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🎄 UNITED STATES
Christmas in the United States
American Christmas goes big and bright: whole streets glow with lights, giant trees tower over city plazas, and Christmas morning still starts with stockings and gifts under the tree. It is a celebration that mixes family warmth with a love of spectacle.
Quick Facts
Main celebration
December 25, with gifts in the morning under the tree.
Gift-bringer
Santa Claus, said to arrive by sleigh on Christmas Eve while children sleep.
A signature food
Roast turkey or ham, eggnog, gingerbread cookies and houses, and candy canes.
How to say Merry Christmas
“Merry Christmas”
When and How They Celebrate
The season often begins with a public tree lighting in a city plaza, sometimes beside an ice rink, and neighbourhood displays grow brighter through December. Many families attend Christmas Eve church services, then wake early on December 25 to open gifts under the tree and enjoy a long, relaxed day together.
Traditions to Know
Stockings are “hung by the chimney,” and children leave cookies and milk for Santa, with a carrot for the reindeer. NORAD Tracks Santa every Christmas Eve, a tradition running since 1955, while families drive around to admire neighbourhood light displays that can cover whole houses.
On the Table
The main meal is usually roast turkey or ham, served with classic sides and gravy. Eggnog, creamy and spiced, is poured through the season, while gingerbread cookies and houses, plus striped candy canes, add sweetness and colour to every table.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Santa Claus arrive in the United States?
Santa is said to arrive by sleigh on Christmas Eve while children sleep, leaving gifts for Christmas morning.
What is NORAD Tracks Santa?
NORAD Tracks Santa follows Santa’s journey every Christmas Eve, a tradition that has run since 1955.
What do children leave for Santa?
Children leave cookies and milk for Santa, and a carrot for the reindeer.