Facts about Christmas

5 Quirky Facts About Christmas You Probably Didn’t Know

Tree Lights Rockefeller Center
Tree Lights Rockefeller Center
Photo by depositphotos.com

Christmas is a magical time of year, but it’s also packed with stories, traditions, and oddities that are anything but ordinary. From bizarre folklore to unexpected historical twists, these five random Christmas facts will make you see the holiday season in a whole new light. Let’s dive in!

1. Hey Arnold’s Christmas Episode Almost Didn’t Happen

Nickelodeon’s beloved show Hey Arnold! almost missed the chance to air its heartfelt Christmas episode. Why? The network doubted that kids would care about its serious storyline involving the Vietnam War. But one executive’s nine-year-old son proved them wrong. After watching a rough cut, the child asked, “Mom, is that what Vietnam was all about?” That poignant reaction convinced the higher-ups to give the episode the green light. Today, it remains one of the most touching moments in 90s animation, showing how holiday stories can blend heartwarming messages with deeper, more complex themes.

2. Beware the Yule Cat in Iceland

Forget Santa Claus; in Icelandic folklore, you’ve got something far scarier to worry about: the Jólaköttur, or Yule Cat. This enormous feline prowls through the snowy countryside during the holiday season, looking for victims. Its criteria? If you didn’t receive any new clothes before Christmas Eve, you’re at risk of being devoured! The legend was likely used to encourage generosity and ensure everyone—especially those in need—had something new to wear for the festive season. While it’s a creepy tale, it’s also a reminder of the importance of sharing and kindness during the holidays.

3. The Yule Log TV Program: A Gift for Apartment Dwellers

If you’ve ever tuned into a fireplace loop on TV, you can thank a little holiday ingenuity from 1966. WPIX, a New York television station, introduced The Yule Log, a simple program featuring a crackling fireplace set to classic Christmas music. The idea was to bring the cozy ambiance of a hearth to city dwellers who didn’t have fireplaces in their apartments. But there was another motive: giving the morning news crew a well-deserved Christmas Day off! What started as a quirky gift to viewers turned into a cherished tradition that’s been replicated on streaming platforms around the world.

4. Christmas Was Once Illegal

It might sound shocking, but there was a time when celebrating Christmas could get you in serious trouble. During the 17th century, the Puritans banned the holiday altogether, branding it as “popery”—a term they used to criticize anything they deemed overly Catholic. In England, this ban lasted from 1647 to 1660 and even sparked pro-Christmas riots. Across the Atlantic in Boston, Christmas was outlawed from 1659 to 1681. Even after the ban was lifted, celebrating the holiday remained out of fashion in the region until the 19th century. Imagine living in a time when singing carols or hanging decorations could make you a rebel!

5. The Colorado Bank Robber With Holiday Spirit

In 2019, Christmas took a strange turn in Colorado when a 65-year-old man decided to spread holiday cheer in the most unconventional way. After robbing a bank, he stepped outside and threw the stolen cash into the air, shouting “Merry Christmas!” to stunned passersby. His spree didn’t last long—he casually walked to a nearby Starbucks and waited for the police to arrive. Witnesses described him as calm and almost jovial, as if he were playing Santa Claus for the day. Though his actions landed him in jail, his story became an oddly festive tale of crime mixed with generosity—a true holiday paradox.

5 Facts About Gifts to Think About This Holiday Season

Woman placing christmas gift in row
Photo by depositphotos.com

So, with Christmas just around the corner, it is time to get into the whole season of giving and think about some cool gifts. Gift-giving is such a sweet tradition all around the world; however, there are some pretty weird quirks and stories you might not expect. From unused gift cards to surprising legal stuff and fun family traditions, here are five cool facts about gifts that might change how you see the holiday season.

1. America’s $21 Billion Gift Card Problem

Gift cards may seem like an easy and practical present, but many of them go unused. In the United States alone, unused gift cards amount to a staggering $21 billion. Nearly two-thirds of people own at least one unused card, and half of these individuals will lose or forget about it entirely before redeeming it. While businesses benefit from this—unused balances and overspending by customers who do redeem cards—this highlights how even well-intended gifts can go underutilized. This holiday season, consider a personal touch to ensure your gift isn’t forgotten.

