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Fun Christmas Facts |
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| Christmas isn't just a holiday filled with cookie baking, gift-wrapping, crafting with the kids and spending time enjoying big Christmas brunches or dinners with family and friends. It's a celebration of traditions that most people who celebrate the joyous holiday don't know much about but partake in year after year. Plus, there's some pretty fascinating history behind some of your favorite parts of the holiday season, in addition to its religious significance, that you absolutely wouldn't believe. Here is my list (in no particular order). |
- How many Chritmas trees are sold?
Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United Stated alone. There are more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the USA, and trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.
- Celebrating Christmas used to be illegal
From 1659 to 1681, anyone caught making merry in the colonies would face a fine for celebrating. The Massachusetts Bay Colony created the Penalty for Keeping Christmas. It was thought that "such festivals as were superstitiously kept in other countries" and were "a great dishonor of God and offense of others. The penalty for breaking the law was five shillings.
By the Revolutionary War, the day had so little significance that Congress even held their first session on December 25, 1789. Christmas wasn't even proclaimed a federal holiday for almost another century, proving that the Grinch's attitude toward the holiday was alive and well long before he was.
- It's rumored that eggnog originated in medieval Britain
Although there's no official confirmation on who invented eggnog, most historians agree that eggnog originated in medieval Britain. Eggnog was an upper class luxury since they were the only ones who had access to the milk, sherry and eggs required to create the original version.
Monks in the Middle Ages added figs and eggs and called the drink "posset" while the wealthy kept with the simple recipe and used it for toasts or big events.
Research shows that eggnog most likely became associated with the holidays due to a lack of refrigeration. It became a drink for the more common man in America because of the larger farming opportunities and more access to cows and chickens.
- Christmas poinsettas
Poinsetta plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an american minister to Mexico, who brought the red and green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
- Salvation Army Santas
The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s.
- The Rockerfeller Christmas tree started small
The first Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center looked more like Charlie Brown's than the resplendent one today. The iconic tree dates back to the Depression era. Construction workers first placed a small, undecorated tree while working there in 1931. Two years later, another tree appeared in its place, this time draped in lights. It just kept getting bigger every year. Today, the majestic tree bears more than 25,000 twinkling lights and sees millions of selfie-takers each season.
- Christmas wasn't always on December 25th.
Christmas isn't just a holiday filled with cookie baking, gift-wrapping, crafting with the kids and spending time enjoying big Christmas brunches or dinners with family and friends. It's a celebration of traditions that most people who celebrate the joyous holiday don't know much about but partake in year after year. Plus, there's some pretty fascinating history behind some of your favorite parts of the holiday season, in addition to its religious significance, that you absolutely wouldn't believe.
- Gifts have both Christian and Pagan origins.
Christians may have grown up learning that we give gifts at Christmas to mimic the presents the Three Wise Men brought the baby Jesus, but like so many other traditions, that also has its roots in Saturnalia. The pagans originally gave offerings to the gods too.
- Evergreens are an ancient tradition.
The tradition of Christmas trees goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who decorated with evergreens during the winter solstice to signify that spring would return. Evergreens reminded them of all the green plants that were to grow once the sun returned.
You can thank Prince Albert for your Christmas tree
Brew a steaming cup of tea when trimming your tree this year to pay homage to its origins. When Prince Albert of Germany got a tree for his new wife, Queen Victoria of England, the tradition really took off across the pond. A drawing of the couple in front of a Christmas tree first appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1848. After that, more and more folks starting following suit.
- St. Nick was more generous than jolly
You probably already knew that the idea of Santa Claus came from St. Nicholas. The saint wasn't really a bearded man who wore a red suit; that look came much later. In the fourth century, the Christian bishop gave away his large inheritance to the poor and rescued women from servitude. In Dutch, his name is Sinter Klaas, which later morphed into Santa Claus.
- Coca-Cola played a part in Santa's image
Before Coca-Cola decided to use his image for advertising, Santa looked more spooky than jolly. Then, in 1931, the beverage company hired an illustrator named Haddon Sundblom to depict the jolly old man for magazine ads. Now, kids see visions of sugarplums instead of having Santa-themed nightmares.
- Hanging stockings started by accident
Legend has it we hang stockings by the chimney with care because one year a poor widowed man didn't have enough money for his three daughters' dowries, making it difficult for them to marry. Generous old St. Nick dropped a bag of gold down their chimney one night and into the freshly washed stockings the girls had hung by the fire to dry. After that, the tradition stuck!
- Rudolph was a marketing ploy
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first appeared in 1939 when the Montgomery Ward department store asked one of its copywriters to create a Christmas story for kids that the store could distribute as a promotion. In the first year alone 2.4 million copies were distributed and late in 1949 Gene Autry recorded the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". The adorable movie featuring the island of misfit toys and Herbie the elf hit the airwaves (and our hearts) in 1964.
- The eight tiny reindeer have had lots of names
Rudolph was almost named Rollo or Reginald and his crew also had lots of other names. They've previously been called Flossie, Glossie, Racer, Pacer, Scratcher, Feckless, Ready, Steady and Fireball.
- Christmas wreaths are religious symbols
The custom of bringing evergreens into the home began in the 16th century among northern and eastern Europeans, primarily Germans, as a means of cleaning up the Christmas tree and making it more uniform. Instead of throwing out cut-off greens, people wove the excess into wreaths.
