The United States of America has many various traditions and ways  Many customs are similar to ones in the UK, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland and Mexico.  The traditional meal for Western European families is turkey or ham with cranberry sauce. Families from Eastern European origins favour turkey with trimmings, keilbasi (a Polish sausage), cabbage dishes, and soups; and some Italian families prefer lasagne!

Some of the  Americans families use pop-corn threaded on a string to help decorate their Christmas Tree!  Many Americans, particularly Christians will go to Church to rejoice the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Many churches have unique Christmas Carol services and events where the story of Christmas is said.

In New England (the American States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine), there are shops called 'Christmas Shops' that only sell Christmas decorations and toys all the year round!

People in America use to decorate the outsides of their houses with lights and sometimes even statues of Santa Claus, Snowmen and Reindeer. Some cookies and glass of milk are often left out as a snack for Santa on Christmas Eve!

In Hawaii, Santa is called 'Kanakaloka'

Customs such as Mumming take place in some areas. On New Year's Day in Philadelphia there is a Mummer's Day parade which lasts over six hours! Clubs which is named "New Years Associations" perform in wonderful costumes which take months to make. There are four categories (Comics, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades) which are judged. 

A favourite food at Christmas in the Southwest USA is tamales. You can find out more about Christmas traditions in the Southwest USA. In the south of Louisiana, on Christmas Eve, families in small communities along the Mississippi River light bonfires along the levees (the high river banks) to help 'Papa Noel' (the name for Santa in French as Louisiana has a strong historical connection with France) find his way to the children's homes!