Christmas Trivia and Fun Facts

Every year, our current Gospel-Doctrine teacher (and former Bishop), Dave Holdsworth, puts together a Christmas Quiz. I missed this year's version because I was subbing in a Sunday School class. Sara, however, quizzed me on the way up to Ogden, where we continued her birthday celebration with her family. That got me thinking. And seeing as tomorrow is Christmas Eve (and I'm somewhat distracted at the moment), I went in search of some more Christmas trivia and interesting facts associated with the holiday. I haven't verified any of the following but I do find it interesting:

• The word Christmas is Old English, a contraction of Christ's Mass.
• The first president to decorate the white house Christmas tree in the United States was Franklin Pierce.
• Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
• The first Christmas cards were vintage and invented in 1843, the Victorian Era.
• "It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.
• "Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
• If you received all of the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas", you would receive 364 presents.
• The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in the early 1800's.
• In 1843, "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.
• The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday officially was Alabama
• Christmas became a national holiday in America on June, 26, 1870.
• Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
• Clearing up a common misconception, in Greek, X means Christ. That is where the word "X-Mas" comes from. Not because someone took the "Christ" out of Christmas.
• Traditionally, Christmas trees are taken down after Epiphany.
• More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of the year.
• In Mexico, wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve is said to bring new love in the upcoming year.

Interesting stuff eh? I'll see what else I can find. Be sure to revisit for more Christmas questions and answers.