The common abbreviation for Christmas to Xmas is derived from the Greek alphabet. X is letter Chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek alphabet.
Today many carolers sing traditional Christmas Carols to raise money for various charities. However,carol singing began in England when traveling musicians would visit wealthy homes and perform in the hope of receiving money or food.
Oliver Cromwell, in England banned Christmas Carols between 1649 and 1660. Cromwell thought that Christmas should be a very solemn day so he banned carols and parties. The only celebration was by a sermon and a prayer service.
The Roman Church calendar records a nativity celebration on the 25th December as early as 336AD, and this widely became the accepted holiday.
The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
It was the Victorians who started off the popular tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. They hung mistletoe from doorways and ceilings and a mistletoe myth states that if a woman stands under the mistletoe does not receive a kiss, she will not marry in the following year.
The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
In 1836, Alabama is the first state in the USA to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
Hanging a Christmas wreath on your front door is a sign of welcome and long life for all who enter!
In 1856, President Franklin Pierce decorates the first White House Christmas tree.
The Best Selling Christmas Song of all time is Bing Crosby’s Christmas classic “White Christmas”
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