How Native Americans Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is probably one of my favorite times of year, as it is the time that I end up being the closest with my family. As my family is scattered with very few of us living in my area locally, I give many thanks that I have the ability to be able to spend thi special time with them each year. But, I had never known exactly how my heritage celebrated the holiday and if it was any different than what I was currently doing now.

After some careful research, to my surprise, Native American had never celebrated Christmas until the day that the Europeans landed on our shores and began to teach us of St. Nicolas and Jesus Christ and the significance of the holiday. But, with this knowledge, while we do celebrate it differently, there is a deeper meaning to the holiday for us, and this article will explain why this is and what the meaning of Christmas is.

To Native Americans, Christmas is not an event that happens once a year where everyone gets together and eats, opens gifts and sings Christmas carols around the old piano. We may do that, but it is in a very distinct and different way. Christmas to a Native American is every day, and not just one. Where we do eat the traditional meal like every one else, we do not just take what we want. We always look at things as a matter of sharing rather then just taking. If we need to take something, we always give something back and ask permission of every plant or animal that we may take for food.

We always give a tobacco offering every time we take an herb or plant, and we never take it by the roots but rather cut it along the plane of the earth so that another may grow in its place. When we eat, we always save a little back to show reverance for the Creator and the spirit world and offer the food to say thank you for the abundance that we are given daily. Abundance is not only in the form of food for us, but also for the air that we breath each day, the water that has been provided to drink, and even our very hearts, as that is where the spirit lies. Everything that we are comes from the Creator, and prayers are said all the day long for our ancestors and for Christ, who we pray will return one day to take us home.

As we celebrate, we sing and dance very much the same way that others do, and we construct mangers the very same as many traditonal churches do around this time. The difference is that we bring gifts to lay before these places, and the mangers may not be the same, as every tribe perceives the Nativity story differently. It may be a manger, or it may be a teepee, dependent on that tribe's beliefs and traditions. Instead of seeing sheep , you may see buffalo, bear or fox in the place of the more traditional animals in the scene, as each one has great significance in our spiritual lives.

It is said that the way that Native Americans live in what is called 'walking the Red Road'. This means that everything that is done within their lives is spiritual, which means that in everything that they do that they are answering to a higher calling other than their own. Native American spiritual beliefs are not that different from those that are carried within the realms of Christianity.

It is written in ancient texts, such as the Bible, that those that follow the faith are to 'clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and heal the sick'. In the Native American tradition, it is no different, as they follow the same principles. If anyone is in need of anything, it is a spiritual duty that if they need help that they receive it. If they need food, you give them food. If they are cold, give them a blanket to keep them warm. Whatever the case may be, it is because of this spiritual way of life that makes the Native Americans show the true meaning of what Christmas is all about.

Even the way that they decorate a Christmas tree is different, as everything carries a meaning behind it. For example, on a Native American tree you will see no lights. Instead, you will see mirrors that are used to keep away bad spirits that may infiltrate the home. Instead of bulbs and other ornaments, they use corn shells and other natureal things as a mater of decoration.

You may also see turkey feathers, which are used to signify eagle feathers, which is the symbol for the connection betwen heaven and earth, as the eagle is the spiritual messenger of Creator to all Native Americans. You may see dream catchers, an object that is used to keep away bad dreams and are hung on walls over beds.

For those that are of the South Dakota Sioux and Navajo tribes, they may use what are called Chikala dolls, which are faceless dolls that are either large or small that are given to people who must use their imaginations and draw the face upon the doll. When they are done, the doll is considered to bring good luck to its owner and are given as gifts. Among the Mexican tribes, they may hang God's Eyes, which are yarn ornaments that are also used to keep away evil spirits very much in the same respect as the mirrors do.

But, what is probably the most significant decoration that goes on any Native American tree is the white buffalo. It has been said that there was a vision given to an Ogala Sioux holy man by the name of Looks for Buffalo, a direct blood grandson of Chief Red Cloud, who received a vision about this creature that on the day that the white buffalo is born that there will finally be world peace.

Now, what must be understood is that the buffalo is purely white, and not an albino, that will bring about this event. It is also said that when this buffalo comes that he will go to all of the colors of humankind, and once he is done the buffalo will return and they will number as many as the blades of the grass. The four colors are also hung on the tree to signify this event, with white for Caucasian, brown for African-American, yellow for Asian, and red for the Native American.

Now, we cannot forget one last question that poeple may be wondering: is there a Native American Santa Claus? The quick answer I can give is yes! He goes by many names, but the most common are:

1) The Handsome Man: An Indian brave dressed all in white buckskin who presents gifts to everyone after the gifts have been presented to the Baby Jesus.

2) Snowbeard: A St. Nick look-alike that could pass for his twin brother that is dressed all in red and travels with a walking stick, bag of presents, and a wolf spirit as his companion.

3) Old Red Shirt: Old Red Shirt flies in a sled and instead of reindeer has a team of white buffalo that pull the sled. Take that, Rudolph!

So, as you can see, our traditions are not at all that much different. Native Americans at Christmastime celebrate and have the same fun that we do at the holiday. They simply just choose to look deeper at the meaning and make it a part of their daily lives. Now, while I do not want to suggest that any other way of celebrating is wrong, what I would like to suggest is maybe thinking about if someone that you know and love may be having a hard time this year.

While giving at the Salvation Army barrel may seem like a quick and easy thing to do, take a minute to think of the ones that are in your own backyard and think of how Native Americans approach their own in times of need. During these times, Native Americans have what are called 'Roving Angels', which are people that go around and see if there is anyone within the tribe that may be in need of assistance and amking sure that they are well provided for during the holiday season.

So, before you go and making all of these grandiose plans of having the traditional Christmas, why not try something different and see if these Native American traditions may you have a greater understanding. Instead of wondering if your wife bought you that new set of golf clubs that you couldn't afford, why not see if your friends would like to have a wonderful Christmas with you and help them at this wonderful time of the year?

Happy holidays, everyone!