It's a little known fact that there are 126 US cities whose names are related to Christmas. The Christmas that Americans know today as a popular family holiday began in the 1800s. Dutch, German, and other European settlers brought their customs to America and these were absorbed into the celebrations. There are many place names that reflect the importance of the festive season and its place in our affections.
IT’S CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY HERE
Christmas
The original ‘Masse’, (the Mass of) became the suffix ‘Mas’ given to church feast days. Therefore, the meaning of Christmas is the Mass of Christ.
- Christmas, Orange County, Florida
- Christmas Valley, Lake County, Oregon
- Christmas Mountain, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- Christmas, Gila County, Arizona
- Christmas, Lawrence County, Kentucky
- Christmas, Alger County, Michigan
- Christmas, Bolivar County, Mississippi
- Christmas City, Utah County, Utah
- Christmas Cove, Lincoln County, Maine
- Christmasville, Carroll County, Tennessee
Noel
Noel is the French word for Christmas
- Noel, Ascension Parish, Louisiana
- Noel, McDonald County, Missouri
'TIS THE SEASON
Advent is taken from the Latin word, ‘Adventus’ and means ‘arrival’. It is the church season in the weeks leading to Christmas.
- Advent, Jackson County, West Virginia
FOLLOW THAT STAR
After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was - Matthew 2:9. The bible says that the Magi followed a star, which came to be known as the Star of Bethlehem but there is a debate amongst astronomers as to whether this refers to the North Star or Venus.
- North Star, Gratiot County, Michigan
- North Star, Nicollet County, Minnesota
- North Star, Nance County, Nebraska
HERE COMES SANTA
Santa Claus goes by many names – Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle
- Santa, Benewah County, Idaho
- Santa Claus, Mohave County, Arizona
- Santa Claus, Toombs County, Georgia
- Santa Claus, Spencer County, Indiana
- Saint Nicholas, Duval County, Florida
- Saint Nicholas, Delta County, Michigan
- Saint Nicholas, Stearns County, Minnesota
- Saint Nicholas, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
SANTA’S WORKSHOP
- North Pole, North Star Borough, Alaska
- North Pole, Kootenai County, Idaho
- North Pole, Essex County, New York
- North Pole, McCurtain County, Oklahoma
DECK THE HALLS
Mistletoe
Kissing under the mistletoe derives from an ancient Scandinavian custom. The plant was a symbol of peace and if enemies found themselves underneath it in the forest, they began a truce until the following day.
- Mistletoe, Owsley County, Kentucky
Poinsettia
The plant’s association with Christmas originates in Mexico in the 16th century. The story goes that a young girl, too poor to buy Christmas presents, took inspiration from an angel to collect weeds and place them at the church altar. The weeds were transformed into beautiful red flowers.
- Poinsettia Park, Polk County, Florida
Holly
Used to decorate homes at Christmas, holly had important significance to the Druids, the Celts, and Romans. It became a symbol of Christ’s suffering to Christians. The red berries represent the blood of Christ and the leaves represent the crown of thorns at the time of his crucifixion.
- Holly, Prowers County, Colorado
- Holly, Oakland County, Michigan
- Holly, Kitsap County, Washington
Tannenbaum
Tannenbaum is the German word for fir tree and is used as the name for Christmas Tree. The custom of having a Christmas Tree in the home began in 16th century Germany.
