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Christmas Day is a time filled with fun traditions, cosy decorations, festive scents and joyful celebrations! The smell of fresh pine trees, gingerbread, cinnamon, and peppermint fills the air, making everything feel warm and inviting. And, of course, there’s Santa Claus- the jolly man in red who brings gifts to children around the world! But there are lots of facts about Christmas that you might not know. From the story behind Santa to the surprising origins of holidays customs and unique ways people celebrate around the world, Christmas Day has many interesting ways of celebration that make the season even more special. Let’s now learn those interesting and fun Christmas facts that reveal the history, scents, and magic behind this festive holiday!
Table of Contents
Interesting Facts about Christmas
Do you know the reason behind celebrating Christmas? Or By whom Santa Claus’s character is inspired? To get all your answers read all the facts given below –
- To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ Christians celebrate Christmas.
- Every year, Americans send around 3 billion Christmas cards.
- Christmas trees have been sold in the U.S. since 1850, with each tree taking approximately 15 years to grow.
- Ambala became the first state to officially recognise Christmas as a holiday in 1836, while Oklahoma was the last in 1907.
- The character of Santa Claus is inspired by St. Nicholas of Myra, known as the patron saint of bankers, pawnbrokers, sailors, orphans and New York City.
- President Teddy Roosevelt an environmental advocate, prohibited Christmas trees in the White House in 1901.
- Each year Americans purchase around 35 million live Christmas trees, while more than 45 million new trees are planted.
- Holiday shopping makes up about one-sixth of all annual retail sales in the U.S.
- Irving Berlin’s “ White Christmas” is the best-selling single of all time, with worldwide sales of over 100 million copies.
- In the song” The Twelve Days of Christmas”, the total number of gifts given adds up to 364.
Read Here – Merry Christmas Wishes
Christmas Fun Facts for Kids
Do you know Who wrote Jingle Bells? Or why does Norway send a Christmas tree to London every Christmas? To know all the answers read the facts listed below –
- Some people celebrate Christmas on January 7th, like many Orthodox Christians.
- “Christmas” means “Christ’s mass,” and “Xmas” is from an old Greek word for Christ.
- Traditions like roast turkey, mince pies, and gift-giving became popular in Queen Victoria’s time.
- Christmas trees became popular in Britain but started in Germany in the 1500s!
- The tradition of hanging stockings comes from St. Nicholas, who secretly tossed money down a chimney into stockings to help a man’s daughters get married.
- Norway sends a big Christmas tree to London every year to say “thank you” for World War II help.
- Santa Claus comes from “Sinterklaas,” which means Saint Nicholas, a kind, old saint for children.
- Other Christmas characters include La Befana, a kind witch in Italy, and Iceland’s Yule Lads, who give gifts!
- “Jingle Bells” was actually written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas!
- Christmas was once banned in England in the 1600s but came back 20 years later
Read Here – Quotes on Christmas Day
GK Quiz on Christmas
Q1) What is another name for eggnog (a popular Christmas beverage)?
| A. Hot Chocolate |
| B. Milk Punch |
| C. Cider |
| D. Punch |
Q2) Why wasn’t Rudolph (a famous Christmas character) allowed to join in the reindeer games?
| A. He was too slow. |
| B. He was too young. |
| C. His nose was too shiny. |
| D. He was too small. |
Q3) How many ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol?
| A. Two |
| B. Three |
| C. Four |
| D. Five |
Q4) Where was Jesus Christ born?
| A. Jerusalem |
| B. Nazareth |
| C. Bethlehem |
| D. Egypt |
Q5) What famous department store is featured in the movie Miracle(a classic Christmas film) on 34th Street?
| A. Macy’s |
| B. Bloomingdale’s |
| C. Nordstrom |
| D. Harrods |
Answer Key
| Q1) B. Milk Punch |
| Q2) C. His nose was too shiny. |
| Q3) C. Four |
| Q4) C. Bethlehem |
| Q5) A. Macy’s |
FAQs
Christmas Day wasn’t “invented” by a single person; it emerged as a Christian celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth, first officially recognised on December 25th by the Roman Empire in the 4th century.
Christmas is over 1,700 years old, dating back to around 336 AD when it was first recorded in Rome.
England popularized the Christmas tree tradition in the 1840s, thanks to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Christmas crackers, invented by Tom Smith in 1847, are a festive staple in England, Mince pies are enjoyed traditionally, sometimes left for Santa with sherry on Christmas Eve, The “Boxing Day” holiday on December 26th is uniquely British, once for giving to the poor, The annual Christmas speech by the monarch, started in 1932 by King George V, remains a cherished tradition.
Relevant Reads
I hope you had fun reading these interesting Facts about Christma. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!