Fun facts about Christmas
Did you know that Christmas was not always celebrated on December 25th?
The tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace originates from the story of St. Nicholas.
The world’s tallest Christmas tree was 221 feet high and was displayed in the United States.
In Japan, it is common to celebrate Christmas by eating KFC.
The famous Christmas song Jingle Bells was originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas.
The largest snowman ever built was 122 feet tall and was constructed in Maine, USA.
Christmas was once banned in England by Oliver Cromwell.
Coca-Cola played a significant role in shaping the modern image of Santa Claus.
The world’s largest gingerbread house was over 21 feet tall and required over 7,000 gingerbread bricks.
Christmas trees were first decorated with candles, which created a fire hazard.
The world’s most expensive Christmas tree was valued at $11 million and was decorated with gold and precious stones.
The tradition of Christmas caroling dates back to the Middle Ages.
The first artificial Christmas tree was made from goose feathers.
The world record for the most lights on a Christmas tree is 584,880.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe dates back to ancient Norse mythology.
The first Christmas card was produced in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole in England.
The word Christmas comes from the Old English term Cristes Maesse, meaning Christ’s Mass.
The odds of a white Christmas in New York City are only about 10%.
The largest Christmas cracker ever pulled was over 45 meters long.
In Ukraine, it is tradition to hang spider webs on the Christmas tree for good luck.
Poinsettias, one of the most popular Christmas plants, are native to Mexico.
The concept of Santa’s reindeer was popularized by the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas.
The world’s largest snowflake was reported to be 15 inches wide.
The record for the most lights on a residential property during Christmas is over 600,000 lights.
In Germany, it is tradition to hide a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree, and the first child to find it receives a special gift.
The largest Christmas present ever given was the Statue of Liberty.
In Italy, it is tradition to eat a seven-course fish dinner on Christmas Eve.
The first Christmas markets originated in Germany in the 14th century.
Christmas pudding, a traditional British dessert, is said to have 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his 12 apostles.
The average American consumes over 7,000 calories on Christmas day.
The world’s largest Santa Claus parade takes place in Toronto, Canada.
The tradition of hanging mistletoe originated from ancient Druids who believed it had healing powers.
The world’s oldest known Christmas carol is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, which dates back to the 9th century.
The tradition of hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree dates back to 16th century Germany.
Norway donates a Christmas tree to the United Kingdom each year as a symbol of friendship.
In Iceland, there are 13 mischievous Christmas trolls, known as the Yule Lads, who visit children in the 13 nights leading up to Christmas.
The record for the largest gathering of Santa Claus impersonators was achieved in 2014 with 18,112 Santas.
The largest Christmas stocking ever made measured 106 feet long.
The world’s largest Christmas wreath has a diameter of 56.5 feet.
The tradition of giving gifts on Christmas can be traced back to the Three Wise Men who visited baby Jesus.
The world’s longest Christmas stocking measured 1682 feet and 5.63 inches.
The Nutcracker ballet, a Christmas favorite, debuted in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In Catalonia, Spain, it is tradition to have a figurine of a defecating man in the Nativity scene.
The world’s largest Santa Claus statue is located in Brazil and stands at over 197 feet tall.
In Australia, Christmas falls during the summer season, so it is common to have barbecues and beach parties to celebrate.