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photo by Gerd Altmann

15 Great Facts about Christmas

Christmas has been everyone’s favorite of the year. It is one of the most widely observed festivals. The holiday season is a time of joy and goodwill, from the decorations to the celebratory dinners. 

Christmas is about much more than exchanging gifts, donning holiday sweaters, and decking the halls with ornaments that make your house resemble Santa’s workshop. Christmas is a long-standing festival with a rich history of customs and strong symbolism underlying nearly every facet of the celebration.

1. All of the presents described in the song’s lyrics—the “12 Days of Christmas”—amount to 364 gifts

photo by Cloris Ying

To be honest, everyone loves all the gifts mentioned in the 12 Days of Christmas song. When you count all the gifts mentioned they total 364 gifts. And who in the world, in addition, could possibly require 40 golden rings, 12 partridges, 22 doves, 30 hens, 36 calling birds, 42 geese, 42 swans, 40 maids, 36 ladies, 30 lords, 22 pipers, 11 drummers?

2. In 1882, the first set of electric Christmas tree lights was produced

Christmas trees were frequently illuminated with candles up to the 20th century, which was understandably quite risky. Edward H. Johnson, a friend and business associate of Thomas Edison, invented the first electric Christmas tree lights in 1882. The expense of making and installing the lights was so costly that until a few decades later, the average population could not afford them.

3. Christmas is derived from the Old English phrase “Cristes maesse,” which means “Christ’s Mass”

Cristes maesse, which translates to “Christ’s mass,” is an old English term that gives rise to the name “Christmas.” Despite the fact that many people believe this to be a more recent acronym, it actually dates back to the 16th century! Being the first letter of the Greek name for Christ, X (pronounced “Christos”), the ‘X’ is thought to stand in for the Greek letter ‘Chi.

4. Christmas wreaths represent religion

The first meaning of the Christmas wreath was to represent Christ. Jesus wore a crown of thorns during his crucifixion, and the red berries on the holly stand in for the blood he shed. So this holiday, whenever you see a wreath, remember the reason for the season.

5.  Originally a Thanksgiving song, was “Jingle Bells”

photo by Rachel Burkum

For the Thanksgiving concert at his church in the middle of the 19th century, James Lord Pierpont composed the song “One Horse Open Sleigh.” The song was then reissued in 1857 under the familiar and beloved title. It is one of the most well-known Christmas melodies even now.

6. With the biggest floating Christmas tree in history, Brazil holds the record

In December 2007, Brazil’s enormous floating metal Christmas tree broke the world record at a height of 278 feet and 10 inches and nearly three million lights. The Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro still features the tree, which is brought out every year.

7. Spiders are viewed as symbols of luck during the Christmas season in Ukraine

Reindeer and polar bears likely come to mind when you consider Christmas-themed animals. While in Ukraine, Families frequently decorate their trees with spider web ornaments. As a homage to a charming holiday tale about the creatures that previously used their silky string to decorate the tree of a destitute widow and her children.

8. Romans and Egyptians were the first civilizations to adopt Christmas trees

photo by Alsu Vershinina

Christmas trees have been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians and Romans. They used garlands, wreaths, and evergreen trees like fir and pine trees. And in the 16th century, modern Christmas trees were first used in Germany. They were embellished with fruits and nuts rather than the glittering ornaments we see on them today.

9. Illinois hosts the oldest Santa Claus procession

Every Santa Claus parade is unique in its own way, and they take place in many different areas. The oldest parade of its kind in the United States, however, takes place every year in Peoria, Illinois. Since 1888, it’s been an annual tradition—well that’s over a century of joyous celebration.

10. Almost 15,000 individuals visit the ER because of Christmas decorations

If you’ve ever seen Clark Griswold decorate his house in Christmas Vacation, the figure surely doesn’t surprise you. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 14,700 people experience injuries in hospital emergency rooms each November and December related to events involving Christmas decorations. Therefore please use caution when planting the ivy and holly.

11. Christ was not born on Christmas

Christmas honors the birth of Jesus Christ, even though history has forgotten the exact date. No mention of December 25 can be found in the Bible, and most historians concur that Jesus was most likely born in the spring. According to other historians, the date was chosen because it coincided with the paganism festival of Saturnalia, which celebrated and presented presents to the agricultural deity Saturn.

12. The very first official Christmas card was issued by Queen Victoria

photo by Patrick Pahlke

The first official Christmas card was issued by Queen Victoria in 1843, even though Sir Henry Cole had produced 1000 cards and sold them for one shilling each. Only 12 of these cards are still in existence at this time; one was recently sold at auction for £30,000.

13. In Japan, it’s customary to eat Christmas dinner at KFC

Christmas in Japan is a secular holiday because fewer than 1% of the population self-identifies as Christian. An unusual request to dress up as Santa Claus and deliver buckets of fried chicken to a nearby Christmas festivity came to a KFC in Japan back in 1974. This strange tradition started with that request. As a result of this being success, KFC launched its first Christmas marketing initiative, “Kentucky for Christmas,” in 1974. It was an instant hit, and KFC is now a popular choice for Christmas dinners in Japan.

At Christmas, lines reach the street and orders must be placed two months in advance

14. The origins of Christmas trees are pagan

photo by Alsu Vershinina

On the winter solstice, pagan homes would frequently be adorned with evergreen branches to ward off evil spirits and serve as a reminder that spring was just around the corner. This practice survived the Christian conversion, and devout German Christians began bringing Christmas trees inside their homes in the 16th century. The famous Queen Victoria, the German Prince Albert, and their children were portrayed in The Illustrated London News in the middle of the 19th century standing around the enormous Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, making the tradition popular in the UK.

15. Saint Nick was more giving than cheery

Most likely, you are already aware that St. Nicholas is the genesis of the idea of Santa Claus. The saint didn’t actually have a beard or a red garment; those characteristics came much later. The Christian bishop liberated women from slavery in the fourth century and left a large legacy for the poor. In Dutch, he goes by the name of Sinter Klaas; in English, he is known as Santa Claus.

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