Celebrating Christmas in the US
All the jive and jingle expats need to know about getting into the holiday spirit.
By Tatiana Sorokina
Christmas in the US is much more than just a one day celebration; it incorporates numerous festivities during the whole month of December, and is otherwise known as the “25 Days of Christmas”.
Expats who have recently moved to the United States should prepare themselves to be completely inundated with Christmas spirit, shopping and activities. Even if you’re not a religious individual, it’s best to know what to expect so you can both mentally and physically prepare yourself for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
Shop ‘til you drop on “Black Friday”
The unofficial start of this time of year actually falls on the last Friday in November, the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is often called “Black Friday”. This day marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season: many retailers open extremely early and some of the larger retailers, such as Sears, Best Buy, Macy's, and Wal-Mart, have been reported to open as early as midnight on the start of Black Friday and remain open for 24 hours throughout the day until midnight the following Saturday.
Upon opening, retailers offer door buster deals and the best bargains to draw people to their stores. You can get fantastic deals on anything from shoes to flat screen TVs, and for some people it has become a sort of sport to search for and dive onto the best discounts.
You either have to love or hate this day. If you choose to embrace the madness, be prepared for very long queues and huge crowds of agitated people. If this sounds like your own worst nightmare do be sure to note the date and avoid the shops at all costs.
‘Tis the season to window shop
Around the same time (end of November – beginning of December) big department stores such as Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and others unveil their Christmas windows displays. These include elaborate decorations, special lighting effects and music - it’s definitely a spectacle not to miss. Some of the best displays are always in the New York and in the Chicago Macy’s (former Marshall Fields).
Honing in on the holiday spirit
The official start of the holiday season is usually marked by a Parade of Lights and an official Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Every city and town in US is different but the rule of thumb is the bigger the place the more spectacular the Parade of Lights. These parades usually take place the first Saturday in December, though in some cities the event may be held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving (ie. Chicago).
In the Western coastal states, the Gulf states and the states bordering the Atlantic (from Virginia southwards) Parades of Lights are especially remarkable because they traditionally take place on water with dozens of wonderfully decorated boats participating in the event rather than street floats.
Throughout December multiple Christmas events are being organized indoors and outdoors. Outdoor ice skating rinks are very popular in the U.S. as well as outdoor Christmas markets. If you are relocating to America from Europe you will be delighted to know that you can find traditional European-style Christmas markets in this country.
Kristkindlemarkt in downtown Chicago is marvelous. It is organized every year by German-American Chamber of Commerce and it is as authentic as it can be. It is a great place to buy hand-made Christmas gifts or indulge in some very delicious Christmas treats such as roasted almonds and mulled wine.
The holiday spirit is also being promoted on TV from the very first day of December. ABC Family Channel has a traditional programming block scheduled every year from December 1 to 25 which is called “25 Days of Christmas”. Every evening the channel shows a great mixture of classic and new Christmas movies and cartoons.
When the Christmas is over it does not mean the end of fun. Post Christmas sales begin in the U.S. on December 26 and run usually until New Year's Eve. It’s a great time to stock up on anything from kitchenware to underwear.
More information:
Christmas activities, events and resources info, please, visit http://www.unforgettable-christmas.com
