When you hang that familiar stocking by the fireplace or gather around a twinkling evergreen tree, you're participating in traditions that feel as old as America itself. But here's a fascinating truth: most of the Christmas customs considered as timeless American traditions are actually relatively recent additions to the national story, many taking root during your parents' or grandparents' lifetimes.
The America we know today—where almost 90% of Americans say they celebrate Christmas—looked very different in its early days.
The Puritans even successfully banned Christmas in Massachusetts in 1659, viewing it as too tied to what they saw as pagan rituals and Catholic excess.
It wasn't until June 26, 1870, that Christmas was established as a federal holiday in the US.
What transformed Christmas from a divisive religious observance into America's most beloved holiday?
The answer lies in waves of immigration, Victorian sensibilities, and a young nation's genius for blending the old world with the new.
Let's explore how cherished traditions found their American home.
From forbidden to federal: Christmas finds its American voice
The Christmas story in America begins not with celebration, but with resistance.
Early Puritan settlers brought with them a deep suspicion of Christmas festivities, viewing them as remnants of European Catholic traditions mixed with ancient pagan customs.
The minister Cotton Mather even said that Jesus Christ was dishonored more in the twelve days of Christmas than in the entire preceding twelve months.
But America's melting pot nature gradually softened these rigid perspectives. Americans began to reinvent the holiday, combining Christmas traditions from different cultures with modern American influences.
The transformation gained momentum during the Victorian era, when family-centered celebrations replaced rowdier public festivities.
"Americans began to reinvent the holiday, combining ancient Christmas traditions from different cultures with modern American influences."
The Christmas tree: from German curiosity to American icon
When German immigrants brought their tradition of decorating evergreen trees with lights, sweets, and toys, they couldn't have known they were introducing what would become America's most recognizable Christmas symbol.
As early as 1832, Harriet Martineau predicted the tree would "become one of the most flourishing exotics of New England."
Her prediction proved right. By the 1850s, many Americans beyond New England had fallen in love with the custom.
The tradition spread through returning travelers who had seen it in Germany and through media coverage that encouraged its adoption nationwide.
The numbers tell the story: by 1900, one American in five was estimated to have a Christmas tree.
What started as an "exotic" European tradition had become thoroughly American, with the German identity fading as the tree became an icon of an American holiday.
Santa Claus: the American makeover of Saint Nicholas
The jolly figure in red we recognize today emerged from many influences.
Saint Nicholas appeared under names like Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, and Father Christmas, but in America, the name Santa Claus stuck.
In the 19th century, Dutch immigrants celebrated Saint Nicholas Day on December 6.
New Yorkers especially valued the tradition due to the city's Dutch colonial history.
But it was American writers and artists who gave Santa his distinctive personality and modern appearance.
The tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa grew during the Great Depression of the 1930s, a way for families to hold onto childhood magic during tough economic times.
Christmas stockings: poetry becomes tradition
The familiar image of stockings hung "by the chimney with care" can be traced to American literature.
Both the sleigh and the stocking tradition were popularized by Clement Clark Moore's 1823 poem "The Night Before Christmas."
This shows something uniquely American—many of these traditions were literally written into existence.
For two centuries, stockings have held small gifts and candy while larger presents gather under the tree.
Christmas cards: an immigrant's artistic vision
The Christmas card tradition in America owes much to Louis Prang, a Boston printer who immigrated from Poland.
In 1875, he introduced colorful cards to the American public, and they were such a hit he could not keep up with demand.
Prang saw his cards as affordable works of art that could inspire appreciation for decorative design.
His vision helped launch a billion-dollar industry and turned cards into a personal holiday tradition.
The tradition reached the White House in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration sent the first official presidential Christmas card.
Regional Christmas flavors: America's diverse celebrations
America's size and diversity created distinctive regional traditions.
In the South, Christmas was celebrated earlier than elsewhere, often with muskets and cannons fired in celebration.
In the Southwest, luminarias lit pathways in New Mexico communities.
Coastal regions developed water-based festivities such as boat parades. Each tradition reflected local culture, climate, and resources.
Christmas by the numbers in America today
- Nearly 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas in some form.
- Over 150 million light sets are sold annually in the US.
- Christmas is the country's most commercially significant holiday.
- Regional traditions vary from coast to coast.
Christmas lights: Edison's friend illuminates America
The twinkling lights that brighten neighborhoods each December began in 1882, when Edward Johnson, a friend of Thomas Edison, created the first string of electric lights.
His idea grew into one of the most cherished traditions, with more than 150 million light sets sold annually in the US today.
From Johnson's stunt to elaborate modern displays, Christmas lights symbolize innovation, joy, and community spirit.
Christmas dinner: melting pot on the table
The American Christmas feast reflects the nation's immigrant heritage.
While turkey often takes center stage, Italian-American families serve the Feast of the Seven Fishes, Filipino households make bibingka, and Mexican-American families enjoy tamales.
These meals carry forward cultural traditions while blending into the American holiday table.
