Did you know that astronauts once celebrated Christmas by wearing Santa Claus hats in space? Get ready to learn about 10 fun and interesting facts related to Christmas that you probably haven’t heard about before. This article will contain information about holiday traditions, Christmas history and by the end you can solve a fun trivia quiz!
Fact 1 – Why Snow Looks White
The scientific reason behind why snow is white is that snow is made up of ice crystals; ice crystals are clear which causes light to bounce off them and the light that is reflected is made up of all colours. The fact that ice crystals reflect all colours causes the snow it creates to look the colour white.
Fact 2 – The First Christmas Cards
The very first documented Christmas card was sent by Michael Maier to James I of England and his son Henry Frederick in 1611. The very first card was hand-made and the first Christmas card that was printed was in England in 1843; John Callcott Horsley designed the first printed Christmas card. These Christmas cards became so popular that now millions are printed and exchanged every year.
Fact 3 – The Star of Bethlehem and Astronomy
To understand the facts about the Star of Bethlehem, also known as the Christmas star, you will have to read a short story. Religiously the star of Bethlehem is mentioned in the Bible as the star that guided “The Wise Men” to “Baby Jesus” in the city of Bethlehem. Astronomically scientists call this a scientific mystery. Some scientists suggest that:
- This was a Planetary Alignment where Jupiter and Saturn lined up in 7 B.C.
- Others suggest that the star was a very bright comet
- Some predict the star to be a supernova ( when a dying star explodes and becomes bright)
Fact 4 – Two Famous World Records at Christmas
Christmas is known for reindeer, gifts by Santa Claus and a good family time but you wouldn’t guess that there are various world records related to Christmas! Here are 2 World Records related to Christmas:
- The tallest snowman in the world is named “Olympia the snowman” and it is 37.21 meters (122 feet) tall. The snowman was made in Maine, United States.
- The largest gingerbread house was 3.07 meters (10.1 feet) tall, 18.28 meters (60 ft) long, 12.8 meters (42 feet) wide! The gingerbread house was created in Texas, United States.
Fact 5 – KFC Christmas Dinner in Japan
You probably didn’t know that in Japan many families eat Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) on Christmas. This tradition started in 1970 with an advertisement but now it’s a tradition followed nationwide. KFC is so packed in Japan during Christmas that the restaurant starts taking orders months in advance.
Fact 6 – Christmas in Space
Think about the most famous Christmas on Earth, oh wait! I meant space. In the year 1968 the crew of Apollo 8 celebrated being the first humans to leave earth’s orbit and celebrate Christmas in space. The astronauts celebrated by reading from the religious “Book of Genesis” and wearing Santa Claus hats in zero gravity. Another fact is that astronauts cannot light fire in their aircraft due to safety precautions hence, there were no candles used, instead they opted for LED lights and glowing decor.
Fact 7 – Why Poinsettias Are Christmas Flowers
The Christmas flower, Poinsettias also known as “Flor de Nochebuena” in Spanish means “Christmas Eve Flower”. This beautiful bright red flower is native to Mexico and was brought to the USA through Joel Poinsett in the 1820s. The flower represents the joy of Christmas with its bright red colour and beauty.
Fact 8 – The Math of the “12 Days of Christmas”
If you think about it, math is involved in everything from algebra to even holiday songs! If you add up the gifts that “the true love” gave then it is a total of 364 gifts (one short of an entire year). The song “12 Days of Christmas” teaches how songs and rhymes can be linked to math and how the spirit of giving isn’t confined to Christmas only.
Fact 9 – Christmas Island Is Real!
Christmas Island is a real Island which comes under Australian territory. The history of the Islands name is that it was discovered on Christmas Day (December 25) in 1643 by William Mynors. You might think the Christmas Island would be known for reindeers and snow but instead it is known for:
- Red crab migrations
- Whale sharks
- Coral reefs
Fact 10 – Why NORAD Tracks Santa
Did you know that North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command tracks Santa every single year? The story begins from 1955 when a child called the wrong number and ended up phoning the NORAD. From 1955 onwards the NORAD tracks Santa every December 1-24 and publishes Santas travel from the North pole to travel around the world, delivering gifts to children.
Conclusion
Christmas is a holiday that is full of surprises and it is celebrated all over the world. You got to learn today that Christmas has hidden interesting facts and I challenge you to remember one fact to tell your family on the day of Christmas!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few interesting trivia questions for kids:
What is Christmas Island?
The Christmas Island which is found in Australian territory.
How tall is the tallest snowman?
The tallest snowman is named “Olympia the snowman” and its 37.21 meters (122 feet)
Which flower is referred to as “Christmas Eve Flower” in Mexico?
The flower Poinsettias is referred to as the “Christmas Eve Flower” in Mexico