Little-known Christmas trivia
By Joshua Marrano

General Christmas Tree Facts:
1. Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska.

2. More than one million acres of land have been planted with Christmas trees.

3. On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.

4. Christmas trees generally take six to eight years to mature.

5. The best selling trees are Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir and White Pine.

6. The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas Fir in the town of Woodinville, Wash.

A Christmas Tree Timeline
1850-The first Christmas tree was sold in America.

1889-The tradition of placing a decorated tree in the White House began during the Presidency of Benjamin Harrison.

1912-The first community Christmas tree in the United States was erected in New York City.

1923-President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, now held every year on the White House lawn.

1963-the National Christmas Tree was not lit until Dec. 22 because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

1979-the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.



Origins of the Christmas Tree
*Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.

*It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he brought a tree into his home and decorated the branches with lighted candles.

*The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747.

*The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the more traditional German-Americans continued to use apples, nuts and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end.

*Thomas Edison's assistants came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees.



Santa Claus, the Reindeer, etc...
1773-December, and again in 1774, a New York newspaper reported that groups of Dutch families had gathered to honor the anniversary of the death of Saint Nicholas.The name Santa Claus evolved from Nick's Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas.

1804-John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, distributed woodcuts of St. Nicholas at the society's annual meeting. The background of the engraving contains now-familiar Santa images including stockings filled with toys and fruit, hung over a fireplace.

1809-Washington Irving helped popularize the Sinter Klaas stories when he referred to St. Nicholas as the patron saint of New York in his book, The History of New York.

1822-Clement Clarke Moore, an Episcopal minister, wrote a long Christmas poem for his three daughters entitled, "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas." The poem, later entitled " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," helped popularize the idea of a Santa Claus who flew from house to house on Christmas Eve-in "a miniature sleigh" led by eight flying reindeer, whom he also named-leaving presents for deserving children.

1881-political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on Moore's poem to create the first likeness that matches our modern image of Santa Claus.



Other Christmas Facts
Holly-used to "deck the halls" because the church, at one time, outlawed mistletoe due to its use at the time by pagans. The thorny leaves were said to represent Christ's crown of thorns and the red berries drops of His blood.

Poinsettias-associated with Christmas beginning in 1828. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, imported the plant from Mexico.

Fruitcakes-have been enjoyed up to 25 years after baking.

Stockings-hung because, according to legend, Saint Nicholas left his first gifts in the stockings of three poor girls who had hung them over the fireplace to dry.

Christmas cards-first exchanged in America in 1846. Today over 2 billion are exchanged each year.

1867- first year that Macy's department store in New York City remained open until midnight on Christmas Eve.

70% of yearly retail sales is gained by some retail establishments during the holiday season.

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-in 1939, Santas at Montgomery Ward's gave away this booklet, written by one of the store's marketing personnel. This was the first appearance of "Rudolph with his nose so bright."

"White Christmas"- sung by Bing Crosby, is the most popular Christmas song. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," sung by Gene Autry, is second.

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