Christmas a time of joy, celebration, and cherished traditions that bring people together. From decorating Christmas trees and exchanging festive cards to singing carols and enjoying special treats, the holiday season is filled with rich history and unique customs.
Here are 15 fun and fascinating Christmas facts that highlight the diverse and heartwarming traditions associated with this magical time of year.
- Christmas Trees: The tradition of decorating Christmas trees dates back to 16th-century Germany, where people brought decorated trees into their homes.
- Santa Claus: The modern image of Santa Claus, with his red suit and white beard, was popularized by Coca-Cola’s holiday advertisements in the 1930s.
- Xmas: The term “Xmas” is derived from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Χριστός (Christos).
- Rudolph: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 by Robert L. May for a promotional booklet by Montgomery Ward, a department store.
- Christmas Cards: The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by John Callcott Horsley in London, and it featured a family celebrating together.
- Christmas Pickle: In the U.S., some families hide a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree, and the first person to find it gets an extra gift or good luck for the next year.
- Poinsettias: These popular Christmas plants are native to Mexico and were named after Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who introduced them to the U.S. in the 1820s.
- Jingle Bells: “Jingle Bells” was originally written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 as a Thanksgiving song titled “One Horse Open Sleigh.”
- NORAD Tracks Santa: The tradition of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) tracking Santa’s sleigh started in 1955 due to a misprinted phone number in a Sears ad, leading children to call NORAD instead of Santa.
- Candy Canes: Candy canes originated in Germany around 1670. They were shaped like a shepherd’s crook to symbolize the shepherds who visited baby Jesus.
- Christmas Stockings: The tradition of hanging stockings comes from the story of Saint Nicholas, who dropped gold coins down a chimney to help a poor family, and the coins landed in stockings drying by the fire.
- Tinsel: Tinsel was invented in Germany in 1610 and was originally made from real silver, making Christmas trees sparkle with a more luxurious shine.
- Boxing Day: Celebrated on December 26th, Boxing Day is a public holiday in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth nations. It traditionally was a day for giving gifts to the poor.
- Silent Night: The carol “Silent Night” was written in 1818 by Austrian priest Joseph Mohr and composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. It was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria.
- Eggnog: Eggnog is believed to have originated from the British “posset,” a medieval drink made with hot milk and ale. The first President of the United States, George Washington, even had his own recipe for eggnog.
