Keeping up with Christmas
How much do you know about Christmas? Here are some fun Christmas facts you can use to quiz your family and friends.
Who brings Christmas gifts?
The obvious answer is the jolly old man with a white beard and a big tummy known as Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas. But in Germany, an angelic child with blonde hair and beautiful wings named Christkind is the gift giver. In Russia, gifts are handed out by Babouschka, an old woman on a journey to search for the Christ child after she failed to give food and shelter to the three wise kings. In Italy, a kind old witch known as La Befana rewards good children during Christmas.
Unfortunately, these mythical folk characters have slowly been losing popularity to Santa Claus, who was made famous by Coca-Cola billboard ads by Swedish artist Haddon Sundblom. Sundblom created the classic image of a red suited Santa in 1931.
Why is the Poinsettia associated with Christmas?
The poinsettia, characterised by fiery red leaves, is the most popular Christmas plant. According to a Mexican legend, a poor girl on her way to the village chapel picked up some seeds of the plant as an offering to Christ on Christmas Eve. The seeds bloomed into a bouquet of red flowers as the girl approached the altar.
Contrary to popular belief, the poinsettia - which originated in Mexico - is not fatally poisonous. But some people who are allergic to the milky latex in the stem and leaves of the plant may develop a rash after they touch it.
What is the origin of Christmas tree?
According to legend, Martin Luther - the 16th century German protestant reformer - introduced the tradition of celebrating Christmas with decorated trees after he was mesmerised by the view of stars sparkling through the branches of evergreens on his way home after a sermon. But in fact, the Christmas tree has its origin in pagan beliefs. Ancient people from different cultures - such as the Romans, Vikings and Druids - all worshipped evergreens as they believed the plant to be a symbol of renewal of life.
Firs and pines are the most common types of Christmas trees. Millions are sacrificed each year for Christmas, ruining forests and playing havoc with the ecosystem. An eco-friendly option is to make your own Christmas tree out of recycled materials, such as a broken umbrella as a tree trunk, discarded CDs as leaves and sweet wrappers as decorations. With a little imagination, you can beautify your home without ruining the life of a beautiful tree.
What is the origin of the candy cane?
According to a legend, a 17th century choirmaster in Germany bended sugar sticks into the shape of a shepherd's staff and gave them to children during Christmas, as Jesus was known to be the good shepherd. Some myths have it that the shape of the candy stands for the letter 'J', referring to Jesus. Its white colour signifies purity, the red stripes symbolise the blood of Jesus - or God's love - and peppermint flavour represents the herb hyssop, a plant of the mint family and referred to in the Bible as a instrument for sprinkling as an act of cleansing or sacrifice.
What is a Japanese Christmas meal?
Young people who find preparing a lavish Christmas meal too tiresome may find a Japanese style Christmas dinner more convenient. The main dish is fried or roasted chicken, which can easily be cooked in an oven or a pan. If you can't be bothered to prepare chicken, you can order a pizza, which is also a common dish for Japanese during Christmas. Unlike western Christmas cakes laden with dried fruits, a Japanese Christmas cake is a sponge cake topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with fruits, particularly strawberries.
