Only five days left until Christmas break! Today we’re going to be looking into some fun facts about Christmas.
1. People used to eat peacocks for Christmas dinner.
Before people ate turkey or ham for Christmas dinner, geese and peacock were popular choices for the holiday. An English king, Henry VIII was the first to eat turkey for Christmas. However, the tradition of eating turkey for Christmas dinner didn’t really kick off until the 1950s.
2. At one point, Christmas was banned in Britain.
In the seventeenth century, Christmas was viewed as too decadent, too hedonistic, and too Catholic by the Puritans. Due to this, the holiday was banned. During the time of the holiday ban, everything to do with Christmas, right down to Christmas music was banned. The ban was finally removed in 1660.
3. “White Christmas” is the best-selling song of all time.
“White Christmas” has been a popular Christmas classic for decades, but did you know that the Bing Crosby version of the song is the best-selling single ever? Around 50 million physical copies have been sold around the world.
4. December 25 is not actually Jesus’s birthday.
While Christmas is the holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, nowhere in the Bible does it mention December fifth. In fact, some historians believe that Jesus was born in the spring. December 25, the day we celebrate Christmas on currently, actually comes from pagan roots.
5. “Jingle Bells” was the first song to be broadcast from outer space.
“Jingle Bells” is one of the most well-known Christmas songs. Here’s the really cool part though, in 1965, it became the first song to be broadcast from outer space.
We hope you enjoyed learning some cool facts about Christmas. Enjoy your final days until break!
Works Cited
“20 Festive Facts You Didn’t Know about Christmas.” Sky HISTORY TV Channel, www.history.co.uk/article/20-festive-facts-you-didnt-know-about-christmas.
Fogle, Asher. “30 Fun Christmas Facts to Share with Your Family.” Good Housekeeping, 4 Dec. 2020, www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2972/surprising-christmas-facts/.
