The word Christmas is Old English, a contraction of Christ's Mass.
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
The first Christmas cards were vintage and invented in 1843, the Victorian Era.
"It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.
"Rudolph" was created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion. The rest is history.
"The Nutcracker" is the most famous Christmas ballet.
"Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
If you received all of the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas", you would receive 364 presents.
The Poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in the early 1800's.
In 1843, "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
Do you know why people refer to Christmas as X-Mas? In Greek "X" means Christ. That is where the word
"X-Mas" originates and not a misconception that someone took the Christ out of Christmas.
More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of the year.
December the 26th, was traditionally known as St Stephen's Day, but is more commonly known as Boxing Day.
This expression came about because money was collected in alms-boxes placed in churches during the festive
season. This money was then distributed to the poor and needy after Christmas.
Silent Night was written in 1818, by an Austrian priest named Joseph Mohr. He was told the day before Christmas
the church organ was broken. He was saddened and could not think of Christmas without music. He decided to
write a carol that would lend itself to guitar music. He wrote three stanzas which were sung that night.
In 1937, the first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria.
In 1834, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert brought the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle for
the Royal family.
Every year since 1947 the people in Oslo gifted a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster as an expression
of goodwill and gratitude for Britain's help to Norway during World War Two.
The biggest selling Christmas single of all time is Bing Crosby's White Christmas.
Santa's Reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, don't forget Rudolph.
A wreath with holly, red berries and other decorations began in the 17th century. Holly, with it's sharply
pointed leaves, symbolized the thorns in Christ's crown-of-thorns. The red berries symbolized the drops
of Christ's blood. A wreath at Christmas signified a home that celebrated the birth of Christ.