Christmas Day in the United States

Many people in the United States celebrate Christmas Day on December 25. The day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people erect Christmas trees, decorate their homes, visit family or friends, and exchange gifts.

People celebrate Christmas Day in many ways. In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day,many people decorate their homes and gardens with lights, Christmas trees, andmuch more. It is common to organize a special meal, often consisting of turkeyand a lot of other festive foods for family or friends, and to exchange giftswith them. Children, in particular, often receive a lot of gifts from theirparents and other relatives, and the mythical figure Santa Claus. This has ledto Christmas Day becoming an increasingly commercialized holiday with a lot offamilies spending a large part of their income on gifts and food.

Many Sunday schools, churches, and communities organize special events. These can include decorating the neighborhood or a shopping mall, putting up a Christmas tree, and planning a Nativity display, concert, or performance. A lot of playsand songs have an aspect of Christmas as a theme. Some groups arrange meals, shelter, or charitable projects for people without a home or with very little money.