christmasinamericameansdifferentthingstodifferentpeople. tosomepeople, christmasmeansbrightlywrappedpackagesunderadecoratedtree. toothers, itmeansfamilyreunionsandawonderfulmealtogether. tochristians, itmeansjesus' birthday. christmasalsomeanslendingahelpinghandtopeopleinneed. alongwithallthehubbubofshoppingforpresentsandsendingchristmascards, manypeopleinamericataketimetohelpothers.
在美国，圣诞节对不同的人代表了不同的意义。对某些人而言，圣诞节的意义是在布置好的圣诞树底下那些包装得色彩鲜艳的礼物。对另外一些人而言，它的意义则是家人团圆以及共享美好的一餐。对基督徒来说，它代表了耶稣的诞生。圣诞节的意义也是向需要帮助的人伸出援手。在采购礼物及寄送圣诞卡片的一阵忙乱当中，很多美国人仍会拨出时间去帮助别人。
inamericaandaroundtheworld, christmasoffersmanyopportunitiestospread "peaceonearth, goodwilltowardmen." forexample, salvationarmybellringersareafamiliarsighttomostchristmasshoppers. theystandoutsidemallsandstorescollectingmoneyfortheneedy. manychurchesandotherorganizationscollecttoysandclothesaschristmasgiftsforpoorfamilies. goingcarolingisanothertraditionalwaytobringcheertoneighbors——especiallytheelderlyandpeoplewhocan'tgetoutmuch. thechristmasspiritencouragespeopletohelpeachotherinmanylargeandsmallways.