Celebrate Christmas With New Friends in 2025
This year why not celebrate Christmas with your sisters and brothers in Christ who may have different traditions than yours? In many communities and homes, Christian customs are interwoven with Native culture as a means of expressing Christmas in a uniquely Native way. It would be very easy for you to go online and find out which indigenous tribes in your area celebrate Christmas. Most of them have events that may be open to the public.
There are nearly 7 million Native American and Alaska Natives living in the United States. Spread throughout the country, Natives all have their own traditions from their history. One of the most important cultural traditions in most tribes is giving. Native peoples have always made sure that families, elders, and children have been provided for. Actually, tribal peoples care for their own all year, but Christmas is a special time for special gifts.
Throughout the United States Native Americans gather in churches, missions, tipis, hogans, and houses to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They sing Christmas carols in English or in their native languages. Popular carols include a carol that was written in the Wyandot language of the Huron-Wendat people. “Jesous Ahatonhia” (“Jesus, He is born”)—popularly known as Noël huron or the Huron Carol—is said by oral tradition to have been written in 1643 by the Jesuit priest Jean de Brébeuf.[1]
Native Christians enjoy constructing nativity scenes. Some adults dress up as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to further the gift giving tradition. Artisans craft gifts made of wood, beadwork, leather, baskets, clothing, jewelry, paintings and feather work for sale at Christmas. You can purchase items online from the Native artisans.[2]
Many tribal Christians have a Christmas Eve service. Catholics may start with a Christmas Eve Mass at midnight and continue with festivities throughout the day. Many tribes host powwows, dances, traditional food, and remembrance services. They host special dinners for the elderly and take gifts to the poor.
Probably the earliest Christmas observance by a tribal people in the United States was the celebration of the Cherokee with the Moravians in 1805. The first documented celebration was at the home of Cherokee James Vann in Georgia. It was probably “low key” compared to how Christians celebrate Christmas today. If you live near Tahlequah, Oklahoma you can visit the Cherokee National History Museum.[3] The exhibits there show the transitions that the Cherokee people have undergone in the centuries. The exhibit highlighting the first Christmas is on display until the end of the year.
The first Christmas at the James Vann home would have featured decorations made of natural and handmade ornaments such as strung popcorn. It’s possible that some scrolls that were written on were placed on the tree. This would have been a tradition adopted from the Moravians. There would be stars on the tree and beeswax candles.
The celebration would have included prayer, singing, and maybe a reading from the word of God. The Cherokee were willing to assimilate some American culture while holding on to some of their own traditions.
According to the interpretive projects coordinator for Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism, Karen Shade-Lanier, James Vann would have invited people to the celebration who were “among the Cherokees who were more ready to adapt to American traditions, American values, not entirely foregoing their own as Cherokees, but assimilating those in,” she said. “That was the message that was being given to Cherokees in those days that you have to be more like Americans, and part of that involved educating Cherokees to be prepared for what was coming…so, he was among the ones who were ready to take a look at what the Moravians had to offer.” Karen Shade-Lanier said she views the first Cherokee Christmas as a time of curiosity and the beginning of a new celebration.
“At this first Christmas, I always think about what the experience might have been like for those Cherokees who were part of that celebration. I think exposure to this new celebration brought in by the Moravians must have been very curious, for some, perhaps not for all of them,” she said. “This was the beginning of a new celebration for them and (the) beginning of many changes for the Cherokee. This exhibit always reminds me of the transitions that our people have gone through over centuries, and that’s always something worth exploring.”[4]
Besides visiting a Native museum, you could attend a Powwow on Christmas Eve or Christmas day featuring traditional tribal dances. You will find dozens of times and locations for events online including this one: https://calendar.powwows.com. I located 4 events in my area in just a few minutes.
Jesus came to earth to rescue all mankind. As we sing about joy to the world and plead for peace on earth, let us begin at home. Sharing Christ’s birth with neighbors is the true meaning of Christmas.
God bless you all.
[1] From: “How Christmas is Celebrated Across Indian Country”, Dennis Zotigh, December 21, 2023, Smithsonian,https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/12/21/christmas-in-indian-country/
[2] Among the many you can find online:
ALLTRIBES – https://alltribes.com/southwest-decor/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22674683953&gbraid=0AAAAADyNoL8G6GatyBg8vZm-eYoTjYF68&gclid=CjwKCAiA9aPKBhBhEiwAyz82J9tcJjoGh10jCSgG_k3O8WIhxA_JvccvBCEbW9U2oHyHxB2egm9r2BoC4TsQAvD_BwE
[3] The Cherokee National History Museum is located at 101 S. Muskogee Ave. and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
[4] “Cherokee’s celebrated first Christmas with Moravians in 1805” by Stacie Boston, Multimedia Reporter, Dec 16, 2021. https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/culture/cherokee-s-celebrated-first-christmas-with-moravians-in-1805/article_9dbfb072-5e7e-11ec-9eac-bf33e8244005.html
Merry Christmas 2025
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Celebrate Christmas With New Friends in 2025
This year why not celebrate Christmas with your sisters and brothers in Christ who may have different traditions than yours? In many communities and homes, Christian customs are interwoven with Native culture as a means of expressing Christmas in a uniquely Native way. It would be very easy for you to go online and find out which indigenous tribes in your area celebrate Christmas. Most of them have events that may be open to the public.
