Christmas Facts
Christmas Facts

54 Festive Christmas Facts (Research-Backed & Weird)

Karin Lehnardt
By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer
Published September 19, 2016Updated December 6, 2025

Looking for the most surprising, fun, and unusual Christmas facts? From Santa's high-speed physics to ancient Yule traditions and weird global customs, these research-backed Christmas facts reveal strange history behind the holiday. Get ready for the most festive, and bizarre, Christmas trivia you've ever read.

  • Santa Claus & Reindeer Facts

    Rudolph's Red Nose May Have a Scientific Explanation

    Norwegian scientists have hypothesized that Rudolph’s red nose is probably the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory system.[10]

  • Santa Would Need Impossible Speeds to Deliver Gifts

    To visit every child in the world, Santa would need to accelerate 12.19 million miles (20.5 billion meters) per second on each stop. The force of this acceleration would reduce Santa to “chunky salsa.”[10]

  • Santa's Reindeer are Mostly Female or Castrated Males

    Most of Santa’s reindeer have male-sounding names, such as Blitzen, Comet, and Cupid. However, male reindeers shed their antlers around Christmas, so the reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh are likely not male, but female or castrated.[10]
    • Odin Facts
    Odin, a precursor to Santa Claus, had a flying horse with eight legs

  • Odin's Eight-Legged Horse Inspired Santa's Reindeer

    The Viking god Odin rode his flying horse, Sleipnir (a precursor to Santa’s reindeer), who had eight legs. In the winter, Odin gave out both gifts and punishments, and children would fill their boots or stockings with treats for Sleipnir.[7]

  • The Origin of Christmas Stockings is a Wild Story

    Christmas stockings allegedly evolved from three sisters who were too poor to afford a marriage dowry and were, therefore, doomed to a life of prostitution. They were saved, however, when the wealthy Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna (the precursor to Santa Claus) crept down their chimney and generously filled their stockings with gold coins.[5]

  • The Real Santa

    Santa Claus is based on a real person, St. Nikolas of Myra (also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker, Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna, and Nikolaos of Bari), who lived during the fourth century. Born in Patara (in modern-day Turkey), he is the world’s most popular non-Biblical saint, and artists have portrayed him more often than any other saint except Mary. He is the patron saint of banking, pawnbroking, pirating, butchery, sailing, thievery, orphans, royalty, and New York City.[7]

  • Santa's Reindeer Lineup Has Over 40,000 Arrangements

    Assuming Rudolph was in front, there are 40,320 ways to rearrange the other reindeer.[4]

  • Weird and Wonderful Christmas Facts

    "White Christmas" is the Best-Selling Single of All Time

    It is estimated that the single “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin is the best selling single of all time, with over 100 million sales worldwide.[9]

  • Americans Send Over 3 Billion Christmas Cards Each Year

    The U.S. mails over 3 billion cards annually, making Christmas the largest card-sending season.[9]
    • Breakup Facts
    Two weeks before Christmas is a popular time for breakups

  • Two Weeks Before Christmas is Peak Breakup Time

    According to data analyzed from Facebook posts, two weeks before Christmas is one of the two most popular times for couples to break up. However, Christmas Day is the least favorite day for breakups.[2]

  • Many Classic Christmas Songs Were Written by Jewish Composers

    Many of the most popular Christmas songs, such as “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” were written or co-written by Jews.[12]

  • Tiny Tim Was Almost Named "Little Fred"

    Charles Dickens originally considered naming his beloved character an entirely different name.[6]
    • Christmas Shopping Facts
    Christmas shopping makes up 1/6 of U.S. retail sales

  • Christmas Shopping Makes Up One-Sixth of U.S. Retail Sales

    The holiday season is the biggest shopping period of the year, accounting for a major share of annual sales.[9]

  • Eggnog's Name Comes from a Rum Drink

    The word "nog" is from the word "grog," meaning any drink made from rum, making your holiday eggnog a centuries-old cocktail.[14]

  • The World’s Largest Christmas Stocking Measured 106 Feet and 9 Inches (32.56 m) Long and 49 Feet and 1 Inch (14.97 m) Wide

    It weighed as much as five reindeer and held almost 1,000 presents. It was made by the Children’s Society in London on December 14, 2007.[8]

  • Each Year There are Approximately 20,000 “Rent-a-Santas” Across the United States

    “Rent-a-Santas” usually undergo seasonal training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public. They also receive practical advice, such as not accepting money from parents while children are looking and avoiding garlic, onions, or beans for lunch.[9]
    • Santa Claus Facts
    The United States has about 20,000 "rent-a-Santas" per year

