Angelika Christmas is just around the corner, and it's time for my Christmas newsletter. This time, I've gathered a few American Christmas traditions. Despite the diverse mix of people, a high percentage of the American population celebrates Christmas. However, many celebrate it in different ways, and the originally religious aspect of the festival is not always the main focus. Some customs may seem familiar to you, as the European immigrants of the 19th and 20th centuries brought their traditions to the New World, blending Scandinavian, English, Dutch, Italian, Polish, and German customs.
In the USA, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. The 25th is even an official holiday, which is surprising since there are actually no religious holidays in the USA. On December 25th, almost all stores, including the large supermarket chain "Safeway," and many restaurants are actually closed. Only a few industrious immigrants who do not celebrate Christmas open their small mom-and-pop stores or restaurants.
The opening of Christmas presents takes place on the morning of December 25th, which seems extremely inconvenient for parents of young children, as the little ones are, of course, so excited that they wake up far too early and drag their parents out of bed. I find it somewhat uncomfortable to unwrap gifts in the morning because, in most American regions, it is broad daylight at that time, and the lights on the Christmas tree don't really stand out. However, American children are told the story of "Santa Claus," who travels across the country on Christmas Eve in his reindeer-drawn sleigh, climbs down the chimney into the house while everyone is asleep, and places the presents under the tree.
Many children also leave cookies and milk on the table for the very busy man to strengthen him. Santa Claus also fills the cloth boots ("Christmas stockings"), which usually hang by the mantelpiece, with small gifts and sweets. According to legend, those who were not well-behaved should expect a piece of coal in their stocking. You can see that the American "Santa Claus" is derived from the figures of Saint Nicholas and the Weihnachtsmann. However, "Santa Claus" lives at the North Pole.
December 26th, on the other hand, is not a holiday in the USA. December 24th is also considered a normal working day, although many businesses tend to be more relaxed on this day, and many employees leave work earlier. This year, we are lucky because December 25th falls on a Saturday, making December 24th officially a holiday, allowing us to celebrate Christmas on December 24th without taking a day off. Even though there is only one holiday for Christmas, businesses and companies tend to be quieter between Christmas and New Year. Many people take time off, and some companies, including Yahoo, have recently started closing their doors at the end of the year to save money, forcing their employees to take mandatory leave. Schools also have two weeks of winter break. However, I have to work between Christmas and New Year.