LITTLE KNOWN CHRISTMAS FACTS

1. Stone yo-yos appeared in Greece around 100 BC. (how old are your toys?)

2. Each week, Mattel sells 1.5 million Barbie Dolls, about two per second.

3. The tradition of exchanging gifts started by the Ancient Romans.

4. There are twelve courses in the Ukrainian Christmas eve supper. Each dedicated to one of Christ’s Apostles.

5. Alabama was the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1836.

6. Bing Crosby’s famous “White Christmas” won an Oscar in 1942.

7. Gingerbread houses were made famous by the fairytale, Hansel and Gretel.

8. The candy cane was created by a candymaker in India. Early versions of candy canes were straight, but in the late 1600’s were bent to resemble a shepherd’s staff.

9. Candy canes started as a treat to keep the children’s choir quiet during ceremonies in the late 1600s.

10. The sale of Christmas trees began in the US in 1851.

11. For each Christmas tree cut down roughly three are planted. It takes about 15 years for a Christmas tree to grow from a sapling to full size.

12. A Christmas tree a day keeps the doctor away. Edible white pine needles are high in Vitamin C. (YUCK!!)

13. The first electric Christmas tree lights were sold by General Electric in 1903.

14. Almost $8 billion are spent on Christmas decorations each year.

15. Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant and is the number one flowering potted plant in the United States.

FAMOUS CHRISTMAS TOYS

Here are a list of 35 Christmas toys and games and the years they were popular for Christmas.
See if you can match them up correctly.

RULES: You can work as a family, (under the same roof), JUST USE YOUR MEMORY, KNOWLEDGE OR BEST GUESS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THE INTERNET OR ENCYCLOPEDIAS–REMEMBER THOSE?

THE WINNER IS THE ONE WITH THE MOST CORRECT ANSWERS. First place wins 10 PRO PHOTO notecards, a $25 value. You have until January 15th, 2011.

BARBIE
BEANIE BABIES
BMX BIKES
CABBAGE PATCH KIDS
CANDY LAND
CHUTES & LADDERS, BOARD GAME
CLUE, BOARD GAME
CONCENTRATION, BOARD GAME
CRAYOLA CRAYONS
DUNCAN YO-YO
ELMO LIVE
ETCH A SKETCH
G.I. JOE
GAME OF LIFE, FIRST RELEASED TO CELEBRATE 100TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MILTON BRADLEY
HOT WHEELS
LEGO
MASTERMIND
MONOPOLY, BOARD GAME
MR POTATO HEAD, FIRST USED REAL POTAOES WITH PLASTIC PARTS
NINTENDO LAUNCHED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
PET ROCK
POGS
PUSH SCOOTERS
RUBIKS CUBE, OVER 100 MILLION SOLD IN TWO YEARS
SLINKY
SORRY, BOARD GAME
SPRIO-GRAPH
TEENAGE MUTANT NINGA TURTLES
SCRABBLE
TICKLE ME ELMO
TIDDLY WINKS
TRANSFORMERS
TWISTER
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONARE BOARD GAME
YAHTZEE

1888
1903
1929
1931
1934
1936
1943
1945
1949
1949
1952
1956
1959
1959
1960
1960
1965
1966
1966
1967
1968
1973
1975
1980
1982
1983
1984
1990
1991
1995
1996
1997
1999
2000
2008

DID YOU KNOW—LITTLE KNOWN CHRISTMAS FACTS

Did you know the holiday tune “Jingle Bells” was originally written in 1857, by James Pierpont to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Did you know the temperature almost never gets above freezing at the North Pole?

Did you know Christmas trees are useful in removing dust and pollen from the air in your house.

The first company to make Christmas tree lights was Edison General Electric Company. The first mass production for Christmas tree lights started around 1890.

By the 12th century, Christmas Trees were originally hung from the ceiling upside down, as a symbol of Christianity.

The ‘x-mas’ abbreviation for Christmas isn’t irreligious; the first letter of Christ in Greek is Chi, which is identical to x.

The custom of kissing under the mistletoe came from Scandivavion Mythology.

The modern day Santa Claus was first introduced by Coco-Cola Company through artist Haddon Sundblom’s advertistments.

The longest Monopoly game lasted 70 days.

Sinterklass arrives by steamboat in the Netherlands.

About 1.5 billion Christmas Cards are sent in the United States each year.

Charles Dickins’ The Christmas Carol from 1943, has been filmed over 200 times.

The US Post Office delivers about 20 billion letters, packages and cards between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Fruitcake originated in Ancient Egypt and was considered essential food for the afterlife.
LED Christmas lights have a lifespan of about 100,000 hours.

Yule, also called Winter Solstice, is the longest night of the year, having the greatest time of darkness.
There are over 500 versions of White Christmas in many languages.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree begins back in 1931, when workers set up a small, unadorned tree at the the construction site.

The trunk of the Rockefeller Center tree is traditionally given to the US Equestrian team for use as a jumping obstacle.

Over 77 Million Christmas Trees are planted each year in the US. 59% of real Christmas Trees are recycled in Community programs.

Christmas cards were first sent in 1840 and originated in England.

Stone yo-yos appeared in Greece around 1000 BC.

The first iron skates were used in Scandinavia in the year 200, they were animal bones that were sharpened and pointed. They had holes drilled through them with straps to tie around the foot.

In Greenland trees can’t live that far north so all Christmas trees must be imported.

Teddy Bears were named after Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt when on a hunting trip, he refused to shoot
a bear cub.

I hope you enjoyed these ‘little known facts”. How many of these did you know?

Merry Christmas to all of you bloggers out there!!!!!