Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Fun and Historical facts about Christmas

- Christmas was created a Federal Holiday in the US in June 1870 by then President Ulysses S Grant in hopes of continue healing of our nation from the Civil War.

- The Puritans did not believe in a jovial holiday, so therefore they banned it.

- From 1659 to 1681 the city of Boston MA the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed and anyone caught exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings.

- After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor including Christmas. In fact, congress was in session on December 25,1789 the first Christmas under America's new constitution.

- During World War I in 1914 Christmas arrived only five month's after the beginning of the war. On Christmas day soldier's from both sides came out of their trenches and sang Christmas carols and exchanged gifts with each other in no mans land (the neutral space between the each sides trenches.).

- Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the US.

- Oregon state produces the most real Christmas trees, they produced 8.6 million in the year of 1998 and are still the largest producers of Christmas trees today.

- Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii.

-The first president to decorate a Christmas tree in the white house was Franklin Pierce.

- " A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens just in six weeks.

- The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday was Alabama.

- In Greek X means Christ. That is were the word X-mas comes from. Not because someone took the word "Christ" out of Christmas.

- More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of year.

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The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".

- Have you ever wondered the cost of the total cost of the items in the twelve days of Christmas song. Well somebody went and a survey in 2006 and the total in US dollars is $18,920.59 and if you bought everything online the price jumps quite a bit $30,330.49. Quite a expensive year of Christmas shopping.

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The popular Christmas song "Jingle Bells" was composed in 1857 by James Pierpont, and was originally called "One-Horse Open Sleigh." It was actually written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas.

Well that was fun Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year !

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