However, the religious significance is that the circular shape and evergreen material of the wreath represent eternal life. The circle, which has no beginning or end, "symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life we find in Christ."
- "Jingle Bells" was originally a Thanksgiving song
Turns out, we first started dashing through the snow for an entirely different holiday. James Lord Pierpont wrote the song called "One Horse Open Sleigh" for his church's Thanksgiving concert in the mid-19th century. Then in 1857, the song was re-released under the title we all know and love and it's still among the most popular Christmas songs today.
- Astronauts broadcast "Jingle Bells" from space
Nine days before Christmas in 1965, astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford aboard the Gemini 6 told Mission Control that they saw an "unidentified flying object" about to enter Earth's atmosphere, traveling in the polar orbit from north to south. Just as things got tense, they interrupted the broadcast with “Jingle Bells,” as Wally played a small harmonica accompanied by Tom shaking a handful of small sleigh bells.
- "Silent Night" is the most recorded song
We all know the same few handfuls of Christmas songs play at stores and on the radio in a loop all season long. But one of them has been adapted more than others. "Silent Night" is actually the most-recorded Christmas song in history. It's had more than 733 different versions copyrighted since 1978.
- Christmas decorating sends nearly 15,000 people to the ER
If you've ever watched Clark Griswold decorate his house in Christmas Vacation this stat likely doesn't shock you. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission's most recent news release estimates that 14,700 people visit hospital emergency rooms each November and December from holiday-related decorating accidents — which is about 240 injuries per day. The most common accidents involve falling, lacerations and back strains.
- Santa has his own Canadian postal code
Every year, letters to Santa Claus flood post offices across the world. Cementing their reputation as some of the nicest people ever, some big-hearted Canadian post office workers started writing back. As the program took off, they set up a special postal code for Santa as part of a Santa Letter-Writing Program initiative: HOH OHO.
- Dry Christmas trees spark more than joy
Neglected, dried-out Christmas trees spark about 260 fires in the United States each year resulting in an average of 12 deaths, 24 injuries and $16.4 million in property damage, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation. An additional 150 fires are started because of holiday lights and other decorative lighting, resulting in an average of eight deaths, 16 injuries and $8.9 million in property damage per year. Not only will an errant spark ruin your holiday, it can put both residents and responding firefighters in danger.
- We ship a ton of packages at the holidays
Last year, the U.S. Postal Service processed more than 11.7 billion pieces of mail and packages during the holiday season. That includes gifts for loved ones, holiday cards, Christmas letters to Santa and of course, those dreaded credit card bills from all the gift shopping.
- The term "Xmas" dates back to the 1500s
Contrary to popular belief, "Xmas" is not a trendy attempt to "take Christ out of Christmas". "Christianity" was spelled "Xianity" as far back as 1100. X, or Chi, is the Greek first letter of "Christ" so "X" and back in the fourth century, Constantine the Great often referenced the shorthand version. Some say it was as early as 1021 that the abbreviation "XPmas" was used to reference the holiday, which was later shortened to "Xmas."
- The majority of Americans celebrate Christmas
Christmas decorations feel like they appear in stores earlier and earlier every year. That's because the majority of Americans really do jingle bell rock their way right through into the Christmas season: about 85% of us. Not all of those who partake in Christmas celebrate the religious aspects of the holiday, but you can bet that come December 25 most people are opening up presents under the tree.
- Only about half of Americans attend Christmas services
You might have noticed that church attendance on Christmas Eve has felt less busy lately than when you were a kid. The Pew Research Center found that fewer people think of Christmas as a religious holiday these days. More specifically, about 51% of American adults attend a religious service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
- Americans spend nearly $1,000 a year on gifts
According to the National Retail Federation's most recent data, consumers spend an average of $967.13 on the holidays.
- Mistletoe isn't as sweet as it sounds
Mistle thrush birds eat the plant's berries, digest the seed and then help the plant germinate with their droppings. The Germanic word for mistletoe literally means "dung on a twig." Really makes you want to pucker up, doesn't it?
- Candy canes originated in Germany
The National Confectioners Association says a choirmaster originally gave the red-and-white-striped candies to young children to keep them quiet during marathon church services back in 1670. It wasn't until a German-Swedish immigrant decorated his tree with candy canes in 1847 that they became popular as a Christmas candy. Nowadays, they're available in a wide variety of colors and flavors like cherry, green apple and watermelon.
- Norway provides the tree in Trafalgar Square
Londoners and visitors alike probably know the iconic spruce that stretches to the sky in Trafalgar Square each year, but few realize it's an equally iconic holiday gift. Since 1947, the city of Oslo in Norway has given the tree to London as a token of gratitude for Britain's support during World War II.
- This Christmas gift held a lifesaving secret
During World War II, the United States Playing Card Company joined forces with American and British intelligence agencies to create a very special deck of cards. They distributed them as Christmas gifts to soldiers, but they also helped Allied prisoners of war escape from German POW camps. When wet, individual cards peeled apart to reveal maps of escape routes.
- Tinsel has a storied history
Tinsel was invented in 1610 in Germany. It was spun from real silver and then hammered out and was more of a luxury decoration than the cheap tree trimming it is today. The U.S. government once banned tinsel because it used to contain poisonous lead, but no need to worry now — it's just plastic. That said, it should still be kept away from young kids and pets since it can be a choking hazard.
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