Christmas is observed in a broad range of ways and in many different nations around the world, so there are many fun facts about Christmas. Many traditions and decorations we employ to make the holiday unique have interesting histories that may provide the key to their beginnings. Millions of people worldwide anticipate shimmering decorations, vibrant lights, delectable food, merry music, and thrilling gifts as the year closes.
Yes, as Christmas is almost approaching. However, how many things do you know about this fantastic holiday? Check out these 30 funย facts about Christmas to learn more.
Fun facts about Christmas:
1. Birth of Jesus Christ
Christmas is an occasion for Christians to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, who they consider to be the son of God. The majority of people observe it on December 25 each year because that is the day the Roman Catholic Church has designated as Jesusโ birthday. However, nobody knows with certainty when Jesus was born. Also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
2. Where Word Christmas Came From?
Christmasโs name derives from the Middle English word Cristes maesse, also known as โChristโs mass.โ What about โXmas,โ though? Many believe this is only a contemporary acronym, yet it goes to the sixteenth century. According to legend, the โXโ stands for the Greek letter โChi,โ which is the first letter of the Greek word representing Christ, โXโ (pronounced โChristosโ), as it was added to Christmas facts.
3. Not all Celebrate Christmas on the Same Day
You might be surprised to learn that not all Christians observe Christmas on the same day. Christmas Day falls on January 7 in nations with sizable majorities of Orthodox Christians*, including Romania, Ukraine, and Russia. On January 7, several Greek Orthodox Christians also observe Christmas as it includes fun facts about Christmas.
4. Christmas Traditions
People throughout the world have a tonne of fun at Christmas! Christmas greetings, Christmas presents, Christmas lights, Christmas crackers, and Christmas vacation, in addition to traditional meals like mince pies and roast turkey, are just a few of the Christmas traditions that have evolved into what they are today in the UK. In truth, Queen Victoria and her spouse Prince Albert loved Christmas as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
5. Christmas trees
Victorian Britain also saw a rise in the popularity of real and artificial Christmas trees. But they first appeared in Germany in the 16th century when Germans adorned fir trees for Christmas trees with fruit and nuts, followed by candies, paper cutouts, as well as candles.
Interestingly, scholars speculate that this holiday custom may have its roots among the Romans and Ancient Egyptians. They represented eternal life with evergreen trees and garlands that can be included in Christmas facts.
6. Santa Claus
We canโt discuss Christmas without bringing up the huge, bearded, jovial man with rosy cheeks. Mr Christmas! Have you ever wondered where Santa Clausโs north pole came from? It comes from Sinterklaas, which would, in Dutch, the national tongue of the Netherlands, translates to Saint Nicholas as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
Known for his kindness and generosity, St. Nicholas seems to have been a Christian bishop who lived in the fourth century. He eventually became the patron saint of children.
7. World War II
Each year, Norway brings a gorgeous Christmas tree grown there to London, lit up in Trafalgar Square. The magnificent tree, which is 20 meters tall, was given to Norway as a token of gratitude for the support the UK provided throughout World War II. What a magnificent gift!
8. La Befana
There are other Christmas figures in the world than Santa, though! For instance, a friendly witch named La Befana is rumoured to bring toys to kids while flying around using a broomstick in Italy.
Children in Iceland also put shoes beneath windows for the Yule Lads, a group of 13 naughty trolls. The Yule boys will give the child a rotten potato if theyโve been evil, but if theyโve been kind, theyโll find candy in their shoes it can be added to Christmas facts.
9. Christmas Postage Stamp
A Christmas stamp is a postage stamp that features a Christmas motif and is meant to be used on holiday mail, including Christmas cards. These normal postage stamps, issued by several nations and often good through year postage, are available for purchase.ย These are typically printed in large quantities and are put on sale somewhere between early October as well as early December also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
10. Jingle Bells
One of the most popular and frequently performed American carols worldwide is โJingle Bells.โ The One Horse Open Sleigh was authored by James Lord Pierpont (1822โ1893) and released in the fall of 1857. It has been asserted that the song was first intended to be performed by a church choir during Thanksgiving or as a folk song was added to Christmas facts.
Despite having no historical ties to Christmas, jingle bells were included in several parlour songs and college anthologies in the 1880s. They came to be connected with winter and Christmas music in the 1860s and 1870s.
