Facts about Christmas
- 08
Poinsettias sold during the December holiday season generate approximately $250 million in annual U.S. retail sales, making them the best-selling potted flowering plant in America.
- 07
Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th in Commonwealth nations, originated from the Victorian practice of giving boxed gifts to servants and tradespeople the day after Christmas.
- 06
The average American household spends $1,998 on Christmas-related purchases annually, including gifts, decorations, food, and travel expenses combined.
- 05
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 by Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward's Christmas coloring book, becoming one of the most recognized characters in holiday folklore.
- 04
Santa's sleigh would need to travel at 3,000 miles per second to visit 2 billion children on Christmas Eve, exceeding the speed of light by 667 times.
- 03
Approximately 3 billion Christmas cards are sent annually in the United States alone, making it the second-largest seasonal card-sending occasion after Valentine's Day.
- 02
Nearly 2 billion Christmas trees are harvested annually worldwide, with approximately 350 million sold commercially each year for holiday decoration.
- 01
In 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi created the first nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, establishing a tradition that spreads throughout Christian churches globally.