30 Fun Facts About Christmas
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- 1. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th to honor the birth of Jesus Christ.
- 2. The tradition of decorating Christmas trees started in Germany in the 16th century.
- 3. The first Christmas card was sent in 1843 in England.
- 4. Christmas trees can grow up to 80 feet tall in some cases.
- 5. Santa Claus is based on Saint Nicholas, a bishop from the 4th century.
- 6. The song "Jingle Bells" was written in 1857, originally for Thanksgiving.
- 7. The world's largest Christmas stocking was over 106 feet long and weighed over 800 pounds.
- 8. The tradition of hanging stockings comes from the legend of Saint Nicholas.
- 9. Christmas was banned in England in the 17th century by Puritans.
- 10. The first artificial Christmas trees were made in Germany using goose feathers.
- 11. The movie "Home Alone" is one of the highest-grossing Christmas films of all time.
- 12. Poinsettias are popular Christmas flowers, originally from Mexico.
- 13. In Finland, Santa Claus is known as "Joulupukki," and he lives in the north.
- 14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first appeared in a 1939 booklet written by Robert L. May.
- 15. The Christmas pudding tradition dates back to the 14th century in England.
- 16. The word "Xmas" is derived from the Greek letter Chi, which stands for Christ.
- 17. Christmas cards became popular in the 1840s, after the first card was printed in London.
- 18. The red and green colors of Christmas symbolize the blood of Christ and eternal life.
- 19. "Silent Night," one of the most famous Christmas carols, was first performed in Austria in 1818.
- 20. The first US Christmas tree in a public place was displayed in the 1830s in Pennsylvania.
- 21. More than 1.76 billion Christmas cards are sent each year in the United States alone.
- 22. Candy canes were originally created to represent a shepherd’s crook.
- 23. In Sweden, Christmas Eve is the most important day of Christmas celebrations.
- 24. The tallest Christmas tree ever recorded was 221 feet tall, in 1950 in California.
- 25. The Christmas wreath symbolizes eternity due to its circular shape.
- 26. Christmas lights were first used in the 1880s, replacing candles on trees.
- 27. The term "Boxing Day" refers to the tradition of giving boxes of gifts to servants and poor people.
- 28. Christmas is celebrated by over 2 billion people worldwide.
- 29. The traditional Christmas meal in the UK is often roast turkey with all the trimmings.
- 30. The Christmas song "Last Christmas" by Wham! is one of the best-selling singles of all time.