10 Surprising, Weird And Wacky Christmas Facts

Discover some surprising and downright wacky facts about Christmas.  It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But how much do you really know about Christmas?

In this post, you’re about to find out. We list some weird, wacky and often downright crazy Christmas facts you might not have come across before.

Christmas Wasn’t Always Celebrated On December 25

If you think that there’s something special about December 25, then think again. It turns out that Christmas wasn’t always celebrated on this date. In fact, there is no mention of it anywhere in the bible. Instead, it more closely coincides with the Northern European pagan festival of Saturnalia, an event honouring the ancient god, Saturn.

Norway Sends The UK The Tree In Trafalgar Square

Londoners know that Christmas is coming when the giant pine tree, covered in fairy lights, goes up in Trafalgar square. But do you know where this magnificent specimen comes from?

It’s not British pine forests. Instead, it is an annual holiday gift from Norway, given to Britain for the help it provided the country during WWII. The tradition remains to this day and represents goodwill to all men.

The Japanese Eat KFC For Christmas

When you think of Christmas food, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Usually mince pies, roast turkey and cranberry sauce.

However, if you’re lucky enough to be Japanese, Christmas is all about Kentucky Fried Chicken. And demand is so high that you have to order more than two months in advance. Now that’s commitment!

Around One Third Of Men Wait Until Christmas Eve To Do All Their Shopping

Talk about leaving things to the last minute. According to surveys, around a third of men leave all their shopping until Christmas eve and then go on a mad spree. Not only is it stressful, but it also usually means higher prices and not being able to find the things you want.

Candy Canes Are A German Invention

Pink and white candy canes are a Christmas staple, and serve as both food and decoration. But they aren’t a US or UK invention. Instead, they’re German. Grandmas used to give them to young children to keep them quiet during church services.

Associations with Christmas began after 1847. Immigrants from Europe started decorating their trees with the sweets in the nineteenth century, and the idea caught on.

Mistletoe Sounds Sweet, But Isn’t

Do you plan on kissing your love under the mistletoe this year? If so, the origins of the name might shock you.

The “mistle” part comes from tiny mistle thrushes that eat the berries the plant produces. The seeds combine with the bird’s dung in the digestive tract before being pooped out. For this reason, the German for mistletoe is “poop on a branch” – not exactly something you want to be kissing under.

The Word Xmas Dates Back To The 1500s

If you thought Xmas was a text-messaging-related abbreviation, think again. The term actually harks back to the 1500s, with the “X” being a Christian symbolic reference.

Scribes spelled “Christianity” as “Xianity” from around 1100 onwards. Xtemmas was the Old English word for Christmas used from 1551 onwards, which was later shortened to Xmas and Christmas. The “X” is a reference to the first letter of the Greek alphabet which represents Christ – the first and the last.

Charles Dickens Spent Just Two Weeks Writing A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol was a masterpiece that took the great nineteenth century novelist, Charles Dickens, just two weeks to write.

According to academics, Dickens intended A Christmas Carol to be a work of social commentary. Dickens’ family had been to debtors' prison, something that forced him to drop out of school as a boy and work in the factories.

Amazon Remains The Most Popular E-Commerce Website For Christmas

Amazon remains the most popular website for Christmas shopping, with more than 94 percent of people saying that they will use the platform during 2021. One-click purchases, discounts and subscriber deals are all responsible for its popularity.

Traditional retailers are struggling. Around 85 percent of respondents say that they will visit old-fashioned stores this year, down slightly from 88 percent last year.

E-commerce stores and specific brand sites that implement the best live chat are positioned to win the most business. The popularity of Nike, Levi, LUSH and other brands increased from 56 percent last year, to 58 percent this year.

Carols Have Nothing To Do With Christmas

Lastly, if you think carols are something solely reserved for Christmas, think again. Carols actually originate from Medieval liturgical songs from the 12th century. They were a way to wish good fortune on your neighbours.