What Role Does Christmas Play In American Culture

Every culture has their own traditions when it comes to holidays or special occasions. The way a culture celebrates can bring their society together. For example, a unique ritual during the Christmas season some cultures get together annually for the lighting of the Christmas tree. The end of the year is the most difficult season because there is Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Christmas could be considered as reinforced within the cultures. During the holiday season, Christmas is everywhere; the lights, music, and picture of Santa. People send holiday cards, shop for presents, and buy plenty of holiday food. During the winter people break out the eggnog. However, there are not gender roles when it comes to Christmas. As you look into the lives and practices of these people around the world, they have very similar traditions.

On December 25 Christians gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Despite the fact that no one knows the

However, In the American culture they created the idea of Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas). Santa is a christmas figure represented as a old man with a big white beard who brings toys to children. Santa visits houses on Christmas Eve to drop off presents. The concept of Santa is also included with other mystical creatures such as, elves and reindeer. Shanafelt states, “We can easily see how we think by means of our mascots by picturing how they are celebrated at public events” (ch.9). This is important because Santa could be considered as a mascot. Christmas is celebrated by groups of all ages, but primarily for younger children. Parents also created the idea of the”naughty and nice” list. If the kids are bad and naughty, they received a lump of coal. On the other hand, if the kids are good and nice, they receive presents. This gave parents a way to keep the kids sort of disciplined. Furthermore, Christmas for adults became surrounded upon the notion of gift