Christmas presents usually appear under a Christmas tree. The tradition of cutting down an evergreen tree and decorating it for Christmas dates back to 15th-century Germany but became widely popular after an illustration of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert standing around a Christmas tree with their children was published in 1846. Today, Christmas trees – either real evergreens or manufactured ones – are decorated with lights, ornaments, and garlands. The tree topper is often an angel or a star.

 

Christmas dinner brings family and friends together around a table laden with food. The traditional dinner of roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy, and root vegetables has taken different cultural spins across the country. For example, Virginians often serve oysters, ham, and biscuits. In the upper Midwest, holiday dishes include Scandinavian specialties such as lutefisk and mashed rutabagas. In the South, rice is often served instead of potatoes. Pumpkin and pecan pies are frequent Christmas desserts. And it is a tradition among many Jewish Americans to eat Chinese food on Christmas because these were often the only restaurants open on Christmas Day.