Christmas Trivia gathered from throughout the Internet

Merry Christmas! When the phrase was coined, “merry” meant blessed and peaceful, or a “Blessed and Peaceful Christmas.” The phrase "God rest ye Merry Gentlemen,” when written, meant “blessed peaceful” gentlemen.

The Poinsettia plant, first grown in Mexico, was named after an American ambassador to Mexico, J. R. Poinsett, who found out they grew well in the U.S. in his home state of S. Carolina.

Christmas Seals were originated in 1903 by a Danish postmaster, Einar Holboll, who sold them giving the proceeds to charities. Emily Bissell introduced Christmas seals in the U.S. with the Red Cross as benefactor in 1907. In 1919 the Nat’l Tuberculosis Assoc. (now the American Lung Assoc.) became the sole sponsor.

Yule is a very old Germanic feasting time, celebrated when the first snow came. Burning logs in fireplaces and making bonfires out-of-doors was an important part of the Yule festival. When Christmas replaced Yule, the Yule log carried over. It was lit 12 days before Christmas by a piece of last year’s Yule log, and the fire had to last until Christmas when it was put out and a piece saved to light next year’s log.

The Evergreen Tree’s triangular shape was used by St. Boniface, 7th century missionary to Germany, to symbolize the Holy Trinity. In the 12th century, the custom was to suspend the tree upside down from the ceiling! Picture doing that today! The first recorded decorated tree was in Latvia, circa 1510. Legend has it that Martin Luther, while walking through snow-covered woods, was struck by the beauty of small evergreens, dusted with snow, shimmering in the moonlight. He later set up a fir tree indoors to share this experience with his children.