Interesting Facts About Christmas

By. Sky Hong

It's finally December! It means the Christmas season! Let's get some interesting facts about Christmas!

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and has roots in both Christian and ancient traditions. Early Christians didn't know Jesus' exact birthdate, so December 25 was chosen, possibly to align with winter festivals like the Roman Saturnalia. Over time, Christmas evolved, combining religious customs with cultural traditions like gift-giving, decorating trees, and Santa Claus. It spread worldwide, adapting to local cultures. Today, it's both a religious holiday and a cultural celebration.

Why Red and Greed Are Christmas Colors?

The green represents life and renewal, linked to evergreen plants like holly, ivy, and mistletoe that stay green during winter. Ancient Romans used these plants during their midwinter celebrations to symbolize the persistence of life through harsh seasons.

The red symbolizes the blood of Jesus in Christian tradition. Red also appears in the holly plant, whose bright red berries are a classic feature of Christmas decorations.

Do you know the "Jingle Bell" wasn't a Christmas song?

"Jingle Bells", one of the most famous Christmas songs, wasn't originally written for Christmas. James Lord Pierpont composed it in 1857 under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" for a Thanksgiving church program. The lively tune described a fun winter sleigh ride, which made it popular during the holiday season. Over time, its festive imagery and catchy melody became associated with Christmas, transforming it into a holiday classic. Surprisingly, it's also the first song broadcast from space, played during a 1965 NASA mission!