48 Christmas Facts & Statistics You Probably Didn’t Know
Another Christmas approaches, and you may think that you already know all of the fun festive facts and statistics that there are to know, but you may be surprised by this collection of Christmas facts.
There are super fun things to know about Christmas from every corner of the world and through various periods of history. So surprise your friends and colleagues at the next Christmas party with our ultimate list of fun Christmas facts.
1. Eggnog Has Been Around Since the Middle Ages
Close to a millennium ago, people drank something called “posset,” made with milk, eggs, alcohol, and figs.
Centuries later, when Europeans colonised the Americas, it became associated with Christmas and earned its modern name.
2. Decorating With Christmas Greenery Has an Ancient Origin
Christmas Greenery, such as evergreen foliage most often found in artificial Christmas wreaths, has been associated with Christmas for centuries by Germans. However, the practice of decorating with evergreens goes back even further.
In ancient Egypt and Rome, people hung them around their homes to symbolise fertility and a talisman against illness and evil spirits. They also had associations with the afterlife for ancient Druids. Read more in our Why do with have Christmas Trees? post.
3. The Statue of Liberty Is the Largest Christmas Present in the World
When France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886, it officially became the largest Christmas gift in the world.
Standing at roughly 46 metres and weighing 225 tonnes, it has broken the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest Christmas gift of all time.
4. The Most Expensive Christmas Card in the World Sold for £20,000
The Guinness Book of World Records shows that the most expensive Christmas card ever sold at auction went for a whopping £20,000.
The card was a historical relic from 1843, part of a hand-coloured collection by John Calcott Horsley. Only 1,000 cards were made and are considered the first Christmas cards in history. It sold at auction in 2001, one of only 12 surviving cards of the collection.
5. Oslo donated the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
Since 1947, an enormous Norwegian spruce tree has been decorated in the centre of Trafalgar Square.
It is a gift from Oslo, Norway, to express gratitude for British aid during the Second World War. It is chosen with great care and referred to by Norwegians as the Queen of the Forest.
6. During WWI, There Was a Truce for Christmas
While the First World War was raging, the opposing armies had an unusual practice for Christmas. They laid down their weapons for a single night and joined one another in the trenches for a celebration, including games, food, and songs.
7. In Ukraine and Poland, Spiders are Christmas Decorations
Families in Poland and Ukraine decorate their Christmas trees with spiders, but for different reasons.
In Ukraine, it’s a nod to a legend about a spider helping a widow and her children, while in Poland, it is to honour the tale that a spider wove a swaddle for the infant Jesus.
8. Christmas Carolling Was Once Known as Wassailing
Wassailing was once a tradition on Twelfth Night, during which neighbours would go from door to door and sing to toast one another’s health in exchange for a hot spiced drink.
Eventually, this turned into carolling, but we still have a carol that mentions the old practice: Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green.
9. The World’s Smallest Christmas Card Can’t Be Seen With the Naked Eye
In 2010, the nanotechnology team at the University of Glasgow made a Christmas card so small that it could fit onto a standard card half a million times.
It is too small to be seen with the naked eye. Despite this, its makers said it only took them 30 minutes to make.
10. One of the Oldest Christmas Markets in Europe Has Been Around Since the 1600s
The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg is a hugely popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. Every year, it takes over the main market square in Nuremberg for the weeks before Christmas and serves as a place to buy gifts, artwork, food, and more.
Amazingly, it has been around since the 1600s, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe.
11. Christmas Trees Became Popular Thanks to Prince Albert
Christmas trees have been a tradition in Germany for centuries, but it wasn’t until the Victorian Era that they spread to England.
Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, arranged for the first Christmas tree in the palace. After a Christmas portrait of the royal family was published, Christmas trees caught on quickly.
12. British Law Forbids People to Go to Church on Christmas Day in a Vehicle
An old British law states that everyone is required to attend church on Christmas Day and that they must go on foot.
However, the law has not been observed for centuries. So, there is no need to worry about being picked up by a policeman on Christmas Day.
13. Christmas Trees Were Once Decorated With Fruit
In France, Christmas trees were once decorated with colourful fruits like apples and oranges. After a year with a poor harvest, the practice fell out of tradition when people switched to decorating trees with glass fruit ornaments.
To this day, you may see glass ornaments shaped like red apples hanging on French Christmas trees.
14. The World’s Largest Gingerbread House Was Life-Sized
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest gingerbread house ever built was the size of a real house. It was 1,110 square metres and 3.07 metres tall. The building took place in 2013 in Texas, USA, as a charity fundraiser for a hospital.
15. Christmas Pudding Was Once an Unusual Soup
Long before Christmas pudding morphed into its modern form, it was an unusual type of sweet soup. It was made from raisins, wine, and other ingredients. Eventually, it turned into the sweet final course that the British love to this day.
16. St. Nicholas Went Through an Interesting Transformation
It took many centuries for St. Nicholas to become the red-coated, jolly man with the white beard. Over the millennia, he has been portrayed wearing red, white, blue, green, and even grey.
