Christmas Trivia/Facts

A lot of the following was news to me, so Im sharing... Have a very
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

CHRISTMAS FACTS:

It is a British Christmas tradition that a wish made while mixing The
Christmas pudding will come true only if the ingredients are stirred in a
clockwise direction.

The tradition of Christmas lights dates back to when Christians were
persecuted for saying Mass. A simple candle in the window meant that Mass
would be celebrated there that night.

Yuletide-named towns in the United States include Santa Claus, located in
Arizona and Indiana, Noel in Missouri, and Christmas in both Arizona and
Florida.

The classic animal crackers box is designed with a string handle because the
animal-shaped cookie treats, introduced in 1902 as a Christmas novelty, were
packaged so they could be hung from Christmas trees.

Sending red Christmas cards to anyone in Japan constitutes bad etiquette,
since funeral notices there are customarily printed in red.

When distributing gifts in Holland, St. Nicholas is accompanied by his
servant, Black Peter; who is responsible for actually dropping the presents
down the chimneys. However, legend claims that Peter also punishes bad
children by putting them in a bag and carrying them away to Spain.

Theodore Roosevelt, a staunch conservationist, banned Christmas trees in his
home, even when he lived in the White House. His children, however, smuggled
them into their bedrooms.

Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria of England, was credited with
introducing the German custom of the Christmas tree into the English home in
1841.

In the British armed forces it is traditional that officers wait on the men
and serve them their Christmas dinner. This dates back to a custom from the
Middle Ages.

Christmas Carol History of Twelve Days of Christmas

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and
especially that partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do
with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to
practice their faith openly.

Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young
Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning, plus a hidden
meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has
a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

2. Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.

3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John.

5. The Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of
the Old Testament.

6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy
Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership,
and Mercy.

8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy,
Peace, Patience, and Kindness Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and
Self-control.

10. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

11. Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the
Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history lesson for today and now you know how that strange
song became a Christmas Carol!