Christmas in the USA is as diverse as the country’s population. Perhaps no other country in the world celebrates Christmas in as many varied ways as the United States of America.
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Fun Facts About Christmas in the USA
- Christmas trees have been sold in the USA since around 1850. Their cultivation and sale support about 100,000 people, and trees are grown in 21,000 nurseries across the country. The average age of a Christmas tree is 7 years.
- About 20,000 professional Santa Clauses earn their livelihood in the USA. They undergo regular training to maintain a cheerful demeanor despite the pressures of their surroundings. Santas are also trained not to accept money from parents in front of children and to avoid eating garlic or onions.
- Christmas accounts for a full one-sixth of annual USA store sales.
- It wasn’t until June 26, 1870, that Christmas became an official national holiday in the USA.
- The first USA state to recognize Christmas as a holiday was Alabama in 1836, while the last was Oklahoma in 1907.
- Sources about the first Christmas tree in the White House vary. According to one, the tradition was established in 1856 by President Franklin Pierce; another lists 1889 and President Benjamin Harrison.
- The tradition of lighting the White House Christmas tree began in 1923 during the presidency of Calvin Coolidge. The tree is decorated in a different style each year under the patronage of the First Lady, and has been located in the Blue Room since 1970.
- The tallest Christmas tree in history was displayed at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle in December 1950. The decorated Douglas fir stood 221 ft tall.
- The traditional colors of Christmas are green, red, and gold. Green signifies life and rebirth, red symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ, and gold represents light and wealth.
- American homes are lit and decorated with holly, popcorn strings, candy canes and kitschy Santa Clauses during Christmas. On average, every American spends $270 per year on Christmas decorations.
- The traditional Christmas meal in the USA is roast turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. For dessert, pumpkin pie, pecan pie or fruit Christmas pudding (which is quite different from ours) is usually served.
- Santa Claus wasn’t invented by Coca Cola; the company simply helped spread awareness. Images of the bearded man in the red coat were appearing long before Coca Cola started using him in ads.
- There are three communities in the USA named after Santa Claus: in Arizona, Georgia, and in Indiana. Additionally, there is a small town in Alaska called the North Pole.
- All American letters addressed to Santa Claus arrive in a small town in Indiana, where a museum is dedicated to him. Letters received by Dec. 21 will be answered by Santa and his elves; write to Santa Claus, PO Box 1, Santa Claus, IN 47579, USA.
- The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) informs American children about Santa Claus’s current location during Christmas. This delightful tradition started by mistake. In 1955, the Sears store printed the wrong number for a toy store in Colorado Springs in an ad where children could phone in their Christmas wishes. The children mistakenly called USA Air Defense Commander Harry Shoup, who readily answered questions about Santa’s current location.
- Hawaii’s Christmas is snow-free. Santa Claus arrives by surfboard or boat at Waikiki Beach, the streets are adorned with decorated palm trees, and Christmas Eve dinner is served outdoors. In Hawaii, Santa Claus is called Kanakaloka.
- In Pennsylvania, the city of Bethlehem with a population of 75,000 can be found. It was established around 1741 by Moravians, members of the Unity of the Brethren from the lands of the Bohemian Crown, following the legacy of the Hussites.
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