Just like Brazil, the USA is a multicultural country. This is mainly due to the immigrants coming from so many places in the world to take up residence 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.
Furthermore, much of what is used as Christmas symbols in the United States was also incorporated by Brazil. It is possible to cite as examples the figure of Santa Claus, reindeer, the association of the season with snow (while in Brazil it is summer) and the food, such as the turkey. If you are curious to know more about Christmas traditions in the country, read on.
Decorations
The whole country strives to make this specially decorated and illuminated date. Some towns even hold competitions for the neighborhood to fill their yard 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 it installs a huge Christmas tree with a public ice-skating rink.
People who live in houses are still in the habit of buy the Christmas tree (the actual natural tree) to decorate in the middle of the room, instead of using artificial ones as in Brazil. This moment of decorating everything to wait for the great day of Christmas is a kind of event that provides the family get-together even before the 25th. For the children it is a fun game to get into the year-end mood.
Also read: 7 tips to prepare for living in the USA.
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 at church, such as special celebrations that retrace the story of Jesus Christ's birth.
Commercially speaking, there are stores open specifically for the sale of Christmas products, decorations and toys all over the country. The amazing thing is that these businesses operate all year round. But, for sure, the time of best sales is always at the end of the year.
In addition, another tradition in the country is the sending Christmas cards for friends and family with pictures of the family group. For Christmas Eve, it is common for children to leave a glass of milk with some cookies to be Santa's snack.
And it doesn't stop there, it is also common for children to go into the kitchen with their grandparents or parents to make their own food. 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. The exchange of gifts in the United States is on the morning of the 25th. So children wake up and run to the Christmas tree to find the packages left by Santa Claus the night before. Christmas stockings, left empty hanging on ladders or fireplaces, also wake up full of candy.
Typical foods
It is on Christmas Day (the 25th) that the North American Christmas dinner takes place. The preparation of the traditional turkey begins at lunchtime to be served at supper around 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. In addition to turkey, pork ribs, ham, fish, and even lamb can also be used as the main dish.
The side dishes are cranberry sauce, salads, Swedish porpette (meatballs), green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes.
Dessert
For dessert, they use cookies (made by grandchildren and grandparents, as told in the traditions), pumpkin pie, and sweet rolls.
New Year's Eve and Christmas in the United States
O Christmas is a family and intimate celebrationIt is the time for children, parents, and grandchildren to get together. It is the moment when children, parents and grandchildren, who usually live in other cities, get together. In this way, they take advantage of the occasion to be together.
New Year's Eve is the time to go to the parties in bars, nightclubs, and outdoor celebrations, the most famous of which is the ball drop in Times Square at midnight from December 31st to January 1st.
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