Do Chicago people celebrate Christmas more than most cities ?? (Lee: houses, neighborhoods)

[Chirrut-Lee]

I've spent the past couple weeks in the Chi-Town area on business and I've noticed more people here have Xmas lights and decorations on their houses compared to other cities I travel to like Detroit, Philly, and Baltimore.

So my question is --- why do Chicagoans appear to be in the "Christmas spirit" more than other cities? Is it because the cold snowy weather puts them in the mood, or is it just that Chi-Town folks are more old-fashioned and long for the days of yore? Mod cut.
Let me know your thoughts.

[NealIRC]

Depends on how wealthy the neighborhood.

Also, don't criss-cross races from 1 city to another, in case you are.

Don't compare race A with race B of another city. You might get different results.

[flamadiddle]

More old fashioned and more Christian would be my guess.

Merry Christmas!

[Chirrut-Lee]

Originally Posted by flamadiddle

More old fashioned and more Christian would be my guess.

Merry Christmas!

That could be a valid point -- Chicago has a larger population of Eastern European ethnicities than other large cities. Many Russian, Polish, Slovak, and Ukrainian descendants who are still very religious compared to a city like Baltimore where less than half the population are regular church goers.

[Chirrut-Lee]

Originally Posted by NealIRC

Depends on how wealthy the neighborhood.

I'm seeing a lot of decorations in very average middle class neighborhoods.

[reneeh63]

Originally Posted by Chirrut-Lee

That could be a valid point -- Chicago has a larger population of Eastern European ethnicities than other large cities. Many Russian, Polish, Slovak, and Ukrainian descendants who are still very religious compared to a city like Baltimore where less than half the population are regular church goers.

True...but to me they would tend against secular light displays and maaaaaybe toward traditional nativity scenes.

[Chirrut-Lee]

Originally Posted by reneeh63

True...but to me they would tend against secular light displays and maaaaaybe toward traditional nativity scenes.

Not sure I would agree with that -- I've known a lot of "hardcore" Christians in my life who proudly displayed all kinds of gaudy Xmas lights during the season.

[personone]

Not sure of the reason. At the neighborhood-level, Chicago tends to hang onto traditions. In addition to Christmas, you'll see a lot of people also be pretty festive for Halloween. In the summer, each neighborhood has its own festivals, which everyone gets really into. In general, Chicago tends to do a good job of getting into "the mood" for holidays. Again, I'm not completely sure why.

[Jynnie847]

Originally Posted by personone

Not sure of the reason. At the neighborhood-level, Chicago tends to hang onto traditions. In addition to Christmas, you'll see a lot of people also be pretty festive for Halloween. In the summer, each neighborhood has its own festivals, which everyone gets really into. In general, Chicago tends to do a good job of getting into "the mood" for holidays. Again, I'm not completely sure why.

I agree with you, and I can't explain it either.

People go ga-ga for Christmas around here, more so than most other places I've been to.

[CGab]

Originally Posted by personone

Not sure of the reason. At the neighborhood-level, Chicago tends to hang onto traditions. In addition to Christmas, you'll see a lot of people also be pretty festive for Halloween. In the summer, each neighborhood has its own festivals, which everyone gets really into. In general, Chicago tends to do a good job of getting into "the mood" for holidays. Again, I'm not completely sure why.

Agreed, as someone who grew up in the Chicago suburbs most of my life (just recently moved from Illinois) Chicago is very rich in traditions and celebrates most traditional holidays as stated above, not just Christmas.