Facts About Christmas
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, but many people don’t know the surprising history behind some of its most popular traditions. Here are a few interesting facts that might change the way you think about Christmas.
One of the most famous Christmas symbols is the Christmas tree. The tradition originally came from Germany, where families decorated evergreen trees with apples, nuts, and later with candles. In the 1800s, the Christmas tree became popular in Britain thanks to Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. Albert was German, and he brought the tradition to the royal family. A famous drawing of the Queen, Prince Albert, and their children standing around a decorated Christmas tree was published in newspapers in 1848. After that, many British families wanted Christmas trees of their own, and the tradition quickly spread.
Another interesting part of Christmas is the story of Santa Claus. The modern image of Santa became popular in the early 20th century through advertising. Coca Cola made the image of the cheerful man in a red suit famous. But the story goes back to a real person: St Nicholas, a bishop who lived in Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century. He was known for helping people in need and for giving gifts secretly. One famous legend says that he threw bags of money into the house of a poor family to help three daughters get married. According to the story, the money landed in their stockings, which were hanging by the fireplace to dry. This is one reason why people still hang Christmas stockings today.
Christmas food traditions also vary around the world. In Japan, many people eat fried chicken from the KFC on Christmas Eve, and families often order it weeks in advance. In Sweden, people enjoy a big Christmas meal called a julbord, which includes meatballs, fish, cheese, and different kinds of bread. In the United Kingdom, people usually eat Christmas pudding, a dessert made with dried fruit and spices. Some families even hide a coin inside the pudding for good luck.
Finally, not every Christmas tradition is old. Wearing “ugly Christmas sweaters” only became popular about 20 years ago, but now many people enjoy buying funny sweaters or making their own. These unusual and surprising traditions show that Christmas continues to change, and each family adds its own special touches.
