15 Fun Christmas Facts You Didn’t Know
Jingle Bells Was The First Song Played In Space
The crew of NASA’s Gemini 6A space flight got into the Christmas spirit and made history when they played Jingle Bells on 16th December, 1965, banking the Guinness World Record for being the first song ever played in space.
It’s The Year For Staying At Home
At John Lewis, searches for Christmas pyjamas have soared by 284% in recent weeks compared to last year. Hardly surprising given the year we’ve had.
There Are Nearly 750 Versions Of Silent Night
Silent Night has long been a Christmas song staple – in fact, it’s the most recorded Christmas hymn in history. According to Time magazine, there have been over 733 different versions of the carol copyrighted since 1978.
People in Japan Eat KFC On Christmas Day
An estimated 3.6 million Japanese families enjoy the famous fast-food chicken on Christmas Day. Daily sales at some KFC outlets in the country can be ten times their usual intake and getting your hands on a KFC Christmas dinner requires ordering it weeks in advance.
6 Million
That’s the number of rolls of Sellotape sold in the UK in the run-up to Christmas. This Sellotape is used to wrap millions of presents – in fact, did you know the average child in the UK receives 16 presents on Christmas day?
It’s Illegal To Eat Mince Pies On Christmas Day
In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas pudding, mince pies and anything to do with gluttony. The law has never been rescinded, meaning it’s technically illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day in the UK.
In Ukraine, People Decorate Their Homes With Spider’s Webs
The tradition has its origins in an old tale of a poor woman who couldn’t afford to decorate her tree and woke up on Christmas morning to discover a spider had covered it in a sparkling web. Today, in addition to fairy lights and baubles, Ukrainians place artificial spiders and webs on their trees.
647 Miles
That’s the length of Christmas lights sold at John Lewis this year – enough to travel from Plymouth to just beyond Aberdeen – you know, if we were allowed.
There are 13 Santas In Iceland
Icelandic children get to enjoy 13 Father Christmases. Called the Yule Lads, these figures take turns visiting children on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas, leaving gifts in shoes left on a family’s windowsill. Their names include Licker, Door Sniffer and Meat Hook.
We’re A Nation Of Mince Pie Lovers
The most-purchased item on Waitrose.com during the festive period is Waitrose’s No.1 All Butter Mince Pies. The most forgotten item – most commonly added as an amendment after checkout – is Fairtrade bananas.
Donald Duck Features In Sweden On Christmas Eve
A large part of Sweden’s population watches Donald Duck cartoons every Christmas Eve – a tradition that started in 1960. Swedes are so compelled by the cartoon that, last year during the programme, mobile phone usage fell nearly 30%.
British Women Cook Their First Festive Feast at 34
On average, British women don’t attempt their first Christmas lunch until the age of 34. Plus, 28% of British men admit their partner’s dinner is better than their mother’s.
The UK Brussels Sprouts Industry Is Worth £650 Million
Moreover, the area of the UK covered by Brussels sprouts fields is equivalent to 3,240 football pitches.
Father Christmas Has His Own Postcode In Canada
Children in Canada send letters to Father Christmas at Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0.
You Have Dickens To Thank For The Dream Of A White Christmas
The idea of a white Christmas comes from Charles Dickens. The author lived during a mini-ice age, which meant it snowed for eight consecutive Christmases. However, the chances of a white Christmas in the UK today is just one in ten.
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