2. Engagement Rings: A Legal Gray Area

Engagement rings might symbolize love and commitment, but in some U.S. states, they are classified as “conditional gifts.” This means the giver has the right to ask for the ring back if the engagement is called off, as the gift was given under the condition of marriage. Interestingly, proposing on a birthday or Christmas could make the ring an unconditional gift, leaving no legal recourse to reclaim it. While the legalities are fascinating, it’s worth reflecting: if you’re already worrying about what happens to the ring in a breakup, perhaps it’s time to reconsider the relationship itself.

3. When Should You Open Gifts? It Depends on Where You Live

The tradition of opening Christmas gifts varies across the globe. In English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and the UK, unwrapping presents on Christmas morning is a beloved tradition. However, in many European and Latin American cultures, the gift exchange happens on Christmas Eve. This difference often ties back to religious customs and local traditions, showing how one holiday can bring diverse expressions of joy around the world.

4. The Ultimate Re-Gifting Challenge: A Pair of Pants

For over 25 years, two brothers turned a simple pair of pants into a legendary re-gifting tradition. Each year, they returned the pants to one another in increasingly elaborate and absurd packaging. The pants were hidden in a 600-pound safe, sealed inside a double-glazed window, launched in a 16-foot rocket, and even crushed inside a car, with a card that read: “Merry Christmas, the pants are in the glove box.” This tradition is a reminder that sometimes the joy of giving isn’t about the gift itself but the creativity and love that go into it.

5. Auschwitz’s Unexpected Gift Shop

In a sobering twist, Auschwitz, the site of one of history’s darkest atrocities, has a gift shop. The existence of a gift shop at such a solemn site raises deep ethical and emotional questions. While the shop sells books, educational materials, and memorial items to help visitors learn and remember, it also sparks debate about the commercialization of history and how we honor the past. This fact challenges us to think carefully about how and why we give and receive gifts, especially in contexts that carry profound historical weight.

Hey, this holiday season, while you’re out buying gifts or getting intofamily traditions, let these cool stories get you thinking about whatgiving really means. Whether it’s the thought that goes into a gift, the traditions you keep alive, or the lessons you share, just remember that the best gifts usually aren’t just what’s sitting under the tree.

Quirky Customs: Unraveling 5 Traditions from Around the Globe

A contemporary Mari Lwyd, using a cattle skull
A contemporary Mari Lwyd, using a cattle skull
Photo by Wikipedia

Every corner of the world harbors unique traditions that reflect its history, culture, and evolution. Dive into five such distinctive customs that, while they may seem unconventional to some, offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of global practices and beliefs.

1. The Scottish Culinary Delight: The tradition of frying chicken in fat is deeply rooted in Scottish culture. When Scottish immigrants set foot on American soil, they brought this culinary practice with them. Interestingly, it was they who introduced this technique to African slaves, leading to a fusion of flavors and tastes.

2. Festive Chinese Cuisine in Jewish Households: For over a century, Jewish Americans have established a unique tradition of relishing Chinese food during the festive holiday season, merging two distinct culinary worlds in a delightful gastronomic experience.

3. Swedish Cartoon Affection: Every Christmas Eve at 3 p.m., almost half of Sweden halts to tune into a specific Donald Duck cartoon. This tradition, which began in 1959, stems from a time when Swedes had limited television channels and American cartoons were a rare treat. Over the decades, this quirky ritual has cemented its place in the heart of Swedish Christmas celebrations.

4. Milwaukee’s Unconventional Christmas Dish: In Milwaukee, residents indulge in a rather unconventional festive delicacy: raw ground beef paired with onions, all served on a slice of rye bread. This raw delight has been a staple of their Christmas feasts for years.

5. The Welsh Singing Horse Skull: The Welsh have a peculiar midwinter ritual named Mari Lwyd. This tradition sees a horse skull (often adorned) arriving at homes. However, gaining entry isn’t straightforward; a poetic sing-off determines if the Mari Lwyd can enter the home and partake in the household’s beer! Rooted in pre-Christian times, the symbolic white horse has been an iconic figure in the United Kingdom for millennia. Some regions even parade their horse skulls for other occasions like Halloween or May Day, showcasing the deep historical roots of this unique tradition.