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50 Facts On CHRISTMAS - Religion - Nairaland

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50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 1:36am On Dec 19, 2017
Let us explore some facts a little bit about one of the most celebrated events by christians...
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 1:37am On Dec 19, 2017
Some may be try, while some may be false but first make your own research....
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 1:38am On Dec 19, 2017
1. Speedy Santa
US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world's presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.

2. Robins
Robins on cards were a joke 150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics and were named after them.

3. Mince Pies
Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.

4. Tangerines
The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.

5. Three Wise Men?
Despite the tale of three wise men paying homage to baby Jesus, the Bible never gives a number. Matthew's Gospel refers to merely "wise men".

6. Wassailing
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.

7. Carols
Carols weren't sung in churches until they were introduced by St Francis of Assisi in the 13th century.

8. Stockings
Hanging stockings out comes from the Dutch custom of leaving shoes packed with food for St Nicholas's donkeys. He would leave small gifts in return.

9. Angels Singing?
There is no reference to angels singing anywhere in the Bible.
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 1:40am On Dec 19, 2017
10. Christmas Trees
Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.

11. Noel
The word Noel derives from the French expression "les bonnes nouvelles" or "the good news".

12. Baby Jesus
Jesus was probably born in a cave and not a wooden stable, say Biblical scholars.

13. Xmas
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.

14. Tallest Tree
The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.

15. White Christmas
The chances of a white Christmas in 2017 are 7/4 for Scotland, 4/1 for Wales, 2/1 in Ireland and 3/1 in the North of England and 5/1 in the South.
16. The Birth of Jesus
Many theologians estimate that Jesus wasn't born on December 25 but sometime in September between 6BC and 30AD.

17. Jingle Bells
James Pierpont's 1857 song Jingle Bells was first called One Horse Open Sleigh and was written for Thanksgiving.

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

19. Banning Christmas
In 1647, after the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell banned festivities. The law wasn't lifted until 1660.

20. World's Biggest Snowman
In 1999, residents of the state of Maine in America built the world's biggest ever snowman. He stood at 113ft tall.

21. A Merry Greek Christmas
The Greeks celebrate Christmas on January 7, according to the old Julian calendar, while Xmas presents are opened on New Year's Day.

22. Eating a Christmas Tree
Many parts of the Christmas tree can actually be eaten, with the needles being a good source of Vitamin C.

23. Holly
The holly in a wreath symbolises Christ's crown of thorns while the red berries are drops of his blood.

24. Christmas Cards
The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by civil servant Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843. Featuring a family drinking wine, one sold for #8,469 last year.

25. Hanging Presents
Hanging presents on trees may come from the Druids who believed the tree was the giver of all good things.
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 1:40am On Dec 19, 2017
26. Christmas Crackers
The largest Christmas cracker - 45.72m long and 3.04m in diameter - was pulled in Australia in 1991.

27. Shopping Spree
The long shopping spree before Christmas began in America when relatives of soldiers posted overseas in the Second World War were encouraged to mail gifts early.

28. Christmas Songs
Jingle Bells was the first song broadcast from space when Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang it on December 16, 1965.

29. Christmas Comets
Astronomers believe the Star Of Bethlehem, which guided the wisemen to Jesus, may have been a comet or the planet Uranus.

30. The Many Names of Santa
Santa has different names around the world - Kriss Kringle in Germany, Le Befana in Italy, Pere Noel in France and Deushka Moroz (Grandfather Frost) in Russia.

31. Christ's Mass
The word Christmas comes from the Old English "Cristes maesse" meaning "Christ's Mass".

32. Bing Cosby
The bestselling Xmas single ever is Bing Crosby's White Christmas, shifting over 50million copies worldwide since 1942.

33. Band Aid
In Britain, the best-selling festive single is Band Aid's 1984 track, Do They Know It's Christmas?, which sold 3.5million copies. Wham! is next in the same year with Last Christmas, selling 1.4million.

34. Artificial Trees
Upside artificial Xmas trees are sold to allow more gifts to be piled under.

35. Oslo
Since 1947 Oslo has sent an Xmas tree to London to thank us for our help in the Second World War.
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 1:41am On Dec 19, 2017
36. Christmas Pudding
Christmas pudding was originally a soup made with raisins and wine.

37. Cracker Design
London sweetmaker Tom Smith created the first Christmas crackers in 1847, based on the sweet wrapper design.

38. Dutch Santa
Santa Claus comes from a Dutch folk tale based on Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, who gave gifts on December 6.

39. Boxing Day
Boxing Day gets its name from all the money collected in church alms-boxes for the poor.

39. Mistletoe Kisses
Kissing under the mistletoe is thought to spring from Frigga, the Norse goddess of love, who was associated with the plant.

41. The Beatles
The Beatles hold the record for most Xmas number 1 singles, topping the charts in 1963, 65 and 67.
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 1:44am On Dec 19, 2017
42. Electric Trees
Electric tree lights were invented by Edward Johnson in the US in 1882.

43. Early Christmas Trees
They may date back to pagan traditions, but the earliest known reference to a Christmas tree is in a German pamphlet from 1570.

44. Christmas Movies
The highest-grossing Christmas movie is 2000's How The Grinch Stole Christmas, which has raked in #175m so far.

45. Santa in Iceland
There are 13 Santas in Iceland, each leaving a gift for children. They come down from the mountain one by one, starting on December 12 and have names like Spoon Licker, Door Sniffer and Meat Hook.

46. Rudolph the Reindeer
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.

47. Chocolate Coins
Gold chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.

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

49. Christmas Bonus Law
In Greece, Italy, Spain and Germany, workers get a Christmas bonus of one month's salary by law.

50. Czech Christmas
In the Czech Republic they enjoy dinners of fish soup, eggs and carp. The number of people at the table must be even, or the one without a partner will die next year.

51. Other names of Christmas
There are many names for Christmas from the old times and these include 'Midwinter', 'Nativity' and 'Yule'.

52. When were Christmas crackers invented?
The first Christmas crackers - a traditional festive favourite - were made around 1845-1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith.


SOURCE: 51 Christmas facts you never knew/mirror.co.UK

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by AroOkigbo(m): 1:50am On Dec 19, 2017
Merry Christmas
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by kodded(m): 4:05am On Dec 19, 2017
your source says 51
you say 50
but what you wrote up there is 52













...
Re: 50 Facts On CHRISTMAS by REDInks(m): 8:01am On Dec 19, 2017
Manage am, na just your mouth I dey find[size=8pt][/size] abi your comment.....
I know say Nigerians like to dey react.

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