The Montgomery Ward department store created Rudolph the Reindeer as a marketing gimmick to encourage children to buy their Christmas coloring books.

The original Rudolph did not have a red nose.In that day and age, red noses were seen as an indicator of chronic alcoholism and Montgomery Ward didn’t want him to look like a drunkard.To complete the original picture, he was almost named Reginald or Rollo.

 America’s first batch of eggnog was made in the Jamestown settlement in 1607. Its name comes from the word “grog”, meaning any drink made with rum.Non-alcoholic eggnog is popular as well.

In 1914 during World War I there was a now famous Christmas truce in the trenches between the British and the Germans. They exchanged gifts across a neutral no man’s land, played football together, and decorated their shelters.

The Christmas wreath was originally hung as a symbol of Jesus. The holly represents his crown of thorns and the red berries the blood he shed.

Tinsel was invented in 1610 in Germany and was once made of real silver.

If you gave all the gifts listed in the Twelve Days of Christmas, it would equal 364 gifts.