Christmas in the United States

December 25 was declared a federal holiday in the United States in 1870

More than 160 countries celebrate Christmas

The first date recorded of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336 AD a few years later, Pope Julius I, officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th of December.

Special Traditions

• Putting up and decorating a christmas tree
• Leaving milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer
• Watching Christmas movies
• Christmas eve tradition of opening a gift of an ornament and pajamas
• Driving around to look at Christmas lights

Special People and Characters

• Santa Claus
• Elves
• Jesus
• Bill Cosby

Thanks to Bill Cosby and his 80's sitcom character Cliff Huxtable's choice of fashion we now have Ugly Christmas sweaters.

Symbols of Christmas

• Mistletoe
• Nativity Scene
• Christmas Trees
• Ugly Christmas Sweaters
• Santa Hat

Christmas Songs

• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
• O Holy Night
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town
• Jingle Bell Rock
• White Christmas

Christmas Foods

• Candy Canes
• Milk and Cookies
• Egg Nog
• Ginger Bread
• Pumpkin Pie
• Pizza

Interesting Facts

• The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers
• According to data analyzed from Facebook posts, two weeks before Christmas is one of the most popular times for a couple to break up
• Each year in the United States alone 3 billion Christmas cards are sent
• Oklahoma was the last state in the U.S. state to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1907.
• In 1962, the first U.S postage Christmas stamp was issued