Fun Christmas Facts for Kids

We all know that Santa lives in the North Pole and Rudolph is the reindeer that guides him, but there’s a lot more to learn about Christmas and its history!

1. Santa didn’t always wear red. For many years, he actually wore green, purple or blue! He started appearing in red after Coca Cola decided he should match their colors.
2. Alabama was the first U.S. state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday. Seriously! In 1836, Alabama declared it a holiday. Oklahoma was the last state to recognize Christmas as a holiday (in 1907).
3. President Grant declared Christmas a federal holiday in 1870.
4. The first artificial Christmas tree was made in Germany  out of goose feathers dyed green!
5. Thomas Edison and his friend Edward Johnson invented Christmas lights.
6. Before electric lights were invented, people decorated their Christmas trees with fruit, popcorn, and even candles!
7. Santa receives more than 8 million letters every single year from children all around the world.
8. There are approximately 2.1 million reindeer in the world.
9. The classic Christmas song Jingle Bells was originally a Thanksgiving song.
10. Eggnog has been around since the 13th century! Monks enjoyed this festive drink in medieval times.
11. Every single U.S. state grows Christmas trees.
12. Tinsel used to be made of real silver.