It might surprise you to learn some facts about Christmas. On the other hand maybe it probably wouldn’t.
Fact 1: Santa Claus may have originated as the Anglo Saxon god, Woden
Well, yes. The Santa Claus we know today as the jolly old fat man who brings presents every Christmas eve is definitely a corruption of the Dutch, Sinter Klaas,
whose origin go back to the Nordic Winter Soltice festival, which means he was probably also thought to a personification of Odin, the Norse version of Woden.
Fact 2: Christmas trees were not really popular before 1840.
The Christmas tree tradition that plays such an important role in Christmas nowadays regained its popularity through Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, who revitalised the tradition in 1840. The origin of the tradition goes back to when pagans used such trees as a way of welcoming spring.
Fact 3: Traditionally, Christmas pudding contains 13 ingredients used to honour Christ and his disciples.
Very true. Christmas puddings were traditionally made on Sunday before advent, known as stir-up Sunday. Each member of the family took it in turns to stir the pudding and made a secret wish.
Traditionally, 13 ingredients should be used to honour Christ and his twelve disciples.
Another interesting fact about Christmas pudding is that it started as a kind of porridge in mediaeval times, called, Frumenty.
Fact 4: Christmas is a combination of three festivals.
Christmas as we know and celebrate it today is actually is actually a combination of three different festivals. The three festivals are the birth of Jesus Christ, the Roman festival of Saturnalia, named after the Roman god, Saturn and the Nordic Winter Solstice. It appears that the birth of Jesus has overshadowed the other two especially in Western societies.
These are well researched Christmas facts that you could always brag about at the family Christmas dinner.
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