Christmas and New years

Christmas Christmas is celebrated on December 25

Christmas is a Christian holiday but many people who are not Christian also celebrate it.

Many families go to church at midnight (12 AM) on December 24 to celebrate the birth of Jesus

Traditions

After Thanksgiving, families will start to decorate their homes with lights, wreaths, mistletoe, Christmas stockings and other holiday decorations

Santa Claus For children, Santa Claus is the main part of Christmas.

Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus and the Christmas elves.

Santa Claus

Every year, Santa delivers presents to good boys and girls on Christmas Eve (24.12)

On Christmas eve, families put out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer

Santa’s Workshop

At the top of the North Pole there is a toy workshop where all Santa’s elves make gifts for children.

Santa has a ‘naughty and nice’ list of children around the world. If you have been a good boy or girl you will get a toy but if you are on the naughty list you will get a lump of coal.

Santa’s Reindeer On Christmas Eve Santa flies around the world in his big red

sleigh filled with presents.

Santa has 12 magic reindeer that pull his sleigh through the sky

The most famous reindeer is Rudolf. His bright red nose helps Santa see when there is bad weather

Christmas Stockings

On Christmas eve, everyone hangs their Christmas stocking on the fireplace or on the wall.

On Christmas morning the stockings will be filled with gifts from Santa

Christmas Tree Every family has a Christmas tree that is decorated with

lights, bulbs, and tinsel

Santa also leaves gifts under the Christmas tree

Christmas Food

Christmas food includes gingerbread men, sometimes people even make gingerbread house!

Candy Canes, hot chocolate, and cookies are important parts of this holiday.

Christmas Dinner

On Christmas day many families have big meals with ham or turkey, potatoes, vegetables, and pies

Season of Giving Christmas is also the season of giving. People give money to

charity and toys to children in need.

Many families also volunteer at soup kitchens where they serve food to people without homes or families.

New Year On New Year’s eve people have big parties for all their

friends.

People make New Year’s resolutions

Fireworks and concerts are always part of the New Year celebrations!

New Year in Times Square The most famous New Year’s celebration is in New York

City’s Times Square.

Thousands of people gather to watch the famous ‘ball drop’ at midnight on the New Year