  • In 1962, the First Christmas Postage Stamp was Issued in the United States

    The stamp marked the beginning of America's tradition of holiday postage.[9]

  • Christmas Safety & Statistics

    Holiday Decorating Causes 160 Injuries per Day during the Holiday Season

    Most injuries involve falls, especially from ladders.[1]

  • Contrary to Popular Belief, Suicide Rates During the Christmas Holiday are Low

    Studies show that the highest suicide rates occur in the spring, not during the holiday season.[13]

  • Dried Christmas Trees Can Cause Deadly Fires

    In the United States, dried Christmas trees cause an estimated 100 fires, resulting in about 10 deaths and 15.7 million in property damage.[1]

  • Christmas Tree Facts

    Early Artificial Trees Were Made of Goose Feathers

    The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers wrapped around wire branches. These paved the way for modern artificial trees.[9]

  • The Tallest Christmas Tree Ever Was 21 Feet Tall

    A Douglas Fir displayed in Seattle in 1950 holds the record as the tallest cut Christmas tree in history.[8]

  • Who Put the First Christmas Tree in the White House?

    Historians disagree: Some scholars say President Franklin Pierce did in 1856; others say President Benjamin Harrison brought in the first tree in 1889.[9]

  • Christmas Trees Take 15 Years to Grow

    Most real trees spend over a decade growing before reaching the market.[11]

  • Martin Luther Added Candles to Trees

    The first person to decorate a Christmas tree was reportedly the Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). According to legend, he was so moved by the beauty of the stars shining between the branches of a fir tree, he brought home an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to share the image with his children.[9]

  • The First White House Tree Lighting Ceremony

    President Calvin Coolidge started the official White House Christmas tree lighting in 1923, a tradition that continues today.[9]

  • Americans buy 30-35 Million Real Christmas Trees Each Year

    Approximately 30-35 million real (living) Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S.[11]

  • Earliest Tree Decorations Were Apples

    The earliest known Christmas tree decorations were apples. At Christmastime, medieval actors would use apples to decorate paradise trees (usually fir trees) during “Paradise Plays,” which were plays depicting Adam and Eve’s creation and fall.[7]

  • Christmas Trees have been Sold in the U.S. Since 1850

    Americans have been buying Christmas trees since 1850, and the only cost a few cents each.[11]

  • Teddy Roosevelt Banned Christmas Trees in the White House

    President Teddy Roosevelt, an environmentalist, banned Christmas trees from the White House in 1901.[9]

  • Christmas Traditions Around the World

    Bolivians Bring Roosters to Midnight Mass

    Bolivians celebrate Misa del Gallo or “Mass of the Rooster” on Christmas Eve. Some people bring roosters to the midnight mass, a gesture that symbolizes the belief that a rooster was the first animal to announce the birth of Jesus.[9]
    • Fun holiday facts
    A secret lesson in theology? Each gift represents a religious symbol from the Catholic Church. For example, the partridge in a pear tree represents Christ, while the two turtle doves represent the New and Old testaments.

  • The "Twelve Days of Christmas" Gifts Total 364 Items

    All the gifts mentioned in the song equal 364 presents and include a secret theology[9]

  • British Christmas Crackers Include Paper Crowns

    The British wear paper crowns while they eat Christmas dinner. The crowns are stored in a tube called a “Christmas cracker.”[9]

  • Polish Christmas Trees Features Spiders and Webs

    In Poland, spiders or spider webs are common Christmas trees decorations because according to legend, a spider wove a blanket for Baby Jesus. In fact, Polish people consider spiders to be symbols of goodness and prosperity at Christmas.[9]

  • Germany Believes Christmas Eve is Magical

    In Germany, Heiligabend, or Christmas Eve, is said to be a magical time when the pure in heart can hear animals talking.[9]

  • History & Origins of Christmas

    Birth of the Unconquerable Sun

    Christmas has its roots in pagan festivals such as Saturnalia (December 17-December 23), the Kalends (January 1 -5, the precursor to the Twelve Days of Christmas), and Deus Sol Invictus or Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun (December 25). The Christian church heartily disapproved of such celebrations and co-opted the pagans by declaring December 25 as Christ’s day of birth, though there is no evidence Christ was born on that day.[9]

  • Pope Julius I Declared December 25th as Christ's Birthday

    The date was officially set in A.D. 350 to co-opt pagan winter celebrations.[5]