A recording from 1898 from Edison Records, which was also the first Christmas record, predates the 1889 Edison cylinder on which it was first captured. also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
11. Christmas Song
Jewish songwriter Johnny Marks is the author of โRudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,โ โRockinโ Around The Christmas Tree,โ as well as โHolly Jolly Christmas.โ
The Christmas carol โUp On The Housetopโ by Benjamin Hanby was the first one to reference Santa Claus. Hanby was motivated by Clement Mooreโs 1823 poem โA Visit from Saint Nicholas,โ written in 1864 and added to the Christmas song.
Among the earliest Christmas anthems that still receive broadcast is โO Come, O Come Emmanuel.โ It was first written in Latin in the eleventh century, and John Mason Neale transcribed it into English in 1851. Later this was used as a Christmas song. Also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
12. Europeโs Oldest Christmas Markets
The first Christmas markets were held in the Late Middle Ages when year-round fairs were presented at various seasonal times. Some of the earliest Christmas markets are Dresdenโs Strietzelmarkt (first hosted in 1434) and those in Munich, Frankfurt, and Augsburg. Nevertheless, Viennaโs December Market, which initially took place about 1294, predated all of these events also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
A priest in the German city of Nuremberg had to postpone the afternoon service on its Eve in 1616 because the neighbourhoodโs Christmas market was so well-liked that no one showed up.
13. Montgomery Ward Department Store
The Montgomery ward department store came up with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to cut costs on one of their yearly Christmas campaigns.
Montgomery Ward offered free colouring sheets in 1939 to draw more customers into their stores around the holidays. They merely purchased these colouring booklets to distribute up until this point. They decided to attempt to make their books in 1939 to reduce the cost of the publications. We can add it in Christmas facts.
14. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The annual custom of illuminating a massive Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center dates back to 1933 and has persisted ever since. This custom, however, truly began in 1931. Construction crews pooled their first earnings even during Great Depression while building Rockefeller Center to create and embellish a 20-foot (6-meter) tree later known as the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
When the paper garlands and cranberry threads were added on Christmas Eve, a decades-old concept was formed. And over 50,000 colourful LED lights will be strung across more than 5 miles (8 kilometres) of cable to wrap the tree last year.
15. Baby Jesus
However, we know from the account of Jesusโ birth that Bethlehem was least a well-liked city. One of Jesusโ disciples questioned whether anything could be gained from Nazareth. Therefore, throughout the census, Jesusโ parents could not find accommodation at the Inn.
But Jesus was not only born there; he is also a direct descendant of Davidโs line. This not only fulfils Old Testament prophesy but also has a symbolic meaning because the heavenly king was symbolically born in the same spot as the king after Godโs heart. We can include it in Christmas facts.
What occurred to Joseph following the birth of Jesus is not hinted at in any significant way. He doesnโt appear to be around during Jesusโ career. Thus, we can infer that he died sometime between Jesusโ adolescence and his 30s.
We know Joseph would have gained a terrible reputation among his contemporaries if he had not chosen to murder and marry (for what many would have believed to be infidelity).
The foregoing paragraph implies, in a somewhat disparaging manner, that Joseph had ruined his reputation by continuing his marriage to Mary after learning of her pregnancy. He isnโt even mentioned by name.
16. Dyed Goose Feathers
Germans created the first Christmas trees using dyed goose feathers that had been coloured. Most of Santaโs reindeer have male names, like Cupid. Although it is known that male reindeer lose their antlers by Christmas. Therefore, the reindeer pulling Santaโs sleigh are female.
17. Norad Santa Tracker
On its Eve, the NORAD Tracker keeps track of the jolly old elf, allowing children everywhere to see him deliver gifts via the Santa Cam.
The history of the NORAD Tracker begins in 1955 when a newspaper advertisement mistakenly put what was supposed to be Santaโs phone number, as we explained in an article from 2010. The phone number was the Continental Air Defense Commandโs top-secret line.
Col. Harry Shoup was astonished to see a small girl on the other end of the line enquiring about the status of Santaโs travel. Shoup told the girl and all the other kids who contacted that night where Santa was.
Since that time, Santaโs sleigh has been tracked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as he travels around the globe. Approximately 75,000 calls, such as the one delivered on Christmas Eve in 1955, are answered by about 12,000 volunteers.