Eggnog, adapted from English posset, became distinctly American when colonists spiked it with rum—cementing its place as the holiday drink of choice.
Movies and modern media: 20th-century traditions
Watching Christmas movies became a shared American tradition in the mid-20th century.
Films like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" became classics that families still gather to watch each year.
Even playful debates—like whether "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie—show how traditions keep evolving with pop culture.
Church services: the spiritual foundation
Amid the decorations and parties, attending Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services remains central for many families.
The tradition connects celebrations to their religious roots while adapting to modern family life.
Christmas Eve services, in particular, became popular for families with young children.
Did you know?
Did you know?
The tradition of midnight mass broadcasts from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York began in the radio era and continued into television, allowing Catholic families across America to participate in the celebration even when they couldn't attend church in person.
Newer traditions: Elf on the Shelf and the Christmas pickle
Some traditions are so recent you may remember when they began.
The Elf on the Shelf started in 2005 with a children's book and quickly spread nationwide.
The Christmas pickle—despite claims of German origins—was actually invented in America before being exported abroad.
These newer customs remind us that traditions are living practices, reshaped by each generation.
What makes American Christmas traditions special
- Most beloved traditions are more recent than we realize, many dating to the 19th century
- Immigrant diversity created regional variations still celebrated today
- Economic periods like the Great Depression shaped how traditions evolved
- New traditions continue emerging, showing how celebrations adapt
- The shift from religious to family-centered celebrations happened gradually
Creating traditions at any stage of life
Learning that many Christmas traditions are fairly recent is encouraging—it means there is always room to start new ones or adapt old ones.
The families who first hung stockings, decorated trees, or left cookies for Santa were creating new traditions in their own time.
Whether you're simplifying celebrations, adding new family members, or blending different customs, the most enduring traditions are the ones that bring people together.
The details matter less than the love and connection behind them.
What This Means For You
As you prepare for this year's celebrations—whether hanging lights, attending midnight mass, watching beloved movies, or sharing a feast that reflects your family's heritage—you're part of the ongoing American story of Christmas. Each tradition carries forward the hopes and creativity of generations who sought to make the holiday special.
What Christmas traditions has your family created or adapted over the years? We'd love to hear about the customs that make your celebration uniquely yours.
Original Article
https://10best.usatoday.com/lifestyle/7-christmas-traditions-in-america/
The Mill at Anselma — The History of Christmas in America
Cited text: Today, it's one of America’s most extravagant and popular holidays with almost 90% of Americans saying they celebrate.
Excerpt: almost 90% of Americans say they celebrate Christmas
https://anselmamill.org/historical-insights/the-history-of-christmas-in-america
The Mill at Anselma — The History of Christmas in America
Cited text: The Puritans even successfully banned Christmas in Massachusetts in 1659.
Excerpt: The Puritans even successfully banned Christmas in Massachusetts in 1659
https://anselmamill.org/historical-insights/the-history-of-christmas-in-america
A History of Christmas in America
Cited text: In the United States of America, Christmas was established as a federal holiday on June 26, 1870.
Excerpt: June 26, 1870, that Christmas was established as a federal holiday
https://www.classicalhistorian.com/historyblog/a-history-of-christmas-in-america
Christmas in Colonial and Revolutionary America — Fraunces Tavern® Museum
Cited text: [5] The famed minister Cotton Mather would even say that Jesus Christ was dishonored more in the twelve days of Christmas than in the entire preceding...
Excerpt: The famed minister Cotton Mather would even say that Jesus Christ was dishonored more in the twelve days of Christmas than in the entire preceding twelve months
https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/colonial-christmas
A History of Christmas in America
Cited text: They combined ancient Christmas traditions from different cultures with modern American influences.
Excerpt: Americans began to reinvent the holiday, combining ancient Christmas traditions from different cultures with modern American influences
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-history-of-chrismas-in-america/4174019.html
A History of Christmas in America
Cited text: German immigrants brought their tradition of putting lights, sweets and toys on the branches of evergreen trees placed in their homes.
Excerpt: brought their tradition of putting lights, sweets and toys on the branches of evergreen trees placed in their homes
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-history-of-chrismas-in-america/4174019.html
Christmas in 19th Century America | History Today
Cited text: She had 'little doubt' that the Christmas tree would 'become one of the most flourishing exotics of New England'.
Excerpt: As early as 1832, Harriet Martineau had 'little doubt' that the Christmas tree would 'become one of the most flourishing exotics of New England'
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/christmas-19th-century-america
Christmas in 19th Century America | History Today
Cited text: By the 1850s, many Americans, not just New Englanders, had fallen in love with the German custom.
Excerpt: By the 1850s, many Americans, not just New Englanders, had fallen in love with the German custom
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/christmas-19th-century-america
Christmas in 19th Century America | History Today
Cited text: By 1900, one American in five was estimated to have a Christmas tree.
