Christmas Trivia
12 Things That You Never Knew About
Christmas
1. Christmas Candles
Christmas trees were first lighted with actual candles, which presented a fire hazard. As a result containers
filled with water had to be kept near the Christmas tree just in case.
2. Christmas Tree on Display
One of the long standing modern Christmas traditions in New York is Christmas tree on display at Rockefeller
Center. It's workers in the construction industry that are responsible for the tradition of having a Christmas tree
on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. They are credited with placing an undecorated tree at the site
in the early 1930s.
3. White House Christmas Tree
Since the mid-1960s, The National Christmas Tree Association has maintained a presence in the White House at
Christmas by donating a Christmas tree to the First Family.
4. Christmas Tree Ornaments
Widely available today, manufactured Christmas tree ornaments were fisrt sold by the former Woolworth department
store in 1880.
5. Tinsels
Originally a metallic Christmas decoration, tinsels are nowadays made from plastic. It became the primary material
used to make tinsel after their use for decorative purposes was at one time prohibited. This was due to lead being
used in the manufacturing process of metallic tinsels.
6. Christmas Greeting Cards
Although becoming less popular owing to e-cards, Christmas greeting cards have a long history. The idea of
Christmas greeting cards started in Britain in the late 1830s when John Calcott Horsley started to produce small
cards that had festive scenes and a holiday greeting written inside. Similar cards were also being made in the
United States at about the same time by R.H. Pease, in Albany, New York, and Louis Prang, who was a German
immigrant. The idea of sending the greeting cards during Christmas gained popularity in both countries about 10
years later when new postal delivery services started.
7. Xmas
The shortened form Xmas for Christmas has been popular in Europe since the 1500s. It is believed to be derived from
the Greek word 'Xristos' which means Christ.
8. Candy Canes
According to the National Confectioners Association, for 200 years candy canes were only made in the color of
white, as a simple stick of sugar for children to enjoy. It wasn't until in the 1950s that a machine was invented
that could automate the production of candy canes, which are now traditionally white with red stripes.
9. Boxing Day
The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in England and it is a national holiday. Several stories exist for the
origination of the name. It is believed to have originated from the practice of boys who would be going about
collecting money in clay boxes. Another thought is that the term is derived from a custom in the Middle Ages, about
800 years ago, when churches would open their 'alms boxes' and distribute the contents to poor people on the day
after Christmas. Alms boxes are boxes in which donations of gifts and money would be placed. Yet another belief is
that it comes from a custom of masters giving their servants Christmas presents in boxes on the day after
Christmas.
10. Evergreen Trees
Another of long standing Christmas traditions, evergreen trees had special meaning in winter to people,
particularly in Europe, before Christianity started. Ancient peoples would hang evergreen branches over their doors
and windows because evergreens were believed to ward off witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. For worshipers
of the sun god, evergreen plants were a reminder of all the green plants that would grow with the return of summer
and the sun god being strong again.
11. Winter Solstice
In ancient times, many people worshiped the sun as a god in December because they thought winter occurred yearly
because the sun god had fallen into ill health. They therefore celebrated the winter solstice because it was a sign
that the son god would begin to regain strength and return to good health.
12. Christmas Ban
Legislators in Congress did business on Christmas Day in 1789, which was the first one to be observed under the
country's new constitution. The reason for the Congressional session was because it had become unpopular then to
observe and take part in English customs following the American Revolution. And when Christmas celebrations were
barred in Boston earlier in 1659 to 1681, it became a costly thing to be seen participating in any event or
activity related to Christmas. Anyone caught doing so had to pay five shillings.
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