Christmas Decorations

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Did you know? Electric light sets in the early 1900s were wired in series, meaning if one bulb burnt out, the entire strand of lights would immediately turn off. elaborate

Fact 1 of 28

28 facts about Christmas Decorations

1
In the early 1900s, some people used white cotton batting to decorate their trees to look like snow, which was incredibly flammable and caused many house fires.
2
The tradition of placing a pickle ornament on the tree is often thought to be an old German custom, but it is actually a mostly American invention that is largely unknown in Germany.
3
Some extreme collectors have spent tens of thousands of dollars to acquire vintage ornament sets that are no longer in production, purely because they have a specific factory defect.
4
During the Victorian era, it was common to decorate trees with small gifts like sweets and toys, meaning the tree functioned as both a decoration and a pantry.
5
People often think that the tradition of hanging stockings came from a modern marketing campaign, but it actually dates back to a legend about a nobleman dropping gold coins down a chimney that landed in drying footwear.
6
The very first glass ornaments were hand-blown by artisans in Germany, and they were so thin that they were often compared to the fragility of a soap bubble.
7
In some rural areas, farmers decorate their tractors and combines with thousands of lights to create a mobile parade through their fields.
8
There is a tradition in Ukraine where people decorate their trees with artificial spider webs because a folk tale says a spider visited a poor family and turned their tree webs into gold and silver.
9
In the 1800s, some people used to attach small wax candles to their tree branches using nothing but melted wax or pins, which was a major fire hazard.
10
Electric light sets in the early 1900s were wired in series, meaning if one bulb burnt out, the entire strand of lights would immediately turn off.
11
The tradition of using popcorn as a tree decoration became popular in the 19th century because it was cheap, lightweight, and easy for families to make together.
12
In the Philippines, the parol is a traditional star-shaped lantern made from bamboo and paper that is displayed in windows throughout the holiday season.
13
Many believe the star on top of the tree represents the North Star, but it traditionally symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Wise Men.
14
Tinsel was originally invented in Germany in 1610 and was made out of real shredded silver, which meant it tarnished and turned black quite quickly.
15
Some people decorate their Christmas trees with 'pickle ornaments' and hide them deep in the branches for children to find, claiming it brings a year of good fortune.
16
The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is recycled into mulch for park playgrounds after the holiday season ends.
17
In Caracas, Venezuela, it is a local custom to travel to early morning church services on roller skates, often wearing festive holiday attire.
18
Contrary to popular belief, the poinsettia plant is not highly poisonous to humans, though it may cause a mild upset stomach if a pet eats the leaves.
19
Christmas baubles were originally inspired by the apples used to decorate 'Paradise trees' in medieval mystery plays performed in front of churches.
20
The very first electric tree lights were so expensive that they were initially rented out rather than sold to the general public.
21
In some parts of the world, people decorate their trees with real, edible gingerbread cookies, which often disappear before Christmas morning even arrives.
22
Some people think that electric Christmas lights were invented by Thomas Edison, but they were actually created by his business partner, Edward Johnson.
23
Bubble lights, which use a liquid that boils at a very low temperature to create bubbles, were a massive decorating trend in the 1940s.
24
In Ukraine, it is traditional to hide a spider web decoration in the Christmas tree, as folklore says finding one brings good luck in the coming year.
25
The tradition of hanging stockings originates from a legend where St. Nicholas tossed gold coins down a chimney, which landed in stockings left by the fireplace to dry.
26
During the 1950s in America, some people used lead-based tinsel on their trees because it hung straighter and sparkled more than paper versions, even though it was highly toxic if handled frequently.
27
In the Victorian era, it was common to decorate Christmas trees with real, lit candles to represent the stars, a practice that led to many house fires.
28
The first artificial Christmas trees were not made of plastic, but of green-dyed goose feathers attached to wire branches.

Christmas Around the World Holidays

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. elaborate

Kwanzaa Holidays

The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means first fruits, referring to the traditional celebrations of the first harvest of the year. elaborate

Christmas Trees Holidays

In the early 1900s, some people were so worried about the fire hazards of real candles on trees that they tried to use slices of raw potatoes as candle holders, hoping the moisture would keep the branches from catching fire. elaborate

The Grinch Holidays

Dr. Seuss actually drove a car with a license plate that read GRINCH, which he used to get around his hometown of La Jolla, California. elaborate

A Christmas Carol Holidays

The term Merry Christmas was already well-known, but the popularity of A Christmas Carol helped make the phrase a standard holiday greeting in the Victorian era. elaborate

Ugly Christmas Sweaters Holidays

Ugly Christmas sweater parties became a mainstream trend in the early 2000s after two men in Vancouver hosted a themed party to poke fun at the tacky holiday knitwear they had been gifted by relatives. elaborate

Christmas Decorations

28 facts about Christmas Decorations

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Christmas Decorations

28 facts about Christmas Decorations

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