The Evolution of Christmas: Unwrapping America’s Beloved Holiday Traditions

The conversation surrounding Christmas often includes critiques from religious leaders and conservatives who lament the holiday’s commercialization and diminishing Christian elements. Many assert that there once existed a more spiritually focused way to commemorate the birth of Christ.

However, historical evidence suggests that such romanticized notions lack foundation. My study of transnational history reveals that the modern celebration of Christmas blossomed in German towns around the year 1800, gradually spreading its influence worldwide.

Previously, Europeans engaged in church services to honor Jesus’ birth, but this did not resemble today’s festivities. The tradition of Christmas trees and gift-giving, originating in Germany, found a broader audience only by the late 18th century, making its way to North America in the 1830s.

In his “Reminiscences of an Octogenarian,” Charles Haswell documented the early celebrations, noting how German families in Brooklyn showcased decorated Christmas trees. Driven by curiosity, Haswell ventured into Brooklyn, braving inclement weather to observe these trees from outside private homes.

The late 1790s marked the emergence of Christmas trees bedecked with candles and ornaments in Germany, a practice that diverged from traditional Christian rituals. This custom stemmed from pagan practices celebrating the winter solstice, where bonfires symbolized the sun’s return, ultimately evolving into the Christmas tree’s illumination.

Literary references further capture the novelty of this custom. In 1799, Samuel Taylor Coleridge described a decorated Christmas tree in a German household. E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 tale, “Nutcracker and Mouse King,” provided the earliest literary depiction of a Christmas tree adorned with sweets and lights.

From the outset, gift-giving was a family affair, openly exchanged without the intervention of a mythic figure, reflecting the egalitarian spirit of the burgeoning middle class.

As the tradition crossed the Atlantic, it caught the eye of American visitors to Germany in the early 19th century. In 1835, Harvard professor George Ticknor participated in a Christmas celebration and recognized its significance for building a national culture. He and his daughter were guests of Count von Ungern-Sternberg in Dresden, where the festivities left a lasting impression.

Ticknor wasn’t alone; other American travelers, like Charles Loring Brace, also observed the festivities, identifying them as uniquely German but laden with potential to unify people. For both men, Christmas represented a shared emotional experience that could strengthen familial and national bonds. Ticknor later hosted a prominent Christmas gathering in Boston, showcasing the Christmas tree and gift exchange, solidifying the custom’s acceptance.

Despite its introduction, the practice of Christmas trees and gift-giving remained on the periphery for much of the 19th century. Many Americans hesitated, caught between traditional English customs and the new German influences. The establishment of Christmas tree farms and ornament production was necessary for this cultural shift.

The transformation of Christmas into a widely embraced American holiday accelerated during the Civil War. In January 1863, Harper’s Weekly featured an image of Santa Claus visiting Union soldiers, the first representation of this iconic figure by German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast.

Nast later refined Santa’s image into the jolly character recognized today, notably depicting his travels by reindeer-drawn sleigh. The milestone of officially declaring Christmas a federal holiday followed, as Congress passed legislation on June 28, 1870, establishing Christmas Day as a paid holiday for federal employees.

President Benjamin Harrison further institutionalized the holiday tradition by initiating the White House Christmas tree in December 1889. Ultimately, Christmas transitioned into a celebrated American tradition.