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and gifts. The tradition of the Christmas Tree and evergreens were an important part of Christmas decorations in German houses. These traditions would eventually make their way into the American Christmas through immigration but also through the Revolutionary War.

During the American Revolution, England hired German mercenaries called Hessians. These soldiers were among the most elite in the world. Christmas Trees were found in Trenton when Washington crossed the Delaware to attack the Hessians on December 26, 1776. Many of the Hessians decided to make their home in America following the war and brought their Christmas traditions with them.

Additional changed came to both England and America with the publication of Christmas in literature. Clement Moore wrote A Visit from St. Nicholas and the views of children at Christmas began to change. Christmas would slowly become a day to celebrate with children. Charles Dickens wrote his classic A Christmas Carol and revealed the plight of the poor in England. The popularity of these stories would create radical change in the way people viewed Christmas.

The change in Christmas may have been gradual but it came and a transformation took place. No longer would Christmas be a day hated for its drinking and rioting but instead it was a day of celebration and reverence for the one whose birth it celebrated.

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