18. First Song
In his 1864 composition โUp On The Housetop,โ Benjamin Hanby introduced Santa Claus. The majority of early Christmas songs were spiritual. The first Christmas song to describe the tale of Saint Nicholas, sometimes known as Santa Claus, was โUp On The Housetopโ, as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
Bing Crosbyโs song โWhite Christmasโ is the most popular song of all time. Thatโs correct, with more than 50 million copies sold, the Irving Berlin song, which premiered in the 1942 movie Holiday Inn, has outperformed singles by every notable rock star, musician, and the pop star is included in fun facts about Christmas.
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19. Grinch Stole Christmas Trees
After his passing in 1991, Theodor Geiselโs widow Audrey Geisel started to license more of his writing than he had in his lifetime. The first live-action movie adaptation of a Dr Seuss classic, How the movie, was how she ultimately persuaded Hollywood studios to submit their proposals to her in 1998. However, she didnโt intend to leave the project in the care of an amateur as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
For starters, only writers and filmmakers who had previously earned a million dollars from at least one film were eligible for the competition.
She specified that she would only consider Grinch want tobes who were โof equivalent magnitude to Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, as well as Dustin Hoffmanโ in a letter outlining her requirements.
Even though the Grinch is one of Jim Carreyโs most well-known and recognizable characters, playing the part wasnโt simple. Yak hairs that had been individually dyed green and sewn into the suit served as the main component of the costume. It took Carrey three hours to get into the outfit before each movie session, and he wore it for a total of 92 days as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
20. Santa Claus Flying
You might be surprised that Rudolph was not included in the reindeer flight squad due to a โfoggy nightโ because urban legends often take along a life of their own and therefore are taken as gospel in popular culture. Pure glorified fiction, to be sure.
In truth, Rudolph joined the team when Santa Claus flying decided to voluntarily abide by the 1939 CAA (Civic Aeronautics Authority โ the forerunner of the FAA) regulation requiring all aircraft flying at night to wear a red โanti-collisionโ light as it included in fun facts about Christmas.
A white strobe light has now taken the place of Rudolphโs original red nose. Dasher was transferred to the back of the track, and Blitzen took his position up front since the flashing strobe made him queasy.
Naturally, Santa Claus and his team must account for their rapid ascents and descents into thin air and their exposure to high temperatures. With their thick coats of fur, reindeer control their body temperature. Santa Claus, who has been unfairly mocked for his size, uses his covering of blubber to trap heat like a seal or walrus, enabling him to adapt to sudden fluctuations in temperature as he gives all the gifts included in fun facts about Christmas.
Since breathing requirements are a little trickier, modern oxygen masks were added to the reindeer harnesses and sleigh a few years ago. Even though Donner detests wearing it, he wears it because he doesnโt enjoy it when the other reindeer tease and mock him. By the way, before helping others, Santa Claus always remembers putting on his oxygen mask, as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
21. Famous Christmas Truce
Around Christmas of 1914, there were several significant unofficial ceasefires all along the Western Front of the First World War. Five months following hostilities started, there was a truce.
As armies ran short of soldiers and ammunition and as commanders reevaluated their plans in the wake of the Race to the Sea deadlock and the First Battle of Ypresโ ambiguous outcome, there were lulls in the combat.
French, German, and British soldiers breached trenches the week before Christmas to converse and exchange holiday greetings. On its Eve and Christmas Day, some men on both sides crossed into the ungoverned territory to socialize and trade gifts and food.
After several meetings, there were combined funeral services, prisoner exchanges, and carol singing. One of the most enduring images of the truce is of men playing football with one another. In some areas, fighting still raged; in others, the parties reached not much more than arrangements for body recovery.
The Christmas truce is frequently viewed as a symbol of peace and humanity in the midst of one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history because of the sheer number of men involved as well as the level of their involvement in silent sectors, dozens of men forthrightly gathering in daylight was remarkable as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
22. Christmas Eve
Scientists determined that Father Christmas would need to travel 650 miles per second, or 822 homes, to deliver all of the gifts to individuals on its Eve as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
Children typically leave brandy and mince pies for Santa and a carrot again for the reindeer, as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
On Eve, children in France set their shoes beside the fireplace hoping that Le Pรจre Nol, the countryโs version of Santa Claus, will also fill them with gifts and candies as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
Eve is not a recognized holiday season in the United Kingdom. However, it is a day for finishing last-minute shopping, making festive meals, and decorating the home as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
23. Highest Grossing Christmas Movie
The Grinch, a Christmas-themed film released in 2018, captured the hearts of most spectators worldwide. The Universal film starring Benedict Cumberbatchโs voice earned $512.3 million within only three years, making it the most successful Christmas movie ever as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
24. Christmas Dinner
It wasnโt until Henry VIII had turkey for Christmas supper in the 16th century that it became a tradition as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
One of the fun facts about Christmas is that Peacock was traditionally served as the main course at dinner past Christmas. Boar also fit the mould. America didnโt adopt turkey as a holiday until the 19th century.
