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Many different Chritmas traditions were introduced into America by the many European immigrants that entered America during the late-19th century, many of whom were Catholic. But the more powerful dynamic was the degree to which they adopted the developing American Christmas traditions. It is in America during the 20th century that Christmas became such a commercial event. That became set in stone when the Government debated the date for Thanksgiving in terms of shopping days before Christmas as a Depression fighting measure. One impact here was the appearance of secular Christmas icons, not only Rudolf, but Frosty, and eventually the Grinch. It was in America that the "Nutcracker" emerged as an important Christmas tradition. And economic prosperity over time transformed how Christmas was celebrated. While Christmas in the 20th century became more commercial and secular, the heart of the Victorian tradition remained--Christmas as a central family-oriented event. After World War II a range of changes occurred. Family photographs of the kids became popular Christmas cards. We also begin to see artifical Christmas trees becoming increasingly important, especially by the 1960s. Virtually every American family celebrated Christmas in some way because the population was largely Christian, at least culturally Christian. Even Jewish families were at least influenced and Hanaka bushes appeared. This begab to change as a result of unfortmation reforms (1965). After this we begin to see immigratyion from non-Christian countries. And groups like the ACKU began attacking Christmas. By the 1990s we begin to see arguments over Christmas imagery in the public square. Schools began to be asked to change Christmas parties into holiday parties.
Many different Chritmas traditions were introduced into America by the many European immigrants that entered America during the late-19th century, many of whom were Catholic. But the more powerful dynamic was the degree to which they adopted the developing American Christmas traditions. By the 1900s, immigrants who arrived as children were beginning to have their own children launching the second generation, the first generation without any experience with the old country and traditions there. We don't seem many family Christmas photographs in the 19th century because amateur photography was so comnplicated. This changed in 1900 with the Kodak Brownie. Unfortunately it was still a little complicated taking snapshots inside.
It is in America during the 20th century that Christmas became such a huge commercial event. But it was in the 20th century thast it became vital for American retailers. That became set in stone when the Government debated the date for Thanksgiving in terms of shopping days before Christmas as a Depression fighting measure.
Family practices varied. Tghe most common was for the children to come down to the living room when mom and dad woke them up or when they woke up themselves. There the presents would be arayed around the Christmas tree. Some parents did not set up the tree until the children went to bed, but most families set up the tree a week or two before Christmas and the children helped decorate. With young children the presents were not put under the tree until Christmas Eve because of the temptations involved. One impact during the 1950s was the increasing popularity of new secular characters which became Christmas icons. These includedf not only Rudolf, but Frosty, but also the Grinch. It was in America that the "Nutcracker" emerged as an important Christmas tradition. And economic prosperity over time transformed how Christmas was celebrated. The prosperity of the 1950s meant that parents could spend lavisly on the kids and this included working-class families. While Christmas in the 20th century became more commercial and secular, the heart of the Victorian tradition remained--Christmas as a central family-oriented event. After World War II a range of changes occurred. Family photographs of the kids became popular Christmas cards. Mother still dressed the children up for Christmas portraits (figure 1). "The Chritmas Story" is a wonderful movie view of Christmas in the 1950s. Radios and phonographs became increasingly inexpensive and a great present for teenagers. The '45 single was inexpensive and all the rage.
We see artifical Christmas trees becoming increasingly important, especially by the 1960s. Virtually every American family celebrated Christmas in some way because the population was largely Christian, at least culturally Christian. Even Jewish families were at least influenced and Hanaka bushes appeared. This began to change as a result of immigration reforms (1965). After this we begin to see immigration from non-Christian countries. Moms still largely stayed home and rituial like baking Christmas cookies continued to be very important. We see some Children dressed up for a Christmas portrait, but informal photographs became increasingly popular. see many portraits of the children in suburban living rooms dressed in their PJs around the Christmas tree. Watching Christmas specials on the TV series hosted by important singers like Perry Como was populasr in many homes. American began to change in the 1960s. Not only did immigration laws change, but the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War protests ricked the country. Christmas for the kids, however, continued little changed.
One major developomentment was that it was during the 1960s that the post-World War II began the transition from teenagers at the beginning of the decade to young adults by the end of the decade. Popular new toys included Easy Bake Ovens, Etch-a-Sketch, and GI Joes. And inexpensive transistor radios for teenagers began the electronics revolution.
Groups like the ACLU began attacking Christmas. By the 1990s we begin to see arguments over Christmas imagery in the public square. Schools began to be asked to change Christmas parties into holiday parties.
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