More Little Known Christmas Facts…

Since these little lists are popular this time of year, I managed to dig up more Christmas trivia which may help you in your next holiday game of charades.

1. Christmas clubs came into existence circa 1905 which were special savings accounts in which people deposited a set amount of money regularly and to be used for Christmas gift shopping. (Hmm, sounds like Social Security to me)
2. In early England, a  traditional Christmas dinner was a pig head prepared with mustard. (I wonder if that’s where the term pig-headed came from)
3. A 1995 survey found that 7 out of 10 British dogs get Christmas gifts from their  owners. (Something tells me that Americans are probably right up there with this)
4. The first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday was Alabama, which  began in 1836. (Gotta love them southerners)
5. Contrary to popular opinion, Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving) is not the busiest shopping day of the year. Black Friday actually ranks 5^th to 10^th on the busiest day list.  Typically, the Friday and Saturday before Christmas are the two busiest shopping days of the year. (Kinds makes those camping shoppers outside of WalMart look pretty silly, huh?)
6. American billionaire Ross Perot tried to airlift 28 tons of medicine and Christmas gifts to American POW’s in North Vietnam in 1969. (No wonder he looks so elfin)
7. What do Little Larry, Puny Pete, and Small Sam have to do with Charles Dickens? Well they are the names he considered using for Bob Cratchett’s disabled son before he came up with Tiny Tim. (I can only imagine his rejects for Scrooge)
8. Good news for all you greenies out there. Christmas trees are edible. 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. (Though you probably don’t want to eat the ornaments)
9. Ever wonder why merchants get that Christmas merchandise out so early in the year? Well, during World War II it was necessary for Americans to mail Christmas gifts early for the troops in Europe so they would receive them in time. Merchants joined in the effort to remind the public to shop and mail early and voila a commercial tradition was born.
10. Another nice tidbit for the greenies – For every real Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place. (And too, most Christmas trees are grown on Christmas tree farms, not removed from the forest.)
11. The largest living Christmas tree in the world is over 160 feet tall and you can check it out here.
12. Ever wondered what figgy pudding is?  I have. You can get the history and the recipe here.

Otay, that’s all the whacky Christmas facts I have for the moment, but stay tuned you never know when some other whacky thing will surface.

WC