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Christmas Around the World

Holidays
Christmas Around the World
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Did you know? Christmas cards originated in the United Kingdom in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole commissioned an illustrator to create a card that he could send to his acquaintances, as he was too busy to write individual letters. elaborate

Fact 1 of 30

30 facts about Christmas Around the World

  1. 1
    In Ukraine, people decorate their Christmas trees with fake spider webs and spiders because a local legend says a spider once decorated a poor family's tree with gold and silver threads, bringing them wealth.
  2. 2
    In the Caribbean nation of Jamaica, it is traditional for people to drink a red, fermented beverage made from dried hibiscus flowers known as sorrel during the Christmas season.
  3. 3
    In the Philippines, the Christmas season is the longest in the world, with people beginning to play carols and decorate their homes as early as September.
  4. 4
    Many people believe that the song Jingle Bells was written for Christmas, but it was actually originally composed for the Thanksgiving holiday under the title One Horse Open Sleigh.
  5. 5
    The tradition of the Christmas tree originated in Germany, where people began bringing evergreen trees into their homes to decorate them during the winter season.
  6. 6
    In Venezuela, it is customary for people in the capital city of Caracas to travel to early morning church services by roller skating instead of walking or driving.
  7. 7
    In Japan, a highly popular Christmas dinner is a bucket of fried chicken from KFC, a tradition that began with a very successful 1974 marketing campaign called Kentucky for Christmas.
  8. 8
    In the UK, the Christmas pudding often contains a hidden silver coin, which brings great luck to the person who finds it in their slice during the holiday meal.
  9. 9
    Some people think Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is an ancient folk legend, but he was actually created in 1939 by a department store copywriter named Robert L. May for a promotional coloring book.
  10. 10
    In Italy, children wait for La Befana, an old woman who flies on a broomstick and delivers candy to good children and coal to the naughty on the eve of the Epiphany.
  11. 11
    In Greenland, a traditional Christmas treat is mattak, which is raw whale skin with a little bit of blubber, often served during holiday gatherings.
  12. 12
    The physical structure of snowflakes involves hexagonal symmetry at the molecular level, which is why virtually all Christmas snowflake crafts use a six-pointed pattern.
  13. 13
    In Greece, some people believe in the Kallikantzaroi, which are mischievous goblins that emerge from the center of the earth during the Twelve Days of Christmas to cause trouble in houses.
  14. 14
    Many people assume that poinsettias are poisonous to humans if ingested, but research by poison control centers suggests they only cause mild irritation and are not lethal, contrary to widespread urban legend.
  15. 15
    In Finland, it is a common tradition to visit the sauna on Christmas Eve to cleanse the body and spirit before the evening festivities begin.
  16. 16
    Christmas cards originated in the United Kingdom in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole commissioned an illustrator to create a card that he could send to his acquaintances, as he was too busy to write individual letters.
  17. 17
    In Austria, the figure of Krampus is said to roam the streets during the Christmas season to punish children who have behaved poorly, providing a scary counterpart to the kindly Saint Nicholas.
  18. 18
    In Sweden, the Yule Goat is a traditional symbol that dates back to ancient Norse festivals; nowadays, it often appears as a large straw structure in city squares.
  19. 19
    While we often think of Santa Claus as a jolly man in a red suit, his modern appearance was heavily influenced by a 1931 advertising campaign for Coca-Cola, which standardized the red and white branding.
  20. 20
    In Catalonia, Spain, there is a very bizarre tradition called Caga Tió, which involves a hollow log with a painted face that children beat with sticks on Christmas Eve so it will 'poop' out small gifts and candies.
  21. 21
    The botanical classification of mistletoe includes several species that are hemiparasitic, meaning they draw water and nutrients from the host tree while performing their own photosynthesis, which is why they stay green in winter.
  22. 22
    In the Czech Republic, single women perform a ritual on Christmas Eve by standing by their front door and tossing a shoe over their shoulder; if the toe points toward the door, they will get married in the coming year.
  23. 23
    The tradition of the Christmas pickle, where a glass pickle ornament is hidden in the tree for children to find, is not actually a German tradition but was popularized in the United States in the late 19th century.
  24. 24
    In South Africa, where Christmas falls during the summer, it is common for families to head to the beach for a festive braai, which is a traditional outdoor barbecue.
  25. 25
    In Norway, there is a superstitious tradition of hiding all the brooms in the house on Christmas Eve to prevent witches and evil spirits from stealing them for a midnight ride.
  26. 26
    Many people believe that the song Jingle Bells was written for Christmas, but it was actually composed for Thanksgiving and was originally titled One Horse Open Sleigh.
  27. 27
    In the Philippines, the Christmas season begins in September, as Filipinos celebrate the longest Christmas season in the world by playing carols as soon as the month ends in 'ber'.
  28. 28
    In Venezuela, it is considered normal for residents of Caracas to roller-skate to early morning Christmas church services, leading the city to close many streets to traffic so people can skate safely.
  29. 29
    While many people associate the date of December 25th with the actual birth of Jesus, most biblical scholars and historians agree that the date was likely chosen to align with existing Roman winter solstice festivals rather than being a historically recorded birth date.
  30. 30
    In Japan, it is a popular tradition to eat a full Christmas dinner from KFC, with many families placing their orders weeks in advance to ensure they get their festive fried chicken.
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