Families who lived off the land used to have geese for Christmas dinner before farmers began raising chickens for commercial purposes. They had to be careful about what animals to consume because chickens produced eggs, and cows offered milk, which is included in fun facts about Christmas.
Geese were the preferred meal for a Christmas feast because they only produced eggs during specific seasons and can be said to be one of the Christmas decorations as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
25. Santaโs Elves
A Christmas elf is a small elf that lives at the North Pole with Santa Claus and serves as his helper in English-speaking countries. Christmas elves are typically shown as being dressed in green or red, having big, sharp ears, and donning pointy hats, as is included in fun facts about Christmas.
They are typically shown as humanoids, though occasionally as fuzzy creatures with tails, as it is included in fun facts about Christmas. Itโs a common belief that Santaโs elves produce the toys in his workshop and care for his reindeer, among many other things. It is included in fun facts about Christmas.
Louisa May Alcott first mentioned them in a work of writing in 1856. Santa is significantly older, having descended from St. Nicholas in American mythology in the early 17th century and incorporating elements of many European Christmas customs, including English Father Christmas and Dutch Sinterklaas. Also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
One of the fun facts about Christmas is that during the first half of the 19th century, Scandinavian Nisse or Tomte served as precedents for the connection of Christmas gifts with elves, and St. Nicholas himself is referred to as an elf in A Visit from St. Nicholas (1823).
26. Christmas Wreath
Lutherans started the Christmas wreath tradition in Germany in the 1500s. Still, it is also possible that wreaths were used in Ancient Greece and Rome to crown individuals with notable accomplishments or communal positions or to hang on doors, as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
27. Dutch Children
Dutch children have a tradition that Santa Claus, sometimes known as โChristmas manโ or โKerstmanโ to prevent confusion with Sinterklaas, arrives from Lapland in Finland on Christmas Eve night to bring more presents is included in fun facts about Christmas.
Christmas is observed on December 25 and December 26 in the Netherlands. Dutch Christmas is a two-day celebration in which family members gather to play games, watch movies, and eat traditional Christmas fare, as included in fun facts about Christmas.
28. Christmas Oratorio
In Bachโs era, it was common for a Christmas oratorio to be displayed as a cycle of six cantatas to be performed on various days during the Christmas season. Such oratorios were written in 1719 and 1728 by Gottfried Heinrich Stรถlzel, with whom the church music was well-known to Bach and Leipzig churchgoers as great facts about Christmas.
29. Brenda Lee
63 years after its first release, Brenda Leeโs 1958 holiday classicโRockinโ Around the Christmas Treeโ is at No. 3 on this weekโs Billboard Hot 100, only behind Adeleโs โEasy on Meโ and Careyโs โAll I Want for Christmas Is Youโ as it is included in fun facts about Christmas.
The Christmas classic was recorded in 1958 by Lee, the only female honoured in the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She had just turned 13 years old. It turned out to be her best-selling Christmas song as it is also sung as a thanksgiving song andย included in fun facts about Christmas.
30. Washington Irving
Without Washington Irving, Christmas wouldnโt be as joyous as fun facts about Christmas. Irvingโs A History of New York, written at a time when Merry Christmas wasnโt commonly observed, contributed develop the present conception of Santa Claus. Also, it is included in fun facts about Christmas. A guy had a dream that โthe good St. Nicholas came galloping over through the tops of the trees, within this self-same wagon wherein he brings his annual presents to youngsters,โ according to what he wrote, it is a big one of the facts about Christmas.
Conclusion:
The thrill and joy this holiday season provides will undoubtedly increase by sharing some interesting and exciting Christmas facts and Christmas trees. You can thus use all of the interesting information above to draw your childrenโs attention away from the phones and more towards you as your complete family is enjoying Christmas together.
You can explain the history of Christmas customs like Santa Claus and Christmas trees. Tell them about the real meaning of Christmas and some interesting, fun facts about Christmas about Jesus while youโre at it.
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Last Updated on by Sathi
