10 Fun Facts About Christmas | Waterfront Properties
Christmas is a great time of year. Family, food, and presents, what more can you ask for? For those of you who need some help feeling festive, here are ten fun facts that you may not know about Christmas.
Jingle Bells
The holiday classic "Jingle Bells" was originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. The song was written in 1857 by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh”. It was supposed to be played in the composer’s Sunday school class during Thanksgiving as a way to commemorate the famed Medford sleigh races. “Jingle Bells” was also the first song to be broadcast from space.
Why Santa Claus Can Fly
The image of Santa Claus flying his sleigh began in 1819 and was created by Washington Irving, the same author who dreamt up the Headless Horseman.
It Beats Black Friday
Black Friday is not the busiest shopping day of the year, the two days before Christmas are.
The Tallest Tree
The tallest Christmas Tree ever recorded was displayed in Seattle, Washington. It was measured at 221 feet tall.
It Can Be A Bad Time For Couples
According to data analyzed from Facebook posts and statuses, couples are more likely to end their relationship two weeks before Christmas and two weeks after Valentine’s day, during the spring break. Christmas Day, however, is the least favorite day for breakups.
The First Fake Christmas Tree
The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers.
The Colors Of Christmas
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.
The Beginning Of Egg Nog
America’s first batch of eggnog was made in the Jamestown settlement in 1607. Its name comes from the word “grog”, meaning any drink made with rum. Non-alcoholic eggnog is popular as well.
Charles Dickens’ Muse
Between the 16th and 19th centuries global temperatures were significantly lower than normal in what was known as a “little ice age”. Charles Dickens grew up during this period and experienced snow for his first eight Christmases. This “White Christmas” experience influenced his writing and began a tradition of expectation for the holidays.
The Creation Of Caroling
Have you ever wondered why groups of people go to door-to-door singing carols? The tradition is based on the English custom of wassailing which was a tradition to toast to someone’s good health and fortune. St. Francis of Assisi took this tradition and converted it to the modern form of caroling.
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