Movie/American chrismases

Dickie10 · 11-12-2013 1:54pm #1

Just wondering how do Americans celebrate Christmas?I heard that it isn't a big deal over there they usualy just get Christmas day and stephens day off. it got me thinking that the fuss you see in Hollywood movies over Christmas is fairly far from reality. although in most Hollywood movies you can see the people putting up the Christmas tree in there houses on Christmas eve!

. Is this a normal tradition in America to put up a Christmas tree on Christmas eve? and if so why does everyone not do this? Another thing that perplexes me is how do Irish/Europeans get so much time off at Christmas , if we were to use American example, would we not all be back at work and school on the 27th and have new years day off and that's it. as far as I know everyone in America works xmas eve:eek:

Loughc · 11-12-2013 4:28pm

What you need to remember is American has many different religions/beliefs and not all celebrate Christmas, that's why it's not such a big deal over there.

It's still a BIG time of year over in the states with regards the retail aspect. And most Americans put their decorations up well before Christmas Eve.

Ireland is moving more and more like that, I know many different multinationals that only close Christmas Day/St.Stephens day. Most of the call centres here remain open on Christmas time offering treble time.

Boom_Bap · 11-12-2013 4:34pm

It's celbrated much the same as here.

But, from a 'holidays from work' perspective, its not the same amount of time off that we have here.

I think all public holidays in the USA amount to 5 days throughout the year.
Also, in general, the amount of holidays a worker will get in the USA is 10 - 14 days, compared to us which is above 20. So we can afford to take more holidays over the Christmas period.

Overflow · 11-12-2013 6:41pm

I have been to the USA once for xmas. Its a big deal alright ! But, the day after, its back to normal business.

HellboundIRL · 11-12-2013 6:52pm

My wifes family always put their tree up on the 15th, a fair few put the tree up just after thanksgiving but I never heard of anyone putting it up on Christmas eve. They celebrate it in much the same way as we do really.

They don't get much time off for anything, holiday time is tiny compared to what you'd get here...they live to work.

Dickie10 · 12-12-2013 12:59am

just always seem tmsee it on movies , tree going up I mean on xmas eve

miss no stars · 12-12-2013 1:10am

Dickie10 wrote: »

just always seem tmsee it on movies , tree going up I mean on xmas eve

Yeah but that's usually after some potential tragedy nearly makes the female lead give up on Christmas until the male lead saves the day with a big fluffy tree he chopped down himself and then the kids run into the room screaming 'yay'.

razorblunt · 12-12-2013 10:24am

Their holidays are completely different to us, if you look at Thanksgiving which is arguably bigger they usually only take the Friday after off to give themselves a long weekend of Wednesday night through to Sunday.

Xmas is the same people tend to get home "for the Holidays" on Xmas Eve with some returning to work on St Stephens Day and the majority back on the 27th.

As someone said their holiday entitlement is less per year, though they do get ~8 personal days which can be taken at their own leisure so these might get used up.

Fbjm · 13-12-2013 4:33am

Currently living in the states, they don't treat it as a huge deal simply because it's so soon after thanksgiving. I've found that their thanksgiving is our christmas, minus the presents. They have turkey and a big family dinner and all that. Christmas day is just up, presents, done.

However, I only have information on where I live, and considering how big USA is it could be completely different on the other side of the country.

emmabrighton · 16-12-2013 5:42pm

Dickie10 wrote: »

Just wondering how do Americans celebrate Christmas?I heard that it isn't a big deal over there they usualy just get Christmas day and stephens day off. it got me thinking that the fuss you see in Hollywood movies over Christmas is fairly far from reality. although in most Hollywood movies you can see the people putting up the Christmas tree in there houses on Christmas eve!. Is this a normal tradition in America to put up a Christmas tree on Christmas eve? and if so why does everyone not do this? Another thing that perplexes me is how do Irish/Europeans get so much time off at Christmas , if we were to use American example, would we not all be back at work and school on the 27th and have new years day off and that's it. as far as I know everyone in America works xmas eve:eek:

This is all the time I am getting off... Do people get more than that without using their annual leave??? Am I working for Scrooge McDuck?

Posy · 16-12-2013 5:49pm

Most people I know who get time off at Christmas have it as part of their annual leave anyway.

clairefontaine · 17-12-2013 8:37pm

Fbjm wrote: »

Currently living in the states, they don't treat it as a huge deal simply because it's so soon after thanksgiving. I've found that their thanksgiving is our christmas, minus the presents. They have turkey and a big family dinner and all that. Christmas day is just up, presents, done.

However, I only have information on where I live, and considering how big USA is it could be completely different on the other side of the country.

This was my little ones first thanksgiving back home in the US. He said "What!! No presents, just turkey?!!" He was outraged.

We usually do a humbler Thanksgiving and go all out for Christmas. And im sick to death of Turkey at this stage, so I'm doing something else for Christmas dinner.

Thanksgiving is a bigger deal because the WHOLE country celebrates it.

In Ireland Christmas is like Sunday for a month plus a lot more drinking and parties.

Movie/American chrismases

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