Christmas, a holiday rich in traditions and celebrated by millions around the world, holds many fascinating facets that go beyond the commonly known facts. Here are some lesser-known and interesting tidbits about Christmas:

1. Xmas isn’t a modern abbreviation: Many people think “Xmas” is a relatively new way to shorten the word “Christmas,” potentially driven by commercialism or a secular attempt to remove the “Christ” from Christmas. However, the use of “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of Χριστός, meaning Christ. This abbreviation has been used for centuries.
2. Japan’s KFC Christmas: In Japan, where Christmas is not a national holiday, a successful marketing campaign in the 1970s made eating KFC on Christmas Eve a national tradition. Many Japanese families order their “Christmas Chicken” weeks in advance to celebrate the season.
3. The Christmas Tree’s origin: The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 16th century. It became popular in England when Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, displayed a tree decorated with candles and sweets. The idea was then popularized in the United States by the early 19th century.
4. Spider decorations in Ukraine: In Ukraine, it’s common to find a spider and web ornament on the Christmas tree. This tradition comes from a folktale about a poor family who couldn’t afford to decorate their tree. According to the story, spiders in the house took pity on them and spun beautiful webs all over the tree, which glistened on Christmas morning.
5. The World’s Largest Christmas Gift: The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States, delivered on Christmas Eve, 1886. It is considered the largest Christmas gift in the world.
6. Christmas wasn’t always on December 25: The date of December 25th was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and the winter solstice. The actual birth date of Jesus is not known, and the Bible doesn’t mention a specific date for his birth.
7. The First Artificial Christmas Tree: The first artificial Christmas trees were developed in Germany in the 19th century, made from goose feathers that were dyed green. This was an environmental effort to prevent deforestation.
8. Christmas and Space: The crew of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon, broadcasted a special message on Christmas Eve, 1968. They read from the Book of Genesis, sharing a moment of peace and goodwill with the largest TV audience in history at the time.
9. The Christmas Truce of 1914: During World War I, in 1914, an unofficial ceasefire along the Western Front saw soldiers from opposing sides emerge from the trenches and share gifts, sing carols, and play football. This remarkable event is known as the Christmas Truce.
10. Sending Animals by Post: In the early 20th century, if you wanted to send a gift of live chickens to someone for Christmas, the U.S. postal service would allow it. Regulations have since changed, but it was not uncommon for animals to be mailed with proper postage and ventilation holes.

These facts highlight the diverse and rich traditions surrounding Christmas, showing how it is celebrated and recognized in various forms around the world.