Christmas in an Apartment Hotel

Abstract

From a small study of Christmas images and activities, carried out among the residents of a Chicago apartment hotel, it was found, in general, that Christmas is seen as a day for reaffirming personal ties-particularly with kin-more so among women than men. Although the sample population tends not to maintain close kinship ties ordinarily, it was the rule that they made great effort to spend some part of Christmas Day within a family setting. Roles available to them and the relationship of these roles to the American system of kinship are discussed.