Although it would have looked completely different from the holiday we know and love today, it’s possible that the first Christmas in America took place in the 16th century right here in Florida.

In 1539 - 1540, Spanish Explorer Hernando de Soto and his army occupied the Apalachee village near modern-day Tallahassee. Although no definitive proof that this celebration took place has yet been uncovered, it seems likely that the Spanish settlers would have recognized the holiday (though in a much more subtle fashion than we do today).
Flickr/Jeff Krause

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The settlement was under constant siege by the Apalachee at the time also, so settlers were writing more about these events than any humble celebration they would have had. Nonetheless, it makes sense that these Catholic settlers would have at least held some kind of modest religious observance of the holiday.
Wikimedia Commons
Although there's no record of the observance, this was definitely the first expedition with the necessary clergy to perform the mass. This has led many local historians to ponder the possibility that this was the site of the first Christmas celebration in the New World.
Wikimedia Commons

Folks from other states think Christmas in warm Florida weather is odd, but it may actually be the original American Christmas. You can read more about Florida’s claim to the first Christmas in the New World here. What do you think about this story? What’s your favorite thing about celebrating Christmas in Florida?

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