Facts about Christmas

Christmas is not a holiday. Statue of Liberty was a Christmas present. Jingle Bells is not for Christmas.

   

1. Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.

2. In A.D. 350, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ.

3. The Bible doesn't specify a date or time of Jesus' birth. Dec. 25th was chosen in the fourth century, most likely because it was also the day of two similar pagan holidays that influenced the formation of Christmas-- the birthday of Mithra and the Feast of Saturnalia.

4. Jesus was actually born in a cave. According to the gospel of Luke, the shepherds that helped find shelter for Mary to give birth kept their flock in a cave. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is built over the cave (dubbed "The Grotto of the Nativity") where Jesus is believed to have been born.

5. The French gave the biggest Christmas present ever in 1886. It was the Statue of Liberty, and they gave it to the United States of America.

6. Christmas has many, many names. Do you know some of them—aside from, of course, Christmas? How about? Sheng Tan Kuai Loh (China), or Hauskaa Joulua (Finland), or Joyeux Noel (France)? In Wales, it’s Nadolig Llawen, and in Sweden, God Jul and many more.

7. The largest Christmas star ornament measures 103 feet and eight inches tall and can be found in India.

8. Japanese people traditionally eat at KFC for Christmas dinner, thanks to a successful marketing campaign 40 years ago. KFC is so popular that customers must place their Christmas orders 2 months in advance. 

9. According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington.

10. The traditional three colors of Christmas are green, red, and gold. Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth; red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as wealth and royalty.

11. The British wear paper crowns while they eat Christmas dinner. The crowns are stored in a tube called a “Christmas cracker”.

12.Christmas was not declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26,1870.Oklahoma was the last U.S. state to declare Christmas a legal holiday, in 1907.

13. Puritan Oliver Cromwell outlawed Christmas celebrations and carols in England from 1649-1660. The only celebrations allowed were sermons and prayers.

14. Santa has a real zip code in Canada so that children can post letters and they receive replies. The zip code? H0H 0H0, of course.

15. 'Jingle Bells' was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas by composer James Lord Pierpont in 1850. Kids and adults loved the song and eventually changed the lyrics to fit Christmas.