  • "Christmas" Comes from Old English

    Christmas is a contraction of “Christ’s Mass,” which is derived from the Old English Cristes mæsse (first recorded in 1038). The letter “X” in Greek is the first letter of Christ, and “Xmas” has been used as an abbreviation for Christmas since the mid 1500s.[5]
    • Christmas History and Facts
    Yes, the Puritans did ban Christmas, calling the holiday a sinful, decadent, and unChristian holiday that was influenced by Catholicism

  • Puritans Banned Christmas in Early America

    Because they viewed Christmas as a decadent Catholic holiday, the Puritans in America banned all Christmas celebrations from 1659-1681 with a penalty of five shillings for each offense. Some Puritan leaders condemned those who favored Christmas as enemies of the Christian religion.[5]

  • Christmas Wasn't a Federal Holiday until 1870

    Alabama was the first state in the United States to officially recognize Christmas in 1836, and Oklahoma was the last (1907).[9]

  • Evergreens and Mistletoe Have Ancient Symbolism

    Evergreens (from the Old English word aefie meaning “always” and gowan meaning “to grow”) have been symbols of eternal life and rebirth since ancient times. The pagan use and worship of evergreen boughs and trees has evolved into the Christianized Christmas tree.[3]

  • Holly and Ivy Were Once Banned

    Because of their pagan associations, both the holly (associated with the masculine principle) and the ivy (the feminine) and other green boughs in home decoration were banned by the sixth-century Christian Council of Braga.[3]

  • The Traditional Three Colors of Christmas are Green, Red, and Gold

    Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth; red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as wealth and royalty.[5]

  • The “true love” Mentioned in the Song “Twelve Days of Christmas” Does Not Refer to a Romantic Couple, but the Catholic Church’s Code for God

    The person who receives the gifts represents someone who has accepted that code. For example, the “partridge in a pear tree” represents Christ. The “two turtledoves” represent the Old and New Testaments.[5]

  • Many European Countries Believed that Spirits, Both Good and Evil, Were Active During the Twelve Days of Christmas

    These spirits eventually evolved into Santa’s elves, especially under the influence of Clement C. Moore’s The Night Before Christmas (1779-1863) illustrated by Thomas Nast (1840-1902).[9]

  • The World's First Christmas Card was Created in 1843

    Commissioned by Sir Henry Cole (1808-1883), British illustrator John Callcott Horsley (1817-1903) invented the first Christmas card in 1843.[9]

  • Sacred Mistoletoe

    Ancient peoples, such as the Druids, considered mistletoe sacred because it remains green and bears fruit during the winter when all other plants appear to die. Druids would cut the plant with golden sickles and never let it touch the ground. They thought it had the power to cure infertility and nervous diseases and to ward off evil.[3]
    • Mistletoe Facts
    Mistletoe comes from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "little dung twig"

  • Mistletoe's Name Literally Means "Little Dung Twig"

    Mistletoe (Viscum album) is from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means “little dung twig” because the plant spreads through bird droppings.[3]

  • The Yule Log: Fire, Folklore, and Good Luck

    A Yule log is an enormous log that is typically burned during the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25-January 6). Some scholars suggest that the word yule means “revolution” or “wheel,” which symbolizes the cyclical return of the sun. A burning log or its charred remains is said to offer health, fertility, and luck as well as the ability to ward off evil spirits.[7]

  • The Poinsettia: Ancient Mexican Symbol of Purity (and Safe to Touch!)

    The poinsettia is native to Mexico and was cultivated by the Aztecs, who called the plant Cuetlaxochitl (“flower which wilts”). For the Aztecs, the plant’s brilliant red color symbolized purity, and they often used it medicinally to reduce fever. Contrary to popular belief, the poinsettia is not poisonous, but holly berries are.[9]

  • Early Illustrations of St. Nicholas Depict Him as Stern, Commanding, and Holding a Birch Rod

    He was more a symbol of discipline and punishment than the jolly, overweight elf children know today.[7]

  • Oliver Cromwell Outlawed Christmas

    From 1649-1660, England banned celebrations and carols. Only prayers were allowed.[5]

  • Wassail Means "Good Health"

    The traditional holiday drink gets its name from the Old Norse phrase "ves heil," which means "good health."[5]

  • The Holiday Season is Full of Wonderful and Weird Twists and Surprises, From Flying Reindeer and Magical Trees to Ancient Traditions and Mythologies

    Next time you sip your eggnog, hang an ornament, or sing a Christmas carol, remember the fascinating stories and symbolism behind these beloved customs. Which of these facts blew your mind most? Share your favorite with friends and family, and spread the holiday trivia cheer![3]
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