The United States of America is a vast country with many people from many different ethnic backgrounds. Therefore the way the people of the USA celebrate Christmas varies not only from state to state but from household to household. The United States has a large Jewish population and they celebrate Hanukkah at this time of the year.

Here's a contribution from Joan who lives in Virginia, one of the eastern states of the USA, telling us how they celebrate Christmas in Virginia.

"Christmas in Virginia is celebrated much the same as in the rest of the United States. Stores begin decorating for Christmas around the end of October. The first "official" day of Christmas shopping is the last Friday in November which for us is the day after our Thanksgiving Holiday. During the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (in New York City -Macys is a big department store) a float with Santa usually brings up the rear and that means the start of the Christmas season. All the stores are beautifully decorated and Christmas music is played all the time. Even the grocery stores are decorated for Christmas and have sales on the things you might need for Christmas dinner-e.g. turkeys, hams, candies etc. Most shopping centres have a beautifully decorated Santa Village or fancy chair for Santa and children can go visit Santa and have their picture taken with him. (you have to pay for it of course).

 In schools we try to keep the religious aspect of the holiday out of the decorations as there are many religions here and not everyone celebrates Christmas. We do have a party the day before our "winter vacation" but we call it a "winter party" and gift giving among the students is discouraged. We have food drives in school for the needy and some schools have a tree to decorate with mittens and hats for children who are in need. People usually send out Christmas greeting cards to family and friends. Christmas trees are decorated and stockings are hung for Santa Claus to fill. If you have a fireplace you hang your stocking there. We hang one for our dog Alix and she gets dog biscuits and toys. 

Some people display their Christmas cards around the house, people hang evergreen strands on banisters, hang mistletoe and have advent calendars for little children to open each day. The night before Christmas lots of children leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. It's all gone in the morning when they come in to open their presents. Most people open their gifts together with their families, some open on Christmas Eve. Families have big dinners in the middle of the day. Most stores are closed although some drugstores stay open. (and Chinese restaurants) Everybody hopes for a "white Christmas" but that rarely happens here in Virginia. Newscasters always update us on where Santa is flying. That's usually on the 7 o'clock news.  Churches have midnight masses and some people go to that. People decorate their houses with lights-some like colored lights, some little white lights. The bushes are decorated too. Some people have a little electric candle in each window and that looks pretty too. Wreaths are hung on the doors and I've even seen cars with wreaths on the grill in front of the car.

In Arizona where they don't have big trees, they decorate the cactus and the palm trees. The day after Christmas is a big shopping day because they have big sales and people return some of their gifts. Children are usually out of school until January 2nd. Candy canes are a popular candy at Christmas time. Some come in all
different colours, not just red and white."

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