Introduction – Holiday Traditions in America
Like throughout the world, the United States has its own unique ways of celebrating both world-wide holidays like Christmas or New Year’s Eve, as well as holidays particular to our own American culture or those celebrated by immigrants. This post is not penned in its entirety by me. Instead, it is a trip around the world-wide-web to look at our American holiday traditions, with a focus upon the peak holiday season of Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.
Most Common Holiday Traditions in America
Though this article may seem to share the most common of American holiday traditions, I thought it intriguing as it is from a company called Grand European Travel (GET). This article, therefore, prepares Europeans for our unique Thanksgiving holiday, lest they travel during that season.
Holiday Traditions in the States for Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day stands out as one of the most extensively observed holidays in the United States. Annually, on the fourth Thursday of November, the majority of businesses shutter for the day, prompting individuals to journey both short and long distances to reunite with their loved ones. For some, the day commences with an impressive parade, while others opt for a lively morning run. A lavish feast awaits everyone, fostering communal gatherings to savor and commemorate, irrespective of the culinary offerings. For many, this day marks the commencement of the holiday season, while for others, it heralds the start of the shopping spree. Here’s a glimpse into 10 Thanksgiving Day traditions observed across the nation.
The next 3 articles look at the more common holiday traditions in the US. I especially favor the first article as it gives some historical context to our Christmas traditions.
Christmas Traditions in America and How They All Started
The Christmas season undeniably stands out as the most festive and tradition-rich period of the year in America. Families across the nation come together, encircle their trees, engage in carol singing, and eagerly hang stockings, anticipating a festive bounty on Christmas Day.
Communities come alive with the brilliance of twinkling lights, people exude increased cheer, and even the chilly winter nights take on a warmer, cozier feel. There’s a magical quality to the holiday spirit that instills hope and joy in people’s hearts.
Similar to celebrations elsewhere in the Christian world, Christmas is observed on December 24-25 in the USA. However, the festivities commence well before that, and the customs extend far beyond the exchange of gifts and adorning the Christmas tree.
Top 10 Holiday Traditions in the US
The festive season in the United States is truly unparalleled. The moment Thanksgiving concludes, the nation swiftly gears up for the winter holidays. From indulging in Christmas movies to adorning surroundings with lavish decorations, individuals spare no effort to immerse themselves in the holiday ambiance. Here, we present 10 of our cherished holiday traditions.
New Year’s Traditions in the United States
The New Year, often seen as a symbol of hope, fortune, and greater prosperity than the preceding year, brings with it a tapestry of customs and superstitious beliefs. Much like numerous other countries worldwide, the United States observes the New Year with its unique set of customs waiting to be explored.
Unique Holiday Traditions in America
This first article highlights holiday traditions we may think are “normal”, but how they aren’t so normal in the eyes of the world.
15 American Holiday Traditions We Don’t Realize Are Weird
When considering American holiday traditions, the mind often gravitates towards practices handed down through generations. It appears that nearly every aspect of the holiday season, including decorations, celebrations, and even culinary customs, has roots in other countries and eras. Despite the prevalence of German Christmas trees, English holiday meals, and cookies inspired by global recipes, America does boast its own distinctive and, at times, eccentric holiday traditions.
The 4 articles below don’t spend their time on the most popular or widely held traditions in America. Instead, they take you across the country to look at a variety of unique and intriguing practices across our fair land.
20 Ways Christmas Is Celebrated Differently Across the U.S.
Adorning a cone-shaped fir. Enjoying nightly screenings of Home Alone throughout December. Setting out milk and homemade cookies for Santa. These are the familiar Christmas traditions everyone knows. However, in a country as vast and diverse as the United States, it’s only logical that a plethora of ways exist to usher in the festive spirit. To offer a glimpse into some of the more distinctive customs from coast to coast, we’ve compiled a list of 20 regional American Christmas traditions that might just inspire you to embrace something new this year. And for some holiday trivia to share with your family, explore 55 Fun Christmas Facts to infuse your celebrations with the holiday spirit.
The Most Unique Christmas Tradition in Every State
This article takes us across America, highlighting numerous traditions that are clearly influenced by local geography, historical culture or seasonal weather.
Late-Year Holiday Traditions You Might Not Know About
Ah, the holiday season. Regardless of the challenges faced throughout the year – and 2020 has been less than ideal for many – there’s always the hope that year-end festivities will lift spirits and draw loved ones closer.
While you’re likely acquainted with the familiar late-year American holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, these celebrations harbor numerous peculiar, intriguing, or lesser-known nuances. Keep reading to uncover these distinctive aspects and explore a handful of holidays that might not be widely recognized!
These Places Across the U.S. Hold Unique New Year’s Celebrations
As each year gives way to the next, public celebrations transform into enduring annual traditions. Throughout the United States, various cities and towns have established memorable ways to welcome the New Year.
From lively countdowns to vibrant festivities, here’s a glimpse into how New Year’s Eve, and even New Year’s Day, is celebrated across America.
How Football Has Become a Holiday Tradition in America
As I was searching articles about American holiday traditions, I was surprised how football was never mentioned in my initial searches. Growing up, football seemed to me to be inexplicably tied to the holidays with everything from the traditional NFL Thanksgiving game (now multiple games) to the NCAA College Bowl season. I remember watching the Rose Bowl Parade before the annual Rose Bowl game as an annual New Year’s tradition. Added to that were the Orange, Sugar and Cotton Bowls as well.
Luckily, a more detailed search gave me quite a bit of material. To those of you who are not sports fans or might even loathe “American” football, I apologize, but this red-blooded American boy could not in clear conscience omit this uniquely American component of our holiday traditions.
How Football Became a Thanksgiving Tradition
Thanksgiving holds different meanings for many in the US, typically revolving around food, family, and football.
Annually, millions tune in to witness the Thanksgiving NFL games. The previous year’s clash between the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders drew an audience of 38.5 million people, marking the most-watched NFL regular season game since 1990. (In comparison, 33.8 million viewers watched President Joe Biden’s inauguration).
How did America’s favorite sport become intertwined with this holiday? CNN consulted with experts to uncover the connection.
A Brief History of Holiday Football
It’s that season once more, folks. The trees are casting off their leaves, the air is turning colder, and that one cousin you encounter only once a year is back in town. The holiday season holds special significance for nearly everyone, whether for the family gatherings or the delectable feasts. However, another aspect of the holiday season is just as pivotal as the pumpkin pie: football. Yet, for those not enamored with the sport, the stretch from November to January is a time to be approached with a bit of trepidation.
Historical Significance of New Year’s Day Bowls
When the Rose Bowl kicked off for the first time on New Year’s Day in 1902, it established a precedent that would shape the college football postseason for decades to come. Despite the lopsided 49-0 victory by Michigan over Stanford in that game, it marked the end of football matchups in Pasadena for more than ten years. While such a mismatch could have discouraged the idea of starting the new year with a football game, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses regrouped and reintroduced the game on the first day of 1916.
Since then, a New Year’s Day football game has become a tradition. As additional games joined the lineup, they followed the lead of the Rose Bowl and also chose to hold their games on January 1. Occasionally, when New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday, games would shift to January 2, but otherwise, the trend was to kick off the new year with football.
Jewish Holiday Traditions
8 Hanukkah Traditions That Make the 8-Night Holiday Special
With the holiday season drawing near, so does Hanukkah. The eight-day Festival of Lights brings forth a time of celebration and joy. While numerous families infuse their own unique twists into the holiday festivities, such as celebrating a blended Chrismukkah, there are also timeless Hanukkah traditions that consistently add a special touch to the celebration.
