christmas in america
TRANSCRIPT
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 Christmas
And 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
