By Kathryn Ware
Trivia gleaned from Comcast’s Sounds of the Season Music Choice Channel. Better than watching a burning log.
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1. In Poland, the gift bringer is Star Man. (Not to be confused with Starman.)
2. In “Prancer Returns” Charlie finds a baby reindeer in the woods and immediately believes it to be Prancer.
3. On New Year’s Day 1876, in honor of the centennial, the first Mummers’ parade was held in Philadelphia, PA.
4. Christmas Island is located in the Pacific Ocean.
5. “Do You Hear What I Hear” was heard in the film Gremlins.
6. In Germany, the mother is the family member who trims the Christmas tree.
7. Christmas gifts date back to the time of Britain’s Henry VII, when Christmas “boxes” filled with money were common.
8. 86% of consumers do their Christmas shopping during December.
9. In Syria, the camel is the gift bringer.
10. In France, parents exchange gifts on New Year’s Day.
11. Born on New Year, 1735: Paul Revere and 1940: Frank Langella.
12. The present-day New Year’s Eve ball displayed in New York City’s Times Square was designed by Waterford. (Bonus fact: The 2008 ball has new LED technology – 9.5 LEDs – to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the New Year’s Eve ball.)
13. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is the best selling Christmas single with sales of over 30 million copies.
14. The color white on the candy cane symbolizes purity.
15. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) the Grinch took the last can of Who Hash.
16. Scandinavian mythology brought us the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.
17. White Christmas (1954) never won an Academy Award.
18. Early Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades had employees marching dressed as clowns, cowboys, knights, and sheiks.
19. Ingredients for low-calorie egg-nog are 2 eggs, 4 cups skim milk, vanilla, sugar substitute, brandy, and nutmeg.
20. Skateboards were the most popular gift of 1965, especially in California.
21. Over one million acres of land are planted with Christmas trees in the U.S.
22. In Denmark, a bowl of julnisse (rice pudding) is left out for Santa’s elves.
23. Frosty the Snowman (1969) begins with the first snow of the season on Christmas Eve.
24. When Prohibition ended alcohol could be legally purchased again on St. Nicholas Day in 1933.
25. St. Francis of Assisi created the first manger scene, or creche, in 1224.
26. Since the beginning of the White House holiday tree tradition, 16 states have provided trees.
27. Cabbage Patch dolls were the most popular gift for girls in 1984.
28. According to legend, the holiday tradition of tinsel is attributed to spiders.
29. Bert Convy starred in the only Christmas movie of his career in 1979’s The Man in the Santa Claus Suit.
30. Norway sends a large Christmas tree to England on an annual basis.
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Catch up with Comcast’s rock trivia!
Posted on December 26, 2007