By Sean Delaney
Christmas is a season filled with traditions, smiles, and a little magic. But behind the lights, the songs, and the holiday rush are some fun and surprising facts you may not know.
Did you know that the idea of decorating Christmas trees started in Germany hundreds of years ago? It became popular in Canada in the 1700s when German settlers brought the tradition with them. Today, more than five million real Christmas trees are grown in Canada each year, many right here in Ontario.
Speaking of trees, the first artificial Christmas trees weren’t plastic at all. They were made of green-dyed goose feathers in the early 1900s. Thankfully, things have come a long way since then.
Did you know that Santa’s modern look — the red suit, the white beard, the friendly smile — became famous thanks to a 1930s advertising campaign? Before that, he appeared in all sorts of outfits and colours. But the red-and-white jolly Santa stuck, and now he’s the most recognized holiday figure in the world.
Here’s another fun one: Canada has its own official address for Santa Claus. If children write to Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0, volunteers at Canada Post answer more than a million letters every year, in over 30 languages, including Braille.
Did you know that Christmas lights were once so expensive that people rented them instead of buying them? In the early 1900s, a single strand could cost more than a week’s wages. Today, LED lights can run all season for just a few cents a day.
And finally, Canadians love their holiday treats. Every December, we buy millions of candy canes, and the most popular cookie to leave out for Santa is — no surprise — chocolate chip.
Christmas is full of stories, fun facts, and traditions that continue to bring us together year after year.