Christmas in the USA and Canada
Christmas in the USA and Canada has its very own charm. Think of all the sparkling decorations and cinematic classics like “Home Alone” or “Miracle on 34th Street”. The USA and Canada have slightly different takes on Christmas, ranging from extravagant light shows and flashy Christmas jumpers to snowy landscapes and indigenous traditions. Keep reading to find out how people celebrate Christmas in the USA and Canada.
Christmas in the USA
Christmas in the USA is a true spectacle: town centres, shopping malls and residential areas are decorated for Christmas several weeks before the actual holidays. People put up twinkling fairy lights and inflatable reindeer, snowmen or Santas. But even with all this festive splendour, Christmas remains a family celebration in the USA – a time to uphold traditions, albeit with a modern twist.
In the United States, the lead-up to Christmas kicks off much earlier than in Germany. It unofficially starts with Thanksgiving, which takes place on the fourth Thursday in November every year. Thanksgiving is considered one of the most important American holidays, with families and friends gathering for a big dinner. The very next day is Black Friday, the biggest shopping event of the year and the official start of the Christmas spending marathon.
25 December is the main Christmas holiday for Americans, also known as “Christmas Day”. The evening of the 24th (“Christmas Eve”) is usually for any last-minute preparations like gift wrapping, decorating or baking. Many households hang up Christmas stockings filled with small gifts, candy or other little surprises from Santa. Children will often lay out cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer.
Christmas Day starts off with everyone unwrapping the presents that Santa brought them the night before and ends with a big feast in the evening. A classic American Christmas dinner includes turkey or ham with side dishes like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and a green bean casserole, culminating in desserts such as pumpkin pie (though this is more common for Thanksgiving), pecan pie and Christmas cookies.
Christmas traditions in the USA
Here are some fun traditions you will find in the USA around Christmas time:
Santa Claus: Santa Claus is the star of the Christmas season. You can even go to a local “Santa’s village”, a kind of replica of Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. Children get to tell Santa what they want for Christmas, sit on his lap and take pictures with him. Santa Claus and his reindeer, especially Rudolph, the Red-Nosed-Reindeer, are core elements of modern Christmas festivities in the US.
Christmas lights: Christmas lights are a true art form in the USA. Entire neighbourhoods put on what you could only describe as actual light shows. Some of these areas have become popular destinations to visit this time of year, such as Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, New York, or Candy Cane Lane in Los Angeles. In many cities, you can even stay in your car and drive through the illuminated neighbourhoods.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties: Like in the UK, ugly Christmas jumpers are a huge phenomenon in the US nowadays. The uglier, the better! What started out as a joke has since become a tradition, with competitions and dedicated shops for ugly sweaters.
Christmas on the beach: In warm regions of the USA, such as California, Florida, and Hawaii, it is quite common for people to celebrate Christmas on the beach. Families may spend the day sunbathing, barbecuing, surfing, or playing volleyball.
Christmas in Canada
Christmas in Canada tends to be a little calmer than in the USA. While Canada’s big cities lure visitors with sparkling lights and Christmas markets, smaller communities and rural areas focus on connecting with nature. Witnessing a white Christmas in Canada is more of a rule than an exception, just like ice skating on frozen lakes or tobogganing through Canada’s snow-covered landscapes. Christmas in Canada also offers lots of cultural diversity – from French influences in Quebec to indigenous customs and British traditions.
So how do people celebrate Christmas in Canada?
In many Canadian cities and towns, the Christmas season starts with the festive “Community Christmas Tree” lighting ceremony, one of Canada’s most well-known seasonal traditions. Communities come together to decorate a large Christmas tree with lights, often with festive music playing in the background. Hot drinks keep everyone nice and warm, and even Santa Claus himself makes an appearance.
25 December is the main Christmas holiday in Canada, like it is in the USA. The 24th tends to be a quieter day for many Canadians. Quebec is an exception though: because of the region’s French influence, people often celebrate “Réveillon”, a large feast that lasts long into the night. Culinary specialties include “Tourtière” (a savoury meat pie) and other French-Canadian dishes. The Réveillon dinner usually takes place after midnight mass (Messe de Minuit) and symbolises the official start of Christmas.
