Did you know?...

• The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. (The first printed reference to it was in Germany in 1531).

• According to tradition, Saint Nicholas left his very first gifts of gold coins in the stockings of three poor girls who needed the money for their wedding dowries. The girls had hung their stockings by the fire to dry. The tradition of hanging stockings has modified itself, from gag gifts, to small inexpensive but useful gifts.

• According to tradition, giving a lump of coal in the stockings of naughty children comes from Italy.

• Poinsettias were attached to Christmas starting in 1828. Joel Roberts Poinsett, then the first Mexican ambassador from the United States, imported the plant from Mexico.

• In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, “A Visit from St. Nick" which was later published as The Night Before Christmas. Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit.

Xmas, the abbreviation for Christmas, is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Kristos. X is also the letter Chi which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek alphabet. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect.

Just a few interesting "tid-bits"

XtnYoda Shalomed