15 Fun Facts For Your Christmas Day!

• Santa Claus has his own Canadian postal code.
  • Letters sent to Santa don't end up ignored! In Canada, the postal code "H0H 0H0" is specifically for Santa at the North Pole. Every year, kids in Canada can mail their letters to this address and get a special response from "Santa" via Canada Post's Santa Letter-Writing Program.

• 'Jingle Bells' was originally a Thanksgiving song.
  • James Lord Pierpont composed "Jingle Bells" in 1857 for his church's Thanksgiving event. Yet, with time, it shifted in association to Christmas and has now