Like Brazil, the USA is a multicultural country. This is mainly due to the influx of immigrants from so many parts of the world to settle in the region. Christmas in the United States, therefore, is already is a religious tradition that is mixed with these cultures and also with commercial interests.
In addition, much of what is used as Christmas symbols in the United States has also been incorporated by Brazil. Examples include Santa Claus, reindeer, the association of the season with snow (while in Brazil it's summer) and food, such as turkey. If you're curious to find out more about Christmas traditions in Brazil, read on.
Decorations
The whole country is working to make this specially decorated and illuminated date. Some cities even hold competitions to get the neighborhood to fill their gardens with lights, reindeer, Santa Claus and nativity scenes.
The most famous decorated street in the USA is at Rockefeller Center in New York City. That's because every year a a huge Christmas tree with a public ice-skating rink.
People who live in houses still have the habit of buy the Christmas tree (the actual natural tree) to decorate the middle of the living room, instead of using artificial ones like in Brazil. This moment of decorating everything to wait for the big day of Christmas is a kind of event that provides the family get-together even before the 25th. For children, it's a fun way to get in the mood for the end of the year.
Read also: 7 tips for preparing to live in the USA.
[/mpc_alert]Traditions
The traditions are varied, from those of a religious nature to those designed to entertain children. For Christians, this is the time to honor religious events in the church, such as special celebrations that retrace the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Commercially speaking, there are stores open specifically to sell Christmas products, decorations and toys all over the country. The amazing thing is that these businesses are open all year round. But, of course, the best sales are always at the end of the year.
Other traditions in the country include sending Christmas cards for friends and family with photos of the family group. On Christmas Eve, it's common for children to leave a glass of milk with some cookies to be Santa's snack.
And it doesn't stop there, it's also common for children to go into the kitchen with their grandparents or parents to make the cookies with Christmas shapes and decorations. Popcorn necklaces are also used to decorate the trees and gingerbread houses are made to be eaten during the festivities.
Gifts are not left out of the traditions. Gifts are exchanged in the United States on the morning of the 25th. Children wake up and rush to the Christmas tree to find the packages left by Santa Claus the night before. Christmas stockings, left empty on staircases or fireplaces, also wake up full of sweets.
Typical foods
It's on Christmas Day (the 25th) that the North American Christmas dinner takes place. The preparation of the traditional turkey begins at lunchtime and is served at supper around 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. As well as turkey, pork ribs, ham, fish and even lamb can be used as main dishes.
Side dishes include cranberry sauce, salads, Swedish porpettes (meatballs), green bean casserole and mashed potatoes.
Dessert
For dessert, they use confectionery cookies (made by grandchildren and grandparents, as the traditions say), pumpkin pie and sweetbreads.
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New Year and Christmas in the United States
O Christmas is an intimate, family celebrationThe holiday is full of traditions to bring the family together for the whole holiday. It's a time for children, parents and grandchildren, who usually live in other cities, to get together. In this way, they take advantage of the occasion to be together.
New Year's Eve is the time for parties in bars, clubs and outdoor celebrations, the most famous of which is the ball drop in Times Square at midnight on December 31st and January 1st.
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