Fun Fact 2: The name Santa Claus was created by the Dutch who settled in the New York region of America, the term Sinterklaas, the Dutch name for St Nicholas, was Americanized to produce the name Santa Claus
Fun Fact 3: In Holland Christmas is celebrated on December 6th, St Nicholas Day. Sinterklaas travels by boat from Spain to Amsterdam and gives gifts to children with the help of his white horse
Fun Fact 4: The abbreviation Xmas originally derived from the Greek word X, which means Christ! The use of Xmas dates back to the 16th century
Fun Fact 5: In Poland children receive gifts on St Nicholas day, December 6th. The character of Santa Claus was based Saint Nicholas, who was know to be kind and generous to children
Fun Fact 6: In Greece kids receive presents from Saint Basil on January 1st. Saint Basils name was Aghios Vassilis, his story is similar to that of St Nicolas. January 1st is St Vasilis's Day
Fun Fact 7: The popular Christmas red leafed house plant named the Poinsettia was introduced into America from Mexico during the early 1800's
Fun Fact 8: In Russia Santa does not bring presents and gifts, they are bought by an old woman called Babouschka
Fun Fact 9: In Spain Christmas celebrations begin on 8 December, with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Presents are exchanged on January 6th, the Twelfth Night, the same night that the Three Kings gave gifts to baby Jesus
Fun Fact 10: Glass Christmas tree ornaments were first produced in Germany during the 1850s
Fun Fact 11: Christmas in Australia falls in summertime; a typical Christmas meal is a barbeque, which the Australians call a barbie, consisting of steak, prawns and fish (surf and turf). Ice-cream Cake is a popular Christmas dessert
Fun Fact 12: In China Christmas is called the festival of Sheng Dan Jieh, which means Holy Birth Festival. Homes are decorated and the traditional Christmas tree is called the "tree of light"
Fun Fact 13: On Christmas Eve in Norway farmers leave a bowl of porridge, called nisse, in their barns. This is to please the magic gnomes who will in return protects their farms
Fun Fact 14: Due to world time zones Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, is the first place to celebrate Christmas each year, closely followed by New Zealand
Fun Fact 15: How can Santa travel the world within 24 hours? NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) reports that Santa is able to travel within his own time range or time-space continuum. After all he is a Saint! |
