how Christmas celebrated in America: Christmas time in America can be full of strange traditions, from finding men dressed as Santa to children putting their hands out to be given money. Here is a collection of the strangest American customs that you might see on Christmas morning… _ Grocery store Santa While the greeting is common in Britain, some states in America, like Oregon and Kentucky, have the tradition of “elfies” – store Santas who dress as elves, who hand out candy canes to children on Santa’s behalf. Toy soldier Santa in town Toy soldiers were a common sight in America in the early 20th Century, although it isn’t widely seen nowadays. Christmas celebrations in the US would see community soldiers, with pipes and drums, parading through the streets. This tradition was revived by the Salvation Army in the 1950s, and would be accompanied by children throwing confetti at the soldiers. It’s not clear if toy soldiers are still used in town Christmas celebrations in America. Christmas mug States in the South hold their own special mugs associated with Christmas. These mugs feature Santa Claus and the silhouette of a winter scene or Christian scene in winter. Brown bag Santa Sometimes you can see Santa in bags. According to an article in USA Today, the “brown bag” Santa appeared in Milwaukee in the 1970s and was intended to add a Christmas-like character to the poor families who received groceries from charity organizations. __ Christmas letter Ms Steinberg, an American author and professor of children’s literature at Cornell University, compiled the book Christmas in a Heartbeat, a collection of bizarre American traditions, in which the author compiled an index of “what some people have called tacky or stupid or embarrassing”. These include items such as the American custom of children placing their hand on their heads, which is meant to be a blessing for good health.
SWNS WYOMING: In America, Santas still enjoy the snow and cold weather of the North
“I wondered why people do things that appear to be less than nice. It’s always seemed inexplicable,” Ms Steinberg says. “It’s hard not to notice some of the things you do that feel stupid or obvious.” The book includes a section dedicated to Christmas cards – which appear to have peaked in the UK in the 1950s and 60s. In Britain, people would send Christmas cards as a way to acknowledge their friends and relatives’ birthdays. A letter would also be included, for people to share their thoughts on the previous year. But Ms Steinberg discovered that American families were sending handwritten letters to one another during the Great Depression in the 1930s. As well as handwritten letters, Ms Steinberg discovered that they also sent “Christmas stamps” to their loved ones. She explains: “It was a way of showing a tradition of using stamps.”
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“The tradition was that kids would use them as a goodie bag for the month.” _ Shamrocks for Saint Patrick’s Day Shamrocks are a symbol of Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States, and some companies still use them in their advertising to celebrate the holiday. Shoppers at Wal-Mart often find “St Patrick’s Day” signs placed on sale items, with the words “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or Do without”. On the other hand, some families are not so Irish-friendly – in New York, street artists have drawn up paintings of blood dripping from the hands of police officers to protest against how they are treated in the city. _ Christmas tree with Mardi Gras beads Headscarves and beads have become a part of the Christmas traditions in New Orleans. These Mardi Gras-inspired decorations are usually made of red, green or white ribbon. Although the tradition originated in the 1950s, it’s become popular in the city more recently.
SWNS MISSOURI: Families in the city go all out for Christmas
These people really go to town when it comes to Christmas decorations in Missouri. Many places in the state host lavish Christmas displays that take days to prepare, from the Thanksgiving break to Christmas. One of the highlights is a display that includes several Christmas trees lining the streets of St. Louis. The city attracts more than a million tourists during the holidays.
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Tinsmiths in St. Louis have built a 31ft tall candy cane structure, which attracts thousands of visitors. Each year the Nativity scene on the square is restored to look brand new. Visitors can watch strolling carolers perform on the square. _ Painting your door red These US cities embrace their colours with a whole lot of enthusiasm. Oklahoma City has a big red wagon which has been driving around in the city for over 60 years. The horse pulled wagon is a must-see for visitors to see the city’s colourful exterior decor. _ Christmas lights in Alamo Christmas lights are a big deal in Alamo, California