Christmas in America

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Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For nearly two millennia Christmas has been observed by traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Popular customs include the decorating of the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, attending church, and spending time with your friends and family and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive (History.Com/Christmas).
In the early 17th century religious reform had swept over England and changed the way Christmas was celebrated from earlier beliefs. In 1645 a leader named Oliver Cromwell had tried to rid England of decadence. As a part of their efforts they eliminated the celebrating of Christmas in England. With a popular vote Charles the II returned to the throne bringing the Christmas holiday with him, allowing Christmas to spread (History.Com/ American).
Christmas began in America whenever the pilgrims, English separatists who came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result of these beliefs, Christmas was not a holiday in early American culture. From 1659 to 1681, Christmas was banned in the city of Boston. Anyone expressing their Christmas spirit was fined up to 5 shillings (equal to 33.35 U.S. dollars). By contrast, in Jamestown, Captain John Smith said Christmas was to be enjoyed and passed on without incident. (History.Com/ American)
After the American Revolution (1775-1783) most English customs fell out of favor including Christmas. Our national government’s first Christmas under the new Constitution was spent in session on December 25, 1789. Christmas wasn’t actually declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870 by President Ulysses S Grant. At first...

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...by Jesus, the Nativity and the Three Kings, but also Santa Claus, the reindeer and elves. Christmas is also symbolized by Christmas trees, holly, fairy lights, presents, candles and the gathering of family and friends. It is still widely advertised by movies and the everlasting Christmas carols: growing bigger and more important every year, 143 years in the making.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, born in us will be a Savior and over us will be a star shinning its gleam of hope to the world.”
― Calvin Coolidge

Works Cited

. History.com. N.p.. Web. 21 Nov 2013.
. History.com. N.p.. Web. 21 Nov 2013.

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