Christmas in Pennsylvania is the perfect time to travel around the snow capped tiny towns decked out in Yuletide finery. Spectacular seasonal displays and wonderful holiday events bring out the true Christmas spirit.
In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, (founded by missionaries on Christmas Eve, 1741) the season starts off
with a huge Christmas Market. The holiday decorations in most buildings in the city consist of a single candle in each window. A giant lighted star can be seen atop South Mountain and is visible for twenty miles.
Various ethnic groups observe Christmas in Pennsylvania in their own way.
The Moravians of Pennsylvania build a landscape, called a putz - under the Christmas tree, while the Germans are offered gifts by Belsnickle, who taps them with his switch if they have misbehaved. Moravians also held a Love Fest during the time of Christmas Love fests are musical services where the congregations are served sweets and coffee while the choir performs hymns and anthems. Candles made of beeswax are distributed among the congregants. Everyone raise his or her candles with the final hymn "Praise to Our Heavenly King."
The Americans celebrate Christmas in Pennsylvania with the exchange of gifts and greetings and with family visits. They decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe and branches of trees. The Christmas trees are decorated with electric lights, tinsel, baubles, and strings of popcorn and candy canes. City streets sparkle with colored lights, and the sound of bells and Christmas carols fills the air. A neon Santa Claus giggling gently with bag full of toys and Disney merchandise arrives in the midnight to distribute gifts to the children.
To share more thoughts on Christmas in Pennsylvania go through
Christmas Carnivals.
|
