Christmas Facts

Christmas Facts & Trivia


  • The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass."

  • Christmas was first celebrated on the 25th of December in Rome in 336AD with an aim to replacing the popular pagan winter solstice celebrations.

  • In 1643, the British Parliament officially abolishes the celebration of Christmas.

  • The twelve days of Christmas are the days between Christmas Day and Epiphany (6th of January) and represent the length of time it took for the wise men from the East to visit the manger of Jesus after his birth.

  • It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.

  • St Francis of Assisi introduced Christmas Carols to formal church services.

  • The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley

  • Popular belief holds that 3 wise men visited Bethlehem from the east bearing gifts. However there is no mention in the bible about the number of wise men who visited. Three gifts were brought - gold, frankincense and myrrh, but names commonly attributed to the wise men - Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar were added some 500 years later.

  • 26th December was traditionally known as St Stephen's Day, but is more commonly known as Boxing Day.

  • Holly berries are poisonous.

  • According to a 1995 survey, 7 out of 10 British dogs get Christmas gifts from their doting owners.

  • Pope Julius I declared Christ’s birthday as December 25th sometime during the 4th century.

  • In 1843, "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.

  • Bing Crosby’s Christmas classic “White Christmas” is the best-selling Christmas song of all time.

  • The chances of a white Christmas are just 1 in 10 for England and Wales, and 1 in 6 for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  • The first public display of Christmas Lights was in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire in 1885. The lights were gas powered.

  • The average person in Britain sends 50 Christmas cards.

  • The colours in Santa Claus’ suit, red and white, were the creation of artist Haddon Sundblom

  • The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico, the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".

  • Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal in England was a pig's head and mustard.

  • In the festive song, ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’, there are 364 gifts.

  • The first Christmas celebrated in Britain is thought to have been in York in 521AD.


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