'A Christmas Carol'

The classic holiday story A Christmas Carol was written by English author Charles Dickens. The story's message—the importance of charity and good will toward all humanity - struck a powerful chord in the United States and England, demonstrating the benefits of celebrating the holiday to members of Victorian society.

During the early 1800s, the family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children. Christmas provided a day for families to lavish attention - and gifts - on their children without appearing to "spoil" them.

Old traditions were rediscovered as Americans started to embrace Christmas as the ideal family holiday. People sought examples of how to observe the day from recent immigrants, Catholic, and Episcopal churches. In the following century, Americans created a unique Christmas tradition that incorporated elements of numerous other traditions, such as gift-giving, tree-decorating, and sending holiday cards.

Although most families quickly accepted the notion that they were celebrating Christmas in the traditional manner, Americans had truly re-invented a holiday to meet the cultural needs of a growing nation.