Fun Christmas facts to get the Christmas hype started!

Christmas is literally around the corner! Today is the last day before Christmas officially begins, so it’s the perfect opportunity to share some fun Christmas facts to share tonight and/or tomorrow! So, before Christmas Eve begins without us, I say we get started!

1. Jingle Bells

It was officially written for Thanksgiving in 1857 by James Lord Pierpont. The first title it was published as, was ‘One Horse Open Sleigh’ and was supposed to be played in the composer’s Sunday school class during Thanksgiving. Oh, and jingle Bells was also the first song to be broadcast from space.

2. Rudolph’s red nose

It’s probably the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory system, according to Roger Highfield. Though, his relationship with his parasite is symbiotic: the red nose illuminates the path through the winter night for the whole reindeer team.

3. Spider’s web

In Germany, Poland and Ukraine, finding a spider or spider’s web in a Christmas tree is believed to be an indicator of good luck. Tales tell that a spider wove a blanket for baby Jesus, whereas a different tale says that a spider web in the Christmas tree turned silver and gold once the sunlight touched it. In any case, it’ll inevitably bring you luck and prosperity.

4. Armenia’s light Christmas meal

The traditional Christmas Eve meal consists of fried fish, lettuce and spinach. Many Armenians fast for a week before Christmas Eve comes. Which is why the menu for the Christmas dinner is pretty light, so they won’t stress their stomachs too much.

5. X in Xmas

This letter doesn’t take Christ out of Christmas. Xmas is a common shortened form of the word Christmas. However, some people believe that this spelling isn’t right because of the earlier said assumption. In the Greek alphabet, the letter X (chi) is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ or Christos.

6. Christmas tree

The first artificial tree wasn’t a tree at all. It was made from goose feathers that were dyed green. The first official Christmas tree was developed in Germany in the 19th century, due to a major continuous deforestation. They became very popular during the early 20th century.

7. Heiligabend

In Germany, Christmas Eve (called Heiligabend) is said to be a magical time when the pureness in hearts can hear animals talking. They see rivers turning into wine, Christmas trees blossoming bear fruit, mountains opening to reveal gems hidden inside and bells ringing from the bottom of the sea.

8. Alabama

Alabama was the first state in the US that recognised Christmas as an official holiday in 1836. And the last state that did this was Oklahoma back in 1907.

9. Coca-cola and Santa’s image

Santa used to look a lot less jolly before Coca-Cola got in on it. In fact, Santa looked very spooky. But, in 1931, the beverage company hired an illustrator named Haddon Sundblom, who then gave us this jolly old Santa.

10. Mistletoe

The name itself has a meaning that might not sound so appealing and loving as what it stands for. Mistle thrush birds eat the plant’s berries, digest the seeds and those droppings grow into new plants. The Germanic word for mistletoe therefore means literally: dung on a twig.

11. Candy canes

A German-Swedish immigrant decorated his tree with candy canes in 1847, which made this candy become popular as official Christmas candy. Before that, a choirmaster gave the candies to young children to keep them quiet during long church services.

12. The tree in Trafalgar Square

Londoners and visitors know the iconic spruce that stretches to the sky in Trafalgar Square each year. But most people don’t know where it comes from. Since 1947, the people of Norway gift the tree to the people of London. They donate the tree in gratitude for Britain’s support for Norway during WWII.

Love, Deem/Skye Lewis ❤

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