Premium Only Content

1941-01-05 NBCR Jack Benny - Christmas Gift Exchange
Christmas, celebrated by most Christians on December 25, commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Americans, like many of the world’s peoples, have developed their own Christmas traditions and observances, and these have changed greatly over time.
Today, most Americans blend religious and secular customs with their own family traditions, often incorporating food, decorations and rituals from places they or their ancestors once called home. Roast turkey and ham are popular for Christmas dinner throughout the country, but depending on the region, so are tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya, roast pork or “seven fishes” seafood salad.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN CHRISTMAS
The early New England Puritans frowned on boisterous Christmas celebrations. In 1659, the Massachusetts colonists briefly criminalized observance of the day, and Christmas remained a regular workday in much of New England and Pennsylvania. Other parts of British North America, however, celebrated with gusto, with costumed revelers going door to door and receiving small gifts of food and drink.
The modern, commercialized Christmas began to emerge in the 19th century with the new custom of purchasing gifts for young children. Seasonal “Christmas shopping” began to assume economic importance.
Other Christmas traditions similarly began during the 19th century. Santa Claus — derived from the Dutch Sinter Klaas and the German Saint Nicholas — assumed the persona of a jolly dispenser of gifts and pilot of a reindeer-drawn sleigh through such works as the 1823 poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”
Germany is credited with starting the tradition of Christmas trees in the 16th century. According to legend, the Protestant reformer Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree to remind his children of the wonders of God’s creation. Christmas trees became popular in Britain and the United States in the 19th century.
-
3:01:44
I_Came_With_Fire_Podcast
15 hours agoPanama CANAL BlackROCKED | Left of PODCASTING | Ukraine AID GONE
55K7 -
45:56
Glenn Greenwald
14 hours agoLee Fang Reacts to Trump's Speech to Congress; Will DOGE Tackle Military Waste? | SYSTEM UPDATE #418
111K104 -
43:23
Donald Trump Jr.
15 hours agoNo Clap: Dems are a Disgrace but My Father is Bringing Back Common Sense | Triggered Ep.222
173K151 -
18:29
The Rad Factory
1 day ago $5.68 earnedBuilding Shred Eighty a Custom Honda Snow Kart
69.4K8 -
UPCOMING
Precision Rifle Network
1 day agoS4E7 Guns & Grub - What makes group size increase?
47.7K2 -
46:29
SGT Report
1 day agoAMERICA IS BACK! BYE BYE IRS!! -- Sam Anthony
70.7K97 -
8:56:13
Dr Disrespect
21 hours ago🔴LIVE - DR DISRESPECT - WARZONE - 150 PLAYER LOBBIES
195K20 -
1:27:35
Redacted News
16 hours ago"This is NOT normal" Trump just destroyed the woke mob as Dems in disarray | Redacted News Live
182K316 -
1:39:52
Vigilant News Network
17 hours agoUNHINGED: Dems Say That Elon Needs to ‘Go Back to AFRICA?’ | The Daily Dose
113K25 -
1:13:13
Sean Unpaved
17 hours ago $7.60 earnedQB Carousel with Guest Coach Herm Edwards
93.5K4