On the morning of 25 December, “Christmas Day”, everyone eagerly awaits the gifts that Santa Claus dropped off over night. The day is usually spent with winter activities such as ice hockey or ice skating. A festive meal closes this special day out, with popular foods such as turkey with stuffing and desserts like butter tarts or Nanaimo bars (layers of biscuit base, vanilla cream and chocolate).
26 December is another important day in Canada. Originally a British tradition, Boxing Day is now mainly associated with discounted shopping experiences and sporting events, such as ice hockey games.
Indigenous Christmas traditions in Canada
Canada’s indigenous communities are an integral part of the country’s cultural identity, combining ancient rituals with western influences. Indigenous Christmas celebrations centre around stories about nature and the winter season, while also including festive ceremonies and dances. These customs often overlap with winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and turning point for new beginnings.
Seasonal gatherings usually feature traditional food such as venison, Bannock Bread or fish, as well as the exchange of handmade gifts and the celebration of gratitude and solidarity. The purpose of these customs is to preserve the people’s connection to nature and give the Christmas season a deeply spiritual meaning.
More information about the USA and Canada
Would you like to learn more about the USA or Canada?
Have a look at our related articles:
The main Christmas holiday in the USA is 25 December (“Christmas Day”), with gift-giving in the morning. 24 December (“Christmas Eve”) is more about preparing for Christmas Day with activities like baking or decorating.
Christmas is a family celebration in the USA, usually centring around a big meal. Santa Claus brings presents to people’s decorated homes the night before 25 December.
Typical Christmas traditions in the USA include putting up bright lights, hanging up Christmas stockings, attending Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties and visiting Santa’s workshop.
A common Christmas meal includes baked ham or turkey with side dishes like sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and a green bean casserole. Pumpkin pie (though more common for Thanksgiving), pecan pie or Christmas cookies are popular desserts.
In America, 25 December is traditionally regarded as the birthday of Jesus Christ.
In America, Christmas Day is the main day of celebration; in Germany, it is Christmas Eve (“Heiligabend”). Colourful lights, Santa Claus and big parades are common in the USA, while quieter traditions, such as Christmas markets and Advent wreaths, dominate in Germany.
In Canada, Christmas is celebrated on 25 December, just like in the United States. Christmas Eve tends to be a quieter day except for regions like Quebec where there is a feast after midnight mass called “Réveillon”. 26 December, Boxing Day, is also an important holiday in Canada.
In Canada, Christmas is celebrated on 25 December, with presents in the morning and a big family dinner in the evening. On 24 December, many people in Quebec celebrate the “Réveillon”, a festive meal after midnight mass. Indigenous communities often associate Christmas with winter solstice, which people celebrate with dances, storytelling and traditional food. 26 December, Boxing Day, is an important day for shopping and sporting events.
In Canada, the Christmas season often starts as early as the end of November with the lighting of the “Community Christmas Tree” and lasts until Boxing Day on 26 December. Some people celebrate well into the new year, especially in Quebec.
A typical Christmas feast in Canada features turkey or ham served with potatoes, vegetables and stuffing. “Tourtière”, a French-Canadian meat pie dish, is a traditional Christmas food in Quebec. Indigenous communities often serve venison, Bannock Bread or fish. Butter tarts and Nanaimo bars are popular Christmas dessert choices in Canada.
Author
Jasmine Chegaing, Content Writer
Jasmine joined lingoking as a working student in November of 2024. She supports the content marketing team with its SEO strategy and writes for the lingoking guide and other media. Her motto: “The most radical thing you can do is be yourself.”
Translation
Belinda Grace
Belinda has been working with the lingoking marketing team since early 2022. She’s in charge of translating blogs and guides as well as writing social media posts. Her motto: “Begin each day as if it were on purpose”.
