As the countdown to Christmas gets well and truly underway, we thought it would be fun to share some Christmas facts to boost your Christmas spirit and get you in a jolly mood.
Fact #1 “Jingle Bells” was the first song to be played in space
So you’re out in space and it’s Christmas time… time for some out of this world celebrations! On December 16, 1965 the crew of NASA’s Gemini 6A made history when they played “Jingle Bells” in space. Not only was this the first time a Christmas song had been played in space, but any song at all. Now that is what we call spreading Christmas cheer.
Fact #2 In Ukraine spiders are considered symbols of good luck at Christmas
When you think of Christmas, spiders are probably one of the last things that come to mind! But in Ukraine the addition of a sparkly spider ornament to your tree is considered a symbol of good luck and a nod to a traditional Christmas story that tells the tale of spiders using their webs to decorate the tree of a poor widow and her children.
Fact #3 Tinsel was once made of real silver
We love a bit of tinsel as much as the next person, but did you know that this sparkly ornament was once one of the most expensive decorations going around? Once upon a time it was made from real silver, which got its sparkly nature by reflecting the surrounding candlelight to give off a shimmering effect.
Fact #4 The smallest Christmas card in the world is invisible to the human eye
Giving and receiving Christmas cards is one of our favourite parts of the holiday season. With their clever and beautiful designs they are commonly seen proudly on display around homes all over the world… except that is for the world’s smallest Christmas card! In 2010, a nanotechnologist created the world’s smallest Christmas card that could fit onto a postage stamp 8,276 times! That sounds like a pretty extreme excuse for forgetting someone’s Christmas card to us.
Fact #5 The largest gingerbread house ever made was as big as a real house
Mmmm gingerbread, one of Christmas’s most delicious treats, but how much of it do you think you could eat? In November 2013, a group from Bryan, Texas constructed a Gingerbread house that was 48 meters long, 12 meters wide and 3 meters tall. Now that is a lot of gingerbread!
Fact #6 There are over 733 different version of ‘Silent Night’
‘Silent Night’ is a Christmas carol staple that is enjoyed by people all over the world. So it’s no surprise that it is also one of the most recorded Christmas carols of all time with as of 2014, over 733 versions recorded. Lucky it is one of the best Christmas carols of all time!
Fact #7 Home Alone is the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time
While there are many, many quality Christmas movies out there (personally my all time favourite is the Grinch), Home Alone is a clear winner when it comes to box office smash hits. Earning US$285.76 million in the box office, it’s pretty clear to see why this is an all time Christmas movie favourite, with little kids and big kids alike.
Fact #8 The tradition of putting up a Christmas tree is more than 500 years old
Whether you wait until December 1st, give the green light when the shopping centers do or wait until Christmas Eve, putting up the Christmas tree is a long standing tradition that is fun for all to enjoy. However, did you know that this tradition has been taking place for over 500 years? Putting up the Christmas tree originated in Germany in the 16th Century and hasn’t looked back since… and we are so glad!
Fact #9 There are more than 630 different kinds of Christmas trees
Picking out the perfect Christmas tree is a bit of an art form. But did you know that there are over 630 different species of conifer tree? That is a lot to consider when picking out the perfect tree to bring home and share with your family and friends!
Fact #10 Santa has more than 30 different names
Santa has many names and which one resonates with you largely comes down to where you call home. For example in Hungary he goes by Mikulas, in Brazil he is Papi Noel. No matter what you call him, Santa is a much-loved part of Christmas all over the world.
So there you have it! Now you are all set for the Christmas trivia session or to wow your loved ones at your next festive gathering. If you want even more Christmas in your life, sign up to our newsletter or shop our latest 2021 Christmas range to really get the Christmas spirit rolling.