50+ Fun Facts about Christmas You’ve Never Heard Before!

Check out 50+ Fun Facts about Christmas You’ve Never Heard Before that will blow your mind. 

50+ Fun Facts About Christmas

Christmas is the most magical time of the year, filled with twinkling lights, cozy traditions, and festive cheer. But did you know there’s a whole world of fascinating, funny, and downright surprising facts about this beloved holiday? Whether you’re the kind of person who lives for decking the halls or someone who simply enjoys a good Christmas cookie, there’s something here to make you smile, learn, and maybe even win a trivia night!

From quirky customs around the world to the history of Santa Claus and his reindeer, this list of 100 fun Christmas facts will leave you feeling even more festive. Why do we kiss under mistletoe? How did candy canes get their stripes? And what’s with the ugly Christmas sweater trend? We’ve got all the answers!

Christmas is more than just gifts under the tree; it’s a holiday rich in traditions and packed with surprises. For example, did you know that the first artificial Christmas trees were made of dyed goose feathers? Or that Jingle Bells was originally written as a Thanksgiving song? With these 100 tidbits, you’ll not only become a holiday expert, but you’ll also have plenty of fun stories to share over eggnog.

So, grab a mug of hot cocoa, turn on your favorite Christmas tunes, and settle in for a holly, jolly journey through the most wonderful time of the year. Get ready to learn, laugh, and maybe even discover a new favorite holiday tradition. Let’s dive into 100 fun facts about Christmas—because there’s no such thing as too much holiday spirit!

Christmas Traditions

1. Hanging stockings by the fireplace started with a legend about St. Nicholas leaving gold in socks drying by the fire.
2. Candy canes were invented in Germany and shaped like a shepherd’s crook to symbolize Jesus.
3. The tradition of Christmas trees originated in Germany in the 16th century.
4. The first Christmas tree in the White House was put up by President Franklin Pierce in 1856.
5. The record for the tallest Christmas tree ever displayed was a 221-foot Douglas fir in Seattle in 1950.
6. The custom of sending Christmas cards started in England in 1843.
7. “Xmas” isn’t taking Christ out of Christmas—the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, the first letter of “Christ.”
8. Mistletoe was considered a symbol of fertility and love by ancient druids.
9. Poinsettias are native to Mexico and were introduced to the U.S. in 1828 by Joel Poinsett.
10. The world’s largest gingerbread house was built in Texas and measured over 2,500 square feet.

Fun Santa Facts

11. Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas, a real saint from Myra, Turkey.
12. The modern image of Santa in a red suit was popularized by Coca-Cola ads in the 1930s.
13. Santa’s sleigh would need to travel at 650 miles per second to deliver gifts to every child in the world.
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 as a promotional gimmick for Montgomery Ward.
15. The names of Santa’s reindeer come from Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”
16. Santa’s North Pole home wasn’t popularized until the late 1800s.
17. In the Netherlands, Santa (Sinterklaas) arrives by boat and travels on a white horse.
18. In Australia, Santa sometimes rides in on a surfboard or in a sleigh pulled by kangaroos.
19. Santa has different names worldwide, like Père Noël in France and Ded Moroz in Russia.
20. NORAD has been “tracking” Santa’s journey since 1955.

Holiday History

21. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the U.S. on June 26, 1870.
22. The Puritans in Massachusetts banned Christmas from 1659 to 1681.
23. The word “Christmas” comes from “Christ’s Mass” in Old English.
24. The first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome in 336 AD.
25. The term “Yuletide” comes from the Norse god Odin’s winter solstice festival.
26. Tinsel was invented in Germany in 1610 and was originally made from real silver.
27. The song “Jingle Bells” was originally written for Thanksgiving.
28. The first artificial Christmas trees were made from dyed goose feathers.
29. Eggnog originated in England and was a drink for the wealthy.
30. The Twelve Days of Christmas refers to the days between December 25th and January 5th.

Quirky Global Celebrations

31. In Japan, KFC is a popular Christmas dinner tradition.
32. In Iceland, children are visited by the 13 Yule Lads instead of Santa Claus.
33. In Venezuela, people roller skate to church on Christmas morning.
34. In the Philippines, the Giant Lantern Festival takes place before Christmas with enormous lantern displays.
35. In Sweden, a giant straw goat is built in Gävle—but it’s often set on fire by pranksters.
36. In Germany, children leave a shoe out for St. Nicholas on December 5th to find treats the next morning.
37. In Norway, people hide their brooms on Christmas Eve to ward off evil spirits.
38. In Italy, La Befana, a kind witch, delivers gifts to children on January 5th.
39. In South Africa, people eat fried caterpillars as a Christmas delicacy.
40. In Finland, families traditionally visit the graves of their loved ones on Christmas Eve.

Festive Food Facts

41. The first fruitcake recipe dates back to ancient Rome.
42. Mince pies were once made with meat, not fruit.
43. Gingerbread houses became popular after the Brothers Grimm published “Hansel and Gretel.”
44. In Mexico, tamales and pozole are a traditional Christmas food.
45. The most expensive Christmas dinner on record cost over $150,000 at a restaurant in London.
46. Americans buy over 318 million pounds of ham during the holiday season.
47. The Yule log dessert was inspired by the tradition of burning a large log in the hearth.
48. In Poland, Christmas Eve dinner includes 12 dishes to symbolize the apostles.
49. Turkey wasn’t the main Christmas dish until the 19th century.
50. The Guinness World Record for the largest Christmas pudding weighed over 7,000 pounds.

Christmas Entertainment

51. “Home Alone” is the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time.
52. “Silent Night” is the most recorded Christmas song in history.
53. The song “White Christmas” holds the record as the best-selling single ever.
54. Hallmark releases around 40 new Christmas movies every year.
55. The first televised Christmas tree lighting occurred in 1946.

Are you looking for some more fun for your Christmas? Check out this fun Christmas Movie Emoji game printable for your party or Christmas Jokes for kids.