Ten interesting facts about Christmas
Very few of us know the real history around it as well the story behind all the traditions.
It is safe to say that almost everyone, regardless of their religious persuasions, love Christmas.
Yet very few of us know the real history around it as well the story behind all the traditions. So to enlighten you before you belt out Jingle Bells, here are some interesting facts regarding this holiday:
• Although some Christians claim that Christ was born on 25 December, the Bible nowhere confirms it. In fact, experts speculate that He was born in spring since in Israel December is winter and the shepherds would not have been out at night.
• It is more likely that the date was chosen because it coincides with an ancient pagan festival Saturnalia, which celebrated the agricultural god Saturn with partying, gambling and gift-giving.
• Santa Claus is based on a real person, St Nikolas of Myra (also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker, Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna, and Nikolaos of Bari), who lived during the fourth century. He is the patron saint of banking, pawnbroking, pirating, butchery, sailing, thievery, orphans, royalty and New York City.
• The Christmas tree made its way to America in the 1830s but wasn’t popular until 1846.
• From 1659 to 1681, it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in Boston due its pagan roots.
• At first Santa Claus wore blue, white and green, but his traditional red suit came from a 1930s ad by Coca-Cola.
• Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was conceived by a department store, Montgomery Ward, to get kids to buy holiday colouring books. He almost didn’t have a red nose because at the time, a red nose was a sign of chronic alcoholism and Montgomery Ward thought he would look like a drunkard.
• Silent Night is the most recorded Christmas song in history, with over 733 different versions copyrighted since 1978.
• During the Christmas season, nearly 28 sets of LEGO are sold every second.
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