- Tannenbaum, Cleburne County, Arkansas
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
- Bell, Elbert County, Georgia
- Bell, Los Angeles County, California
- Bell, Gilchrist County, Florida
- Bell, Pickens County, Alabama
- Bell, Navajo County, Arizona
- Bell, Logan County, Illinois
- Bell, Crawford County, Iowa
- Bell, Prince George's County, Maryland
- Bell, Presque Isle County, Michigan
- Bell, Adair County, Oklahoma
- Bells, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi
- Bells, Chatham County, North Carolina
- Bells, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
- Bells, Grayson County, Texas
- Bells, Crockett County, Tennessee
- Silver Bell, Pima County, Arizona
SANTA’S LITTLE HELPERS
Santa’s flying reindeer pull the sleigh packed with toys. They are Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen
- Reindeer, Nodaway County, Missouri
- Reindeer Hills, Salt Lake County, Utah
- Rudolph, Brown County, South Dakota
- Rudolph, Haywood County, Tennessee
- Rudolph, Kenedy County, Texas
- Rudolph, Wood County, Wisconsin
- Rudolph, Wood County, Ohio
- Blitzen, Harney County, Oregon
- Comet, Little River County, Arkansas
- Comet, Dade County, Missouri
- Comet, Ashe County, North Carolina
- Comet, Jackson County, Ohio
- Comet, Isle of Wight County, Virginia
- Comet, Jefferson County, Montana
- Donner, Duval County, Florida
- Donner, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
- Donner, Nevada County, California
- Dasher, Lowndes County, Georgia
- Vixen, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana
- Cupid, Frontier County, Nebraska
AND ANOTHER LITTLE HELPER
The image of the elf dressed in green with a pointed hat goes back to the late 19th century. They help Santa to make the toys and look after the reindeer.
- Elf, Clay County, North Carolina
THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree!
- Partridge, Santa Cruz County, Arizona
- Partridge, Reno County, Kansas
- Partridge, Letcher County, Kentucky
- Peartree, Montgomery County, Tennessee
- Pear Tree Point, Queen Anne's County, Maryland
- Golden Ring, Baltimore County, Maryland
- Swans, Anne Arundel County, Maryland
- Swans, Licking County, Ohio
- Pipers, Butte County, California
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie, Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by, Yet in thy dark streets shineth, The everlasting Light, The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in thee tonight.
- Bethlehem, Litchfield County, Connecticut
- Bethlehem, Clark County, Indiana
- Bethlehem, Henry County, Kentucky
- Bethlehem, Caroline County, Maryland
- Bethlehem, Marshall County, Mississippi
- Bethlehem, Grafton County, New Hampshire
- Bethlehem, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
- Bethlehem, Ohio County, West Virginia
- Bethlehem, Albany County, New York
- Bethlehem, Pickens County Alabama
- Bethlehem, Conway County, Arkansas
- Bethlehem, Holmes County, Florida
- Bethlehem, Barrow County, Georgia
- Bethlehem, Wayne County, Iowa
- Bethlehem, Alexander County, North Carolina
- Bethlehem, Winn Parish, Louisiana
- Bethlehem, Henry County, Missouri
- Bethlehem, Meade County, South Dakota
- Bethlehem, Henry County, Tennessee
- Bethlehem, Upshur County, Texas
- Bethlehem, Richland County, Ohio
- Little Bethlehem, Hamilton County, Ohio
- Old Bethlehem, Warren County, North Carolina
- Saint Bethlehem, Montgomery County, Tennessee
AND THEY CAME TO SEE THE INFANT JESUS
- Shepherd, Isabella County, Michigan
- Shepherd, Yellowstone County, Montana
- Shepherd, San Jacinto County, Texas
- Shepherd, Pike County, Illinois
- Shepherd, Boone County, Indiana
- Shepherd, Calhoun County, Mississippi
- Shepherd, Hamilton County, Tennessee
- Wiseman, Izard County, Arkansas
THE CHILDHOOD HOME OF JESUS
- Nazareth, Nelson County, Kentucky
- Nazareth, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
- Nazareth, Castro County, Texas
FOR WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE
Eggnog
The cream and egg beverage is an American creation that became popular in the late 1700s and it was inspired by European recipes for ‘noggins’. Eggnog is traditionally spiked with brandy, rum, or whiskey, or all three!
- Eggnog, Garfield County, Utah
Chestnut
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, And folks dressed up like Eskimos. And great for the stuffing too!
- Chestnut, Monroe County, Alabama
- Chestnut, Logan County, Illinois
- Chestnut, Johnson County, Kentucky
- Chestnut, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
- Chestnut, Gallatin County, Montana
- Chestnut, Mason County, West Virginia
AND ONE FOR THE SCROOGES
‘Bah! Humbug’ cried Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
- Humbug, Yavapai County, Arizona
With so many Christmas-inspired towns across the country, it'll be easy to ring in the holidays with a visit to one. After all, with 126 places named for Christmas, there's sure to be one near you!
