Tradition of Gift Giving

Does Robert Winter really hold the bizarre notion that Protestants did not celebrate Christmas until the turn of the century (“In the Spirit of Christmas Past,” by Laurie K. Schenden, Dec. 10)?

Marking Dec. 25 with gift giving, house decorating and parties is largely a tradition of Northern European, Protestant countries. In most Southern European and Latin American Catholic countries, Christmas was observed as a purely religious holiday, while gift giving was an Epiphany custom (until the influence of American movies and television).

Mistletoe, holly, yule logs, wreaths, Christmas goose and caroling are all English traditions that were brought to America by the early Protestant colonists. Many of our other Christmas customs, from Santa Claus to Christmas trees and glass ornaments, came to this country with Dutch and German Protestants.

BILL BENCE

West Hollywood