CHRISTMASin

America

The History of ChristmasChristmas was

celebrated all over Europe as early as the 1300s.

In America…The Pilgrims from Europe that came

to the United States DID NOT CELEBRATE Christmas because it was

a PAGAN HOLIDAY.

Christmas was FORBIDDEN in some states

BUT in the 1819A famous WRITER Washington Irving

wrote stories about the celebration of Christmas.

Changing ChristmasIrving made Christmas into a

celebration about PEACE, FAMILY, LOVE, and BRINGING TOGETHER all

groups of people of all different social classes

Americans began

to celebrate Christmas!

December 25th is a religious holiday in the

Catholic Church

Why December 25th?December 25th is the BIRTHDAY

CELEBRATION of Jesus Christ.

There is CHURCH or a MASS every

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Nativity

Scene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WROBkjlm0Pw&feature=related

Christmas symbols

and traditions in America

Christmas TreeStarting AFTER THANKSGIVING…People go to CHRISTMAS TREE

FARMS and pick out their favorite tree.

We decorate our Christmas Trees with…GARLAND TINSLE

ORNAMENTS

LIGHTS

We also use POPCORN AND

CANDY CANES to decorate our trees

We put a STAR on the top of the tree to symbolize

the nativity of Jesus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Hv9YmhGpw&feature=related

Kissing under the

MISTLETOE

Traditional plants

Poinsettias

Stuffing STOCKINGS with small toys or candy

Holly

Presents or Gifts We WRAP them and put them UNDER the tree

We also make CARDS to

Family and Friends

“Sharing is Caring”Christmas is a time for GIVING

THE SALVATION ARMY is an organization that COLLECTS MONEY during Christmas and buys gifts for

the poor

Food and DrinksGingerbread man

and house Egg nogand hot cider

Nutcracker

We decorate our houses!

We put wreaths on our frontdoor

What ABOUT SANTA?

St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century.

Devoted his life to CHRISTIANTY He is known for his GENEROSITY for the poor.

The original Santa Claus

St. Nick

Names for Santa TODAY:

Jolly Ol’ St. Nick

Santa Claus

Father Christmas

Kris Kringle

Santa is a SYMBOL of Generosity

The Story of Santa

Santa LIVES in the North Pole

He has…REINDEER

SLEIGH ELVES

Write letters to Santa

We sit on Santa’s lap

and tell Him what

we want for Christmas

IN STORES….

Children leave cookies and milk for Santa to eat and then after

they fall asleep…

On Christmas Eve

...Santa goes down the

CHIMNEY to the houses…

…And DELIVERS PRESENTS

Classic Christmas Stories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YAOYs3ObzI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtwVgOmPNPE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_8kmOmxyk&feature=related

http://www.flixster.com/movie/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas1966

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/5378610

Christmas Carols

• The Twelve Days of Christmas• Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer• Frosty The Snowman• Jingle Bells • The First Noel • Oh Holy Night • White Christmas • Have Yourself A Merry Little ChristmasAnd so much

more!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3iL9KEKBxM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJHXrFxhV7I&feature=related

Christmas is a time of…• Giving • Being with family and Friends • Celebrating the birth of Jesus • Joy, Happiness, and Peace

“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more”. - Dr.

Seuss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jQy_ppY2bI

“God Bless us, everyone”. - A Christmas Carol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUzIF4eYRkg