Christmas in St. Louis

Mark Mwandoro
Marketing Director

Christmas is an annual celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December. Christmas got its name from ‘mass of Christ, a service where Christians remember the birth of Jesus, who died for their sins and came back to life.  It has become widely accepted and is celebrated religiously and culturally by billions of people around the globe. 

No one knows the exact date of birth of Jesus, so why do we celebrate it on 25th December of every year? A very early Christmas tradition documents the Annunciation on 25th March, and nine months later is 25th December (Cooper, 2020). 

Christmas is truly a wonderful time of the year. We are constantly encouraged to get into the season’s spirit that is all about being joyful, charitable, generous, kind, and forgiving. Santa Claus is a moral watchman of children, the embodiment of good cheer, and a gift-giver. The code of generosity and kindness is especially strong at this time of the year, and those who practice it have a strong Christmas spirit. 

What Christmas looks like depends on where you go. Americans have their favorite traditions to drum up the holiday cheer. Picking out a Christmas tree marks the beginning of the festive season. A tree of the perfect size is chosen and then adorned in sparkly decorations that usher in the spirit of Christmas. Opening gifts on Christmas eve is probably every kid’s favorite time. Getting to see what Santa has brought you after a whole year of trying to be on your best behavior. Leaving cookies and a tall glass of milk for Santa is such a thoughtful tradition. After all, Santa will be up all-night delivering gifts to all children; he definitely needs a bit of a snack. Others take up caroling in their community to spread the Christmas cheer. 

The holiday season is a magical time in St. Louis. The holiday spirit is infectious, and places are just waiting to dazzle and delight all who are enchanted by the beauty. There are diverse ways in which people celebrate the holiday owing to the multicultural nature of people. The ‘Gateway to the West’ shines so brightly with Christmas lights and is sure to put everyone in the Christmas mood (Butler, 2021).

A major attraction in St. Louis is Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park. Wayne Kennedy founded winter wonderland in 1986 to create a display of lights to spread Christmas cheer (Hofbauer, 2021). Visitors take their time strolling through the park, marveling at countless glimmering lights built into displays of characters and winter scenes. St. Louis County Parks donates a portion of the fees collected to a charity or non-profit group in the spirit of Christmas. 

Families can enjoy a festive gourmet breakfast with Santa at the St. Louis Zoo. There are private tables set aside for groups, and Santa and his helpers visit each. Children receive special gi8fts from Santa Claus, and parents enjoy free parking. The zoo is also decorated with a million lights, and guests stroll through as they are treated to animated light displays and fireside stories (STL, 2021).

The Christmas season is being secularized day by day. It has become a giving holiday even for those who do not subscribe to Christianity. The Christmas spirit helps us maintain a civil society.

Works Cited
Butler, S. (2021, November 25). Here Are The Top 11 Christmas Towns in Missouri. Retrieved from Only in your state: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/missouri/christmas-towns-mo/

Cooper, J. (2020). Why is Christmas Day on the 25th December? Retrieved from Why Christmas: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml

​Hofbauer, D. (2021, November 18). Tilles Park continues time-honored Winter Wonderland. Retrieved from COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/special_section/tourism/st_louis/tilles-park-continues-time-honored-winter-wonderland/article_dc279be0-2153-11eb-b8a0-b7d1509d237d.html
STL. (2021, December 2). Breakfast with Santa at the Saint Louis Zoo. Retrieved from STL Parent: https://www.stlparent.com/event/breakfast-with-santa-st-louis-zoo