Weird Christmas Facts
Did you know that the largest Christmas stocking ever created was over 168 feet long?
In Iceland, there is a tradition of giving books as presents on Christmas Eve.
The world’s tallest Christmas tree was erected in a shopping center in Sri Lanka, measuring over 238 feet.
In Japan, it is common to celebrate Christmas by eating KFC as a special holiday meal.
The song Jingle Bells was originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas.
The world’s largest gingerbread house was over 60 feet long and made entirely of edible gingerbread.
In Ukraine, it is tradition to place spider webs on the Christmas tree for good luck.
The idea of Santa Claus wearing a red suit was popularized by Coca-Cola’s Christmas advertising in the 1930s.
Iceland has a Christmas folklore character called the Yule Cat, who eats children who haven’t received new clothes before Christmas.
The world’s largest snowflake ever recorded was 15 inches in diameter.
The tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace originated from a story about St. Nicholas leaving gold coins in stockings to help a poor family.
In Italy, it is tradition to eat a fish-based meal on Christmas Eve instead of meat.
The world’s largest Christmas cracker measured over 207 feet in length.
The concept of Santa’s reindeer flying was popularized by the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas or commonly known as The Night Before Christmas.
Weird Christmas Facts part 2
In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated with a festival called Saturnalia that lasted for seven days.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe comes from ancient Norse mythology.
The first recorded Christmas celebration dates back to 336 AD in Rome.
In Catalonia, Spain, it is tradition to display a Christmas figurine called Caganer, which depicts a person defecating.
The world’s largest snow maze was constructed in Canada, covering over 54,000 square feet.
The tradition of sending Christmas cards dates back to 1843 when the first commercial Christmas card was created in England.
In Venezuela, it is common to attend a pre-dawn Christmas Mass called Misa de Gallo (Rooster’s Mass).
The world’s largest collection of Santa Claus items is held by the Muzeum Mikulasa Schneidera-Trnavskeho in Slovakia, with over 35,000 pieces.
In Greece, the Christmas season officially begins on December 25th and lasts until January 6th, known as the Feast of Epiphany.
The world’s most expensive Christmas tree was adorned with jewelry worth over $11 million.
In Denmark, it is tradition to smash dishes on friends’ and neighbors’ doors as a sign of friendship during the holiday season.
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees originated in Germany in the 16th century.
In South Africa, it is tradition to eat deep-fried caterpillars called mopane worms during Christmas celebrations.
The first artificial Christmas tree was made in Germany using goose feathers.
In Slovakia, it is tradition to place a fish scale under each plate during the Christmas Eve meal for good luck.
The world’s largest gathering of Santa Clauses occurred in 2014 in Northern Ireland, with 13,000 participants.
The concept of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by a Montgomery Ward department store employee in 1939 for a Christmas promotion.
In Finland, it is common to take a dip in freezing water on Christmas morning, known as the Polar Bear Plunge.
The world’s largest snowball fight took place in Seattle in 2013, with over 5,800 participants.
In Mexico, it is tradition to celebrate Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay before Jesus’ birth.
The world’s largest Christmas market is held in Germany, spanning over 250 stalls.
In Norway, it is tradition to hide all the brooms in the house on Christmas Eve to prevent witches from stealing them.
The concept of Santa’s workshop at the North Pole became popular through Clement C. Moore’s poem A Visit from St. Nicholas.
In Brazil, it is common to celebrate Christmas by setting off fireworks on the beach.
The world’s largest snowball was created in Michigan in 2013 and weighed over 10,000 pounds.
In Spain, it is tradition to eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve, one for each stroke of the clock.
The tradition of hanging mistletoe dates back to ancient Druids, who believed it had magical powers of fertility and protection.
In Australia, Christmas falls in the summer season, so it is common to have barbecues and spend the day at the beach.
The world’s largest snowman was built in Maine, standing over 122 feet tall.
In Poland, it is tradition to set an extra place at the dinner table for a surprise guest who might show up during Christmas Eve.
The tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus originated from the Norse tradition of leaving treats for the winter solstice god, Odin.