There are nearly 7 million Native American and Alaska Natives living in the United States. Spread throughout the country, Natives all have their own traditions from their history. One of the most important cultural traditions in most tribes is giving. Native peoples have always made sure that families, elders, and children have been provided for. Actually, tribal peoples care for their own all year, but Christmas is a special time for special gifts.
Throughout the United States Native Americans gather in churches, missions, tipis, hogans, and houses to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They sing Christmas carols in English or in their native languages. Popular carols include a carol that was written in the Wyandot language of the Huron-Wendat people. “Jesous Ahatonhia” (“Jesus, He is born”)—popularly known as Noël huron or the Huron Carol—is said by oral tradition to have been written in 1643 by the Jesuit priest Jean de Brébeuf.[1]
Native Christians enjoy constructing nativity scenes. Some adults dress up as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to further the gift giving tradition. Artisans craft gifts made of wood, beadwork, leather, baskets, clothing, jewelry, paintings and feather work for sale at Christmas. You can purchase items online from the Native artisans.[2]
Many tribal Christians have a Christmas Eve service. Catholics may start with a Christmas Eve Mass at midnight and continue with festivities throughout the day. Many tribes host powwows, dances, traditional food, and remembrance services. They host special dinners for the elderly and take gifts to the poor.
Probably the earliest Christmas observance by a tribal people in the United States was the celebration of the Cherokee with the Moravians in 1805. The first documented celebration was at the home of Cherokee James Vann in Georgia. It was probably “low key” compared to how Christians celebrate Christmas today. If you live near Tahlequah, Oklahoma you can visit the Cherokee National History Museum.[3] The exhibits there show the transitions that the Cherokee people have undergone in the centuries. The exhibit highlighting the first Christmas is on display until the end of the year.
The first Christmas at the James Vann home would have featured decorations made of natural and handmade ornaments such as strung popcorn. It’s possible that some scrolls that were written on were placed on the tree. This would have been a tradition adopted from the Moravians. There would be stars on the tree and beeswax candles.
The celebration would have included prayer, singing, and maybe a reading from the word of God. The Cherokee were willing to assimilate some American culture while holding on to some of their own traditions.
According to the interpretive projects coordinator for Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism, Karen Shade-Lanier, James Vann would have invited people to the celebration who were “among the Cherokees who were more ready to adapt to American traditions, American values, not entirely foregoing their own as Cherokees, but assimilating those in,” she said. “That was the message that was being given to Cherokees in those days that you have to be more like Americans, and part of that involved educating Cherokees to be prepared for what was coming…so, he was among the ones who were ready to take a look at what the Moravians had to offer.” Karen Shade-Lanier said she views the first Cherokee Christmas as a time of curiosity and the beginning of a new celebration.
“At this first Christmas, I always think about what the experience might have been like for those Cherokees who were part of that celebration. I think exposure to this new celebration brought in by the Moravians must have been very curious, for some, perhaps not for all of them,” she said. “This was the beginning of a new celebration for them and (the) beginning of many changes for the Cherokee. This exhibit always reminds me of the transitions that our people have gone through over centuries, and that’s always something worth exploring.”[4]
Besides visiting a Native museum, you could attend a Powwow on Christmas Eve or Christmas day featuring traditional tribal dances. You will find dozens of times and locations for events online including this one: https://calendar.powwows.com. I located 4 events in my area in just a few minutes.
Jesus came to earth to rescue all mankind. As we sing about joy to the world and plead for peace on earth, let us begin at home. Sharing Christ’s birth with neighbors is the true meaning of Christmas.
God bless you all.
[1] From: “How Christmas is Celebrated Across Indian Country”, Dennis Zotigh, December 21, 2023, Smithsonian,https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/12/21/christmas-in-indian-country/
[2] Among the many you can find online:
ALLTRIBES – https://alltribes.com/southwest-decor/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22674683953&gbraid=0AAAAADyNoL8G6GatyBg8vZm-eYoTjYF68&gclid=CjwKCAiA9aPKBhBhEiwAyz82J9tcJjoGh10jCSgG_k3O8WIhxA_JvccvBCEbW9U2oHyHxB2egm9r2BoC4TsQAvD_BwE
[3] The Cherokee National History Museum is located at 101 S. Muskogee Ave. and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
[4] “Cherokee’s celebrated first Christmas with Moravians in 1805” by Stacie Boston, Multimedia Reporter, Dec 16, 2021. https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/culture/cherokee-s-celebrated-first-christmas-with-moravians-in-1805/article_9dbfb072-5e7e-11ec-9eac-bf33e8244005.html
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To me these Vans really represent a modern spin on native fashion.
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