Tree Ship that is loaded with gifts, wishes and good luck accompanied by Santa Claus. With this arrival magnificent cultural festival of Christmas begins.
Cuisine holds vital place in Christmas celebration, a traditional American Christmas dinner is prepared which consists of roast turkey with vegetables and sauces, goose, duck or ham served with cranberry sauce and rich fruits. Christmas pudding such as plum pudding with brandy sauce, pumpkin pie, mince pies, pastries are offered as desserts followed by chopped dried fruits and nuts.
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