It wasn’t until the 20th century that he took his most commonly recognised form as the modern Santa Claus.
17. Mince Pies Were Associated With Good Luck
In the Middle Ages, there was a tradition that every person must eat a mince pie every day during the 12 days of Christmas. This was to ensure 12 months of good luck over the next calendar year.
18. The Queen Has Made Her Annual Christmas Address Since 1952
Queen Elizabeth has made the annual Christmas broadcast since 1952, following in her father’s footsteps. About 27 per cent of British people say they listen to it every year. You can even access past transcripts online.
19. Jingle Bells Made the Guinness Book of World Records as the First Song Played in Outer Space
On 16 December 1965, Jingle Bells made history as the first song to be played in outer space. NASA broadcast it as part of its Gemini 6A space flight. At the time, the song was already more than 100 years old, having been written in 1857.
20. The World’s Largest Stollen Was 72.10 Metres Long
Stollen is a delicious classic Christmas cake eaten in many countries in Europe, including Germany. The largest one ever made was in 2010 in the Netherlands. It weighed an astonishing 4,200 kilos and took two and a half hours to bake.
21. Tinsel on Your Christmas Tree Was Once a Status Symbol
Today, putting tinsel on your tree is something almost anyone can do. But when it was first used in the 1600s, it was made from real silver to reflect the candles placed on tree boughs. It was quite expensive and served as a status symbol for wealthy families who could afford it.
22. Some Zoos Collect Used Christmas Trees to Feed Elephants
In some places around the world, you can donate your old Christmas tree to a local zoo. Elephants love to eat them, and they are packed with vitamins, making them a healthy treat for friendly pachyderms.
23. Before Turkey Was Popular, the English Had an Interesting Christmas Dinner Tradition
These days, turkey is the traditional main course for Christmas dinner. However, before a roast bird came to be popular, you were more likely to find a pig’s head with mustard on an English table on Christmas.
24. Silent Night Is Played on Guitar Because of a Rusty Organ
Silent Night has been a popular carol for more than 200 years. It was first played at Christmas Mass in Austria in 1816.
Unfortunately, the organ in the church needed to be repaired, so it was played on guitar. It is still accompanied by the same instrument today.
25. In Sweden, Families Watch Donald Duck Cartoons on Christmas Eve
Since 1960, Swedish television has aired a variety of Donald Duck cartoons every year on Christmas Eve.
It has now become a tradition, with most families gathering in front of the television to watch the same cartoon reel that has played for more than 60 years.
26. The Tradition of Christmas Crackers Began in the 1840s
In 1847, a sweet shop owner named Tom Smith saw French sweets wrapped in twisted paper. He was inspired to create his “Bangs of Expectation,” which exploded to reveal a small gift.
They became incredibly popular, and by 1900, Smith was selling 13 million Christmas crackers annually.
27. Oliver Cromwell Banned Christmas in England
When Oliver Cromwell took power after the English Civil War, he banned the celebration of Christmas. This continued for 13 years, from 1647 to 1660.
Thankfully, it was eventually restored, and the English have celebrated Christmas ever since.
28. Silent Night Has Been Recorded More Than 700 Times
Silent Night is such a popular carol that it has been recorded 733 times since 1978. A 2016 survey named it the #1 favourite more than 200 years after it was first composed. Singers from Mariah Carey to Josh Groban have covered the classic.
29. The Tradition of Kissing Under the Mistletoe May Come From Norse Mythology
Though historians are not exactly sure how the tradition started, they know that the Norse goddess Frigga had connections to the plant.
Since Frigga was the goddess of love and marriage, some experts think the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe may have come from this connection.
30. Christmas Wreaths Represent the Crowning With Thorns
Christmas wreaths are a popular way to adorn your front door during Christmas. But the tradition actually has ties to the crucifixion of Jesus—specifically, the Crowning with Thorns. The evergreen wreath represents the thorns, while the red berries represent Christ’s blood.
31. Oranges Have Been a Stocking Gift Since the 12th Century
If you have ever received an orange in your Christmas stocking, you can thank 12th-century French nuns. They had an annual practice of bundling small gifts like satsumas and nuts into stockings and leaving them at the homes of the poor and needy.
32. St. Nicholas Has More Than 30 Festive Names
Many cultures know St. Nicholas, but he has more than 30 names around the world.
In the United States and Canada, he is known as Santa Claus, while in Russia, children wait for gifts from Dedt Moroz or Father Ice. In Brazil, he is called Papai Noel; in Japan, Hoteiosho; in Turkey, Noel Baba.
33. Jingle Bells Wasn’t Always a Christmas Carol
Jingle Bells might be one of the most famous Christmas carols globally, but it was not always associated with Christmas. When it was composed in the 1850s, it was called One Horse Open Sleigh and associated with American Thanksgiving.
