In many neighborhoods in New York, immigrant and ethnic cultures have their own traditional ways of showing this season’s spirit.
Traditions From Homelands Mark American Christmas for Immigrants
![A service at The Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. Orthodox Christmas is on Jan. 7, 2014. (Adam Phillips/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/A6C52AFD-C119-4F24-9912-22D66EBB7FF3_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
1
A service at The Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. Orthodox Christmas is on Jan. 7, 2014. (Adam Phillips/VOA)
![Choir Director Zlata Mishima, a recent Russian immigrant, holds the costumes for the Snow Queen portion of the Christmas Pageant. (Adam Phillips/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/6AD5573E-B4A9-4333-ADB7-9C3310F0378B_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
2
Choir Director Zlata Mishima, a recent Russian immigrant, holds the costumes for the Snow Queen portion of the Christmas Pageant. (Adam Phillips/VOA)
![For Rebecca Adjei Ofori at the Ghana United Methodist Church in the Bronx, Christmas is a time for thanksgiving, extended family, peacemaking, and delicious traditional foods. (Adam Phillips/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/753F7F94-AF40-415E-A331-C64ABBF888A5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
3
For Rebecca Adjei Ofori at the Ghana United Methodist Church in the Bronx, Christmas is a time for thanksgiving, extended family, peacemaking, and delicious traditional foods. (Adam Phillips/VOA)
![Handmade flowers (purple for women, white for men) are a symbol of beauty and blessing at the Ghana United Methodist Church. (Adam Phillips/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/E3CE5A49-8B6A-434E-9816-F46A7D683FC2_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
4
Handmade flowers (purple for women, white for men) are a symbol of beauty and blessing at the Ghana United Methodist Church. (Adam Phillips/VOA)