Did you know ....
England has only known seven white
Christmases in the entire twentieth century.
The records of
the Meteorological Office in London, show snow fell on Christmas Day only in
1938 and 1976.
Each year between
34-36 million Christmas trees are produced to cope with the holiday
demand.
Did you know they are edible ?
Many
parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good
source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of
nutrition.
For every tree
harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place.
The Christmas tree was first decorated with lights in
the 16th century. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant
reformer, was the first to add lighted candles to the tree.
The Christmas tree displayed in Trafalgar square in
London is an annual gift to the UK from Norway since 1947. A token of appreciation of British friendship during
World War II from the Norwegian people.
The common
abbreviation for Christmas to Xmas comes from the Greek alphabet.
X
is letter Chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek
alphabet.
December 25th was not celebrated as his birthday until the year AD / ACE 440.
On Christmas morning since medieval times, church
bells have been rung to announce to the world the coming of the savior.
A wreath with holly, red berries and other decorations
began from at least the 17th century. Holly, with its sharply pointed
leaves, symbolized the thorns in Christ's crown-of-thorns. Red berries symbolized
the drops of Christ's blood.
6 December is St Nicholas's Day - the first of
the gift giving days, especially in Holland and Belgium.
Hanging the Christmas stocking on the hearth on
Christmas Eve is a custom that goes back about 400 years. It derived from the
custom in Holland of children placing wooden shoes next to the hearth
the night before the arrival of St. Nicholas.
In the nineteenth century, the British Post
Office used to deliver cards on Christmas morning.
Father Christmas has two addresses, Edinburgh and the
North Pole. Letters addressed to 'TOYLAND' or 'SNOW LAND'
go to Edinburgh, but letters addressed to 'THE NORTH POLE' have
to be sent there because there really is such a place! |
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The custom of singing Christmas
carols is very old - the earliest English collection was published in
1521.
Christmas pudding
was first made as a type of soup with raisins and wine.
The first British monarch to
broadcast a Christmas message to his people was King George V.
The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in
1957.
The biggest selling Christmas single of all time is
Bing Crosby's White Christmas.
The heaviest turkey ever raised weighed in at 86 pounds ( size of a large German Shepherd
) and was grown in England.
Today poinsettias are the most
popular Christmas plant.
6th January - Epiphany.
Is the traditional end of the Christmas holiday
and is the date on which we take down the tree and decorations.
Other Fun Stuff
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