USA: Santa Claus and Xmas The Americans know how to party! Decorated streets, illuminated houses and beautiful window dressings are inviting to extensive shopping sprees. One has to be very self-controlled not to become a slave to these shrines to consumerism. The American Christmas greeting "Happy Xmas" is not a contraction for lack of time. The Greek spelling of Christ begins with an "X" - so this idiom is originally a Christian one. The size of the country and the descent of the inhabitants had a decisive influence on the Christmas customs in the United States. Most of all the English influence has been very formative. Also the climatic differences in this huge country made a mark on the American Christmas customs. For the inhabitants of the North Christmas time is connected with untouched snowy landscapes. On the other hand many Americans from the South only know snow by films. For the silent longing of these people Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989) tried to capture the wintry atmosphere in his music. Beside the Austrian "Silent Night" Berlins "White Christmas" is the most famous Christmas song. The composition was played for the first time in 1941. The record with the version of Bing Crosby (29th of May in 1942) alone was sold more than 30 million times. The "Guiness Book of Superlatives" refers to more than 200 million sold singles. The seemingly unlimited budgets in Hollywood have produced some of the most wonderful Christmas films. "Schöne Bescherung" with Chevy Chase, "Santa Claus" with Dudley Moore, "Und den Weihnachtsmann gibts doch" with Charles Bronsen - these three should be mentioned to stand in for all trends. One of the most thoughtful films is surely "Ist das Leben nicht schön" with James Stewart and Donna Reed. Since 1947 the sound of a bell is heard whenever an angel has earned its wings. On Christmas Eve the Americans hang festively embellished stockings into the chimney. Santa Claus brings the presents at night. In the hectic rush of New York it might happen that Santa Claus has to change means of transport: down from the traditional reindeer-sleigh up into the "Santa Mobil"! ! Reference: www.engelchen.de