Christmas Traditions

U.S.A.

Santa Claus was "born" in US in the 1860's, named after the Dutch word for St Nicholas, Sintaklaas.

Christmas celebrations vary greatly in different areas of the United States.

In Alaska, for example, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door. They sing carols and are invited by their neighbors in for supper. In California, Santa Claus sweeps in on, quite appropriately, a surf board.

Most Americans celebrate Christmas with gift exchanges and family reunions. For many, the day begins on Christmas Eve with the Midnight Mass. Americans are decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, branches of trees and lots of christmas lights. Most have a Christmas tree hung with tinsel, ornaments and candy canes.