34. The Term Boxing Day Came From the Tradition of Giving Alms
The UK still observes Boxing Day as the day after Christmas, when stores and offices remain closed. However, you might not know where the name comes from.
“Boxing” refers to alms boxes in churches, which were traditionally filled on 26 December.
35. The Word “Mistletoe” Has an Unpleasant Origin
Kissing under the mistletoe might be a romantic tradition, but the name itself isn’t as charming. The word means “little dung twig” because the plant is propagated through bird droppings.
Birds eat the colourful berries, then replant them in the ground, so to speak.
36. Technically Speaking, Eating Mince Pies at Christmas Is Illegal
If you eat a mince pie during Christmas, you are technically breaking the law. When Oliver Cromwell came to power, he banned the eating of mince pies, Christmas pudding, and anything else associated with seasonal “gluttony.”
Though the ban on Christmas was reversed in 1660, the law surrounding festive overindulgence was never changed.
37. St. Nick Would Have to Travel at 650 Miles a Second to Reach All the Homes in the World
Scientists in the United States calculated that, for Father Christmas to visit every home in the world in a single night, he would have to travel at the speed of 2,200 km per second. This would allow him to spend a total of 300 microseconds in every residence.
38. In Japan, It Is Tradition to Have KFC for Dinner
Believe it or not, it is tradition to order Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas dinner in Japan.
The practice is so widespread that many families have to put in their order as much as two months in advance to make sure they have dinner on Christmas Day.
39. In Catalonia, Families Celebrate a Strange Christmas Tradition
An odd tradition in Catalonia involves a creature called caga tió, or “defecating log.” Families dress a log in a hat and place it on the table throughout December.
They must feed it sweets for the next weeks until, at last, on Christmas Eve, they pummel it with sticks and sing songs until the creature “expels” the sweets.
40. The UK Could Fill 57 Olympic Swimming Pools With the Beer It Drinks Over Christmas
The British love their beer, and things take an upturn over the festive period. Apparently, on average, the UK drinks the volume of 57 Olympic swimming pools in beer every Christmas.
Next time you raise a pint on 25 December, remember that you are a part of something much larger than yourself!
41. Studies Have Shown That 82 per cent of People in the UK Own a Christmas Jumper
A survey by Matalan showed that 82 per cent of people who responded own a Christmas jumper. Interestingly, most of these people were young—between the ages of 25 and 34.
Of those who owned a Christmas jumper, more than 75 per cent said they bought it for a work party.
42. King Richard III’s Christmas Feast in 1377 Had an Interesting Menu
Many kings were known for their excessive feasts, and King Richard III was no exception. On Christmas Day 1377, he hosted a feast where guests devoured a staggering total of 28 oxen and 300 sheep, as well as a copious number of other delicacies.
43. Studies Have Shown the Average Brit Starts Drinking Before Noon on Christmas Day
Perhaps it is not so surprising that the UK manages to drink so much beer. A study in 2013 showed that the average British family will start hitting the booze as early as 9 a.m. on Christmas Day, throwing aside the normal etiquette of waiting until the afternoon.
44. The Yule Log Has Its Roots in Nordic Tradition
If you set a yule log on the fire during Christmas, you can thank the ancient Nordic peoples. They believed that the sun rolled away from the earth during the winter solstice.
The practice of burning an entire tree (not just a log) eventually spread throughout Europe, even inspiring many traditional foods.
45. Ten Million Turkeys Are Cooked for Christmas Every Year in the UK
Though it hasn’t always been the case, the meat of choice for Christmas dinner in the UK is overwhelmingly turkey.
About 10 million birds grace the dinner table every year across the country. However, it has only been the case since the 1950s, when turkey became significantly cheaper.
46. Christmas Decorating Is Quite a Dangerous Activity
Statistics show that decorating homes and preparing Christmas dinner are somewhat dangerous activities, putting about 80,000 people in A&E every year.
Some of the most common injuries include electric shock from fairy lights, falling off stools and ladders, burns, cuts, and being struck by a falling Christmas tree.
47. The Custom of Leaving a Snack for St. Nick Started in the Nineteenth Century
Children have left out a snack for Father Christmas since the 1800s, when Dutch children first started the tradition of milk and biscuits.
He doesn’t get the same fare everywhere, though. Santa may get porridge, sandwiches, carrots for his reindeer, or even a beer, depending on where he travels.
48. In the Victorian Era, Goose Was the Christmas Dinner of the Poor
In Victorian England, turkey was expensive and only for the upper classes, while for most low-income families, goose was the main course on Christmas Day.
This might shed some light on the generous gift of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol when he sent the large turkey to the Cratchit home to replace their goose.
Preparing for Another Christmas
If you are already looking forward to the coming Christmas season, you had better get prepared. It is nearly time to get out your artificial Christmas trees, decorate them with beautiful Christmas tree accessories and complete your festive scene with colourful baubles and twinkling Christmas lights.
Just keep these fascinating Christmas facts in your sleeve to keep things interesting throughout the festive season!
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