Excerpt: by 1900, one American in five was estimated to have a Christmas tree
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/christmas-19th-century-america
Christmas in 19th Century America | History Today
Cited text: Seamlessly, the 'German-ness' of the tree receded as it became an icon of an American festival and, to some, an index of acculturation.
Excerpt: the 'German-ness' of the tree receding as it became an icon of an American festival
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/christmas-19th-century-america
A History of Christmas in America
Cited text: These include Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas. But for most Americans his most popular name would become Santa Claus.
Excerpt: different cultures that gave Saint Nicholas different names, including Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas, but for most Americans his most popular name would become Santa Claus
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-history-of-chrismas-in-america/4174019.html
A History of Christmas in America
Cited text: In the 19th century, many Dutch immigrants living in the United States celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6. Saint Nicholas was especi...
Excerpt: In the 19th century, many Dutch immigrants living in the United States celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6, and Saint Nicholas was especially important to New Yorkers because of their history as a Dutch colony
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-history-of-chrismas-in-america/4174019.html
History of Christmas - Origins, Traditions & Facts | HISTORY
Cited text: While leaving treats for Santa and his reindeer dates back to ancient Norse mythology, Americans began to sweeten up to the tradition during the Great...
Excerpt: Americans began to sweeten up to the tradition during the Great Depression in the 1930s
https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-christmas
Christmas Firsts: Origins of Christmas Traditions in America | The Old Farmer's Almanac
Cited text: Across the pond, Louis Prang is known as the “father of the American Christmas card.” A Boston-based printer who immigrated from Poland, Prang introdu...
Excerpt: Louis Prang, a Boston-based printer who immigrated from Poland, introduced the Christmas card to the American public in 1875
https://www.almanac.com/content/christmas-firsts-christmas-traditions-america
Christmas in 19th Century America | History Today
Cited text: When Prang introduced these new cards into the United States in 1875, they proved such a hit that he could not meet demand.
Excerpt: When Prang introduced these new cards into the United States in 1875, they proved such a hit that he could not meet demand
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/christmas-19th-century-america
Christmas in 19th Century America | History Today
Cited text: He saw his cards as small, affordable works of art. Through them he hoped to stimulate popular interest in original decorative art and to educate publ...
Excerpt: He saw his cards as small, affordable works of art and hoped to stimulate popular interest in original decorative art and to educate public taste
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/christmas-19th-century-america
Christmas Firsts: Origins of Christmas Traditions in America | The Old Farmer's Almanac
Cited text: Credit: americanantiquarian.org ... St. Nicholas Day 2025: Learn About The Feast of Sinterklaas · The first White House Christmas card was sent in 195...
Excerpt: the first White House Christmas card was sent in 1953 from the administration of President Dwight D.
https://www.almanac.com/content/christmas-firsts-christmas-traditions-america
Christmas in Colonial and Revolutionary America — Fraunces Tavern® Museum
Cited text: To find the greatest regional embracement of the Christmas holiday, one would have to look to the southern colonies.
Excerpt: To find the greatest regional embracement of the Christmas holiday, one would have to look to the southern colonies, where the holiday flourished most in colonial and revolutionary America
https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/colonial-christmas
Christmas in Colonial and Revolutionary America — Fraunces Tavern® Museum
Cited text: [11] But, on the whole, the south is where the holiday flourished most in colonial and revolutionary America.
Excerpt: To find the greatest regional embracement of the Christmas holiday, one would have to look to the southern colonies, where the holiday flourished most in colonial and revolutionary America
https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/colonial-christmas
Christmas in Colonial and Revolutionary America — Fraunces Tavern® Museum
Cited text: Throughout the colonies, a common Christmas tradition was the firing of muskets and cannons in celebration.
Excerpt: Throughout the colonies, a common Christmas tradition was the firing of muskets and cannons in celebration
https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/colonial-christmas
How American Christmas Traditions Began | Apex Social
Cited text: Today, over 150 million light sets are sold annually in the U.S., making it one of the most cherished Christmas traditions in the U.S.
Excerpt: over 150 million light sets sold annually in the U.S., making it one of the most cherished Christmas traditions
https://apex-social.com/american-christmas-traditions-and-their-origins/
How American Christmas Traditions Began | Apex Social
Cited text: What started as a creative stunt by Edward Hibberd Johnson has grown into a tradition that brightens neighborhoods across the country.
Excerpt: What started as a creative stunt has grown into a tradition that brightens neighborhoods across the country, and whether you're driving through a lit-up street or marveling at a towering tree in your local town square, these lights…
https://apex-social.com/american-christmas-traditions-and-their-origins/
How American Christmas Traditions Began | Apex Social
Cited text: Whether you’re driving through a lit-up street or marveling at a towering tree in your local town square, these lights symbolize the joy and warmth of...
Excerpt: What started as a creative stunt has grown into a tradition that brightens neighborhoods across the country, and whether you're driving through a lit-up street or marveling at a towering tree in your local town square, these lights…
https://apex-social.com/american-christmas-traditions-and-their-origins/
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