Christmas facts |
| Sandra's guide pages |
| Santa’s reindeer are called: Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donder (or Donner), Blitzen, Cupid and Comet The biggest selling holiday single ever: White Christmas (Bing Crosby) The first Whitehouse Christmas tree was decorated by President Franklin Pierce in 1856. The first printed reference to Christmas trees was made in Germany in 1531 Tradition says we have 12 days of Christmas because this is how long it took the three wise men to arrive after Jesus’ birth. The leading exporter of Christmas trees is Nova Scotia (Canada). The first postage stamp commemorating Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937. The first Christmas card was printed in 1843. It sold 1000 copies. Now over 1 billion cards are sent in the UK each year. In Italy it’s not Santa who leaves presents for the children, it’s kindlyy witch La Befana. Artificial trees have consistently outsold real ones since 1991. In 1818 Austrian Priest Joseph Mohr found his church organ would not be working in time for Christmas, so he wrote a carol that didn’t need an organ accompaniment. That was Stille Nacht (Silent Night) In the UK, before roast turkey was traditional, the popular dish was roast swan The date 25 Dec was set by Pope Julius in 4th century crackers originated in the 1840s from sweet shop owner Tom Smith Kissing under the mistletoe (a symbol of peace) was started by the Romans Every year 34-36 million Christmas trees are produced Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas carols between 1649 and 1660 The names of Christmas: Finland: Joulu Sweden: Jul Spain: La Natividad Germany: Weihnachten Italy: Il Natale France: Noel Born on Christmas Day: WC Field, Alice Cooper, Charlie Chaplin Died on Christmas Day: Humphrey Bogart, Isaac Newton Fist Christmas Tree in the UK: brought to Windsor by Prince Albert, 1834 First US state to declare Christmas a legal holiday: Alabama in 1836 FOOD Croatia – fish Iceland – smoked lamb with green beans, potatoes, yellow turnips and white sauce Germany – goose Slovakia – on Christmas Eve we eat some bread and honey and then garlic (this is supposed to protect you and make sure you stay healthy in the new year, it's very traditional). Afterwards we eat a cabbage soup (it probably doesn't sound like it but it is very mmmmmmm.... delicious). Then some fish with potato salad is eaten. Norway - Pork ribs or turkey, creamed rice with one almond for dessert. Sweden – ham In Russia they fast on Christmas Eve until the first stars appear and then have their big Christmas dinner. Traditions include fortune telling by dropping melted wax in water and “translating” the shapes it makes. In Greece if you haven’t been good for the year you get an onion in your stocking! Sources: http://www.north-pole.co.uk.html http://vestmannaeyjar.ismennt.is/vefir/comenius/xmas/jol.html http://www.wickham.newbury.sch.uk/xmas/xmastory.html http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/MCC/holidayindex.html (loads of festivals – international info) |