Milwaukee greeted December with a familiar tradition. Christmas trees were lit in Cathedral Square and at the Fiserv Forum. Holiday music floated out of the Public Market, with shoppers bundled against the wind from Lake Michigan.
Such scenes feel timeless, but the holiday behind them has shifted dramatically over the centuries. What began as a religious celebration gradually transformed into a cultural event shaped by folklore, advertising, and local reinvention.
Eventually, it has become a season defined more by shopping pressure than spiritual reflection. Milwaukee, with its layered immigrant history and strong retail legacy, offers a clear view into how this evolution happened…