Strange But True Christmas Trivia
Why do we have Christmas trees? Who invented the candy cane? And which fairytale was the first gingerbread house inspired by?
When we think of Christmas, we picture presents under the tree, red-striped candy canes, and cookies left out for Santa. But those traditions aren’t as old as you might think. Before the mid-1800s, Americans left the trees outside for Christmas. And cookies for Santa started after the invention of sliced bread.
Looking for fun facts about Christmas to share this holiday? Keep reading for strange but true Christmas trivia.
Why do we have Christmas trees?
How did the tradition of Christmas trees start? The practice dates before the birth of Christianity when ancient Romans and Germanic tribes brought green plants, especially evergreens, into their homes in winter. They hung boughs over the door as a promise that spring and its greenery would return.
The modern tradition dates back to the 16th century, when Germans began decorating trees with candles.
But Christmas trees didn’t come to America until the 1800s. German settlers brought the tradition in the 1830s. At first, the practice didn’t catch on, because many Americans saw the decorated trees as pagan.
Over the next few decades, though, Christmas trees became popular. In the 1840s, an illustration of Queen Victoria and German husband in front of a Christmas tree made the rounds. Soon, Christmas trees became fashionable across the British empire and Americans jumped on the tradition.
At first, Americans imported ornaments from Europe and decorated their trees with candles, fruits, and nuts.
But Americans did change the practice. Europeans were used to small Christmas trees, usually no taller than four feet. Americans, on the other hand, chopped down towering trees that brushed the ceiling.
By the time electric Christmas lights were widely available, Americans saw Christmas trees as an annual tradition.
When did leaving cookies for Santa start?
Americans started leaving cookies for Santa in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. Many families had to cut back on Christmas gifts, and thinking of Santa was a good way to stress the importance of generosity and gratitude.
The tradition may have roots in Norse mythology. During the dark winter solstice, Norse children would leave treats for Odin’s horse. Even today, many Scandinavian countries leave out hay and carrots for Santa’s animals.
Why do we leave milk and cookies for Santa? American families want to share a sweet treat with Santa, while Irish families often leave out a pint of Guinness and the French treat Santa to a glass of wine.
Who invented the candy cane?
The story of the first candy cane dates back to 1670. That year, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral reportedly came up with a new invention: sugar sticks for the youngest children to lick while they performed in living nativity scenes.
Today, candy canes are the biggest selling non-chocolate candy each December. They hang on Christmas trees, hide in stockings, and give children sticky hands at Christmas time.
The link between candy canes and Christmas might date back to 1670 — if the treats were invented for nativity scenes, the connection makes sense. According to stories, the choirmaster bent the sugar sticks into a cane shape that looked like a shepherd’s crook.
For a long time, candy canes were made from white sugar. It wasn’t until around 1900 that peppermint flavoring and a red stripe became the most common type of candy cane. Since then, candy canes have been a staple at Christmas time.
Why is eggnog a Christmas drink?
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that eggnog is a Christmas drink. But why? The answer goes back to medieval England.
It’s no coincidence that many festive holiday drinks contain similar spices like cloves and cinnamon. These spices pop up not only in eggnog but also in hot apple cider and mulled wine. As the fanciest (and most expensive) spices in England, medieval festivities often featured this blend — which also appears in holiday dishes like gingerbread and pumpkin pie.
Some medieval English traditions didn’t continue — like drinking wassail, which mixed ale, cream, eggs, and apples with cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Or the tradition of watering trees with hot cider for a bountiful harvest. But the eggnog tradition continues.
Did the Puritans ban Christmas?
It sounds strange, but it’s true — the Puritans banned Christmas. In 1659, the Massachusetts Bay Colony made it illegal to celebrate Christmas. The law required a steep fine for “whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way.”
The Puritan ban on Christmas might seem confusing — weren’t they strict about religion? But it makes sense in the context of their religious beliefs. The Puritans were all about going back to the Bible, and the Bible never mentions Christmas or any celebration of the Nativity.
Instead, Puritans believed Christmas had been corrupted with pagan beliefs. And many Christmas traditions have pagan roots, including Christmas trees and the very timing of the holiday, which coincides with the winter solstice.
On top of that, Puritans disagreed with how their fellow Christians celebrated the holiday. Christmas tended to involve feasts, drinking, and role reversals, with men dressing as women and teens demanding money from the wealthy. Oliver Cromwell himself said that Christmas carols and other “heathen traditions” desecrated “that sacred event.”
“Men dishonor Christ more in the 12 days of Christmas than in all the 12 months besides,” complained one Protestant reformer. The Puritan law stayed on the books for a generation.
Which fairytale was the first gingerbread house inspired by?
In the early 1800s, the Brothers Grimm wrote down the oral story of Hansel and Gretel. The children discovered a gingerbread house decorated in treats — along with a spooky witch who wanted to eat them. Ironically, the dark fairytale spread the tradition of decorating gingerbread houses at Christmas.
“The little house was built entirely from bread with a roof made of cake,” the Brothers Grimm wrote, “and the windows were made of clear sugar.”
But gingerbread was a popular treat long before the Brothers Grimm showed up. In the 1500s, the spiced treat was most commonly served as cookies. Elizabethans decorated gingerbread flowers every spring and birds in the fall. But gingerbread houses come from Germany.
Around the same time England’s queen ate gingerbread cookies, Germans began decorating houses built from cookies. Gingerbread houses quickly became a Christmas tradition. But they didn’t become popular until a fairytale spread their story.
Why are poinsettias associated with Christmas?
For many families, evergreen trees aren’t the only plant featured at Christmas time. Poinsettias are a common Christmas decoration — and the tradition comes from Mexico.
Joseph Poinsett, the American ambassador to Mexico in the 1830s, noticed the beautiful red flower that bloomed in winter. Missionaries had named it the Nativity plant because of the timing of its bloom. A curious botanist, Poinsett brought the plant back and it became known as a poinsettia.
Mexicans also linked poinsettias with Christmas. In a popular legend, a poor girl named Pepita brought a handful of weeds as a nativity gift. When she presented the bouquet during Christmas Eve mass, it transformed into a stunning poinsettia. The tradition of poinsettias at Christmas time continues in Mexico and America.
How did the NORAD Santa tracker start?
In 1955, a Colorado newspaper ran a department store ad encouraging children to call Santa directly — but the ad misprinted the number. Instead of ringing the store, the number called the Air Defense Command.
Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup was in for a big surprise that year when the unlisted number started ringing off the hook. Children phoned in to ask about Santa — and Shoup promised that the Air Force would make sure Santa traveled safely from the North Pole.
Today, the NORAD Tracks Santa program answers tens of thousands of calls and emails to let kids know that Santa is on his way.
For more strange and fascinating stories from history, check out Bruce Wilson’s book Strange but True Stories: Fascinating Facts, Astonishing Trivia, and Conversation Starters from History, available in ebook, paperback, or audiobook.
Bruce Wilson Jr. is the author of nine books on history. Visit Bruce Wilson’s website to learn more.
