How is Christmas celebrated in America? Get inspired by the land of Santa Claus

Take a look under the hood with us at how Christmas is celebrated in America!

For people in the United States, Christmas is one of the most important times of the year because it is a time to celebrate with family and friends.

And although you’ve probably seen hundreds of American Christmas movies, you’ll want to know a little more about what Christmas is like in this country.

So you’re in luck! This post tells you everything we know about celebrating Christmas in the United States.

How is Christmas in the USA?

Along with Thanksgiving, Christmas is America’s most important holiday, and the celebrations reflect that.

The Christmas season in the United States begins on the fourth Thursday of November with the celebration of Thanksgiving, one of the most popular and important holidays in the country

As everywhere in the world, in the United States, holiday tables bend under the weight of goodies, and the celebration means time spent at home with family.

However, this does not mean Americans will spend the entire holidays at home in the warmth.

On the contrary, in big cities such as New York or Washington, it is very popular to enjoy winter fun right in the city’s streets – ice skating, winter walks, and especially Christmas shopping.

Christmas Time in New York City

In the United States, Santa Claus brings presents. Santa didn’t originally have a red suit at all; Santa only got it thanks to a massive advertising campaign by the Coca-Cola company.

Santa Claus rides, or rather flies through the sky, in an open sleigh pulled by eight reindeer.

The bag of gifts enters the house through the chimney, so it is important to decorate not only the tree but also the fireplace mantel.

The main part of the American Christmas takes place on December 25, the so-called Christmas Day. On December 24, most American states do not have a day off (unlike European countries), and those who do have the day off use it to travel to visit family.

On the evening of December 24, everyone hangs stockings on the mantelpiece and prepares a traditional snack for Santa Claus – a glass of milk and cookies for him and a few carrots or a unique mixture for his reindeer.

On the morning of December 25th, the excited children run to their stockings and are surprised to find that the prepared treats have disappeared and the stockings are full of bursting. Presents are being unwrapped while still in their pajamas, and the whole family is sitting in the living room and having fun until lunch.

At noon, a traditional menu is served: roast turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, roast beef, or pudding, which is closer to an English pudding made from dried fruit.

As elsewhere in America, there are a variety of sweets and candies, the most popular being filled pies, cheerfully decorated gingerbread, or the famous striped lollipops in the shape of curved sticks.

December 26, i.e., the Day after Christmas Day, families visit and feast together at a table full of goodies.

Christmas customs and traditions in the USA

Christmas tree

It would be hard to find a more giant symbol of Christmas in the USA than a bushy Christmas tree decorated with many glittering ornaments and lights.

Like many things in America, the tree must be huge, ideally up to the ceiling.

Households lucky enough to have multiple floors often have trees built in the entrance hall so that they reach the second floor.

In short, it applies to the American tree – from the floor to the ceiling!

The tree is often decorated with artificial snow and must match the color of the rest of the house decorations so that everything looks perfect.

Christmas chain made of roasted corn

One traditional decoration is a popcorn chain —it is straightforward to make and usually involves children.

You can try to make the Christmas chain at home, too! According to the following video guide, anyone can do it!

How to Make a Popcorn Garland Kit | Kin Community

Home lighting decoration

In America, there is a competitive spirit, especially among neighbors, when it comes to home lighting and decoration. People decorate their houses like a race with all kinds of light decorations; it is no exception that they spend thousands of dollars on Christmas decorations.

Check out the footage from the “most Christmassy” town in the United States – Leavenworth.

Is this the most magical Christmas town in America?

Wreaths and other decorations

At Christmas, Americans literally decorate every corner of their house or apartment so that even in the bathroom, no one doubts that the holidays are coming.

Of course, the decoration starts at the door—a rich advent wreath made of pine branches must not be missing.

A similar wreath (only often larger) is placed above the fireplace, and conifer garlands are hung everywhere around the house, especially on the staircase. Of course, everything has to match tone in tone.

Stockings for Santa Claus

Every household member, especially the children, has their stockings hung on the mantel or in the hall on the banister of the stairs by Christmas Eve at the latest.

Santa Claus puts small gifts, sweets, and sometimes a little money into these stockings at night. Christmas stockings must not be missing in any American household at Christmas.

As a thank you for the gifts, Americans leave a bowl of candy, a glass of milk, and a specially mixed treat for hungry reindeer (a mixture of breakfast cereal and candies in green and red) near the stockings.

Nutcracker – the symbol of Christmas

Along with Santa Claus statues and artificial snowmen, we must not forget the Nutcracker figure.

Traditional wooden nutcrackers in the shape of figurines are typical of Christmas in America, and the same is true of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker ballet performance.

In almost every small town, local ballet companies try to rehearse this ballet, and American families come to see it in the theater year after year.

In big cities, visiting the Nutcracker is practically a mandatory prestigious social event, and those who miss it are as if they did not exist in higher circles.

It is similar to Charles Dickens’s Christmas Carol, which also inextricably belongs to the American Christmas.

Christmas elf on the shelf

A somewhat strange tradition is the elf on the shelf.

A small wooden or cloth doll is actually an emissary of Santa Claus. He watches all day long to see if the children in the house are good or naughty and flies to the North Pole at night to report to Santa.

Since he then returns to the house, the children find him in a different place every morning, and often the search for the elf is the first thing they do in the morning during the holidays.

Adopted traditions from elsewhere

Since the United States is a huge country and practically all residents are immigrants from all corners of the world, traditions and customs are mainly adopted. In the south of the country, the holidays are strongly influenced by Mexican traditions, while in the big cities, we can meet, for example, a Polish influence.

American Christmas treats

Prepare original Christmas treats originating in the United States this year.

American Style Eggnog

Eggnog is the Christmas drink par excellence in America. It is a variation of the well-known eggnog, which originated in Great Britain. Unlike its British model, American Eggnog is prepared with milk, cream, and significantly more rum.

American Christmas sweets and cookies

Christmas Cookies are brilliantly covered in buttercream and decorated, or they can be made into simple slices and baked with a sprinkle of sugar. 

Lollipops shaped like curved sticks and sweet minty (Candy cane) flavors are very popular. They are also used to prepare various cakes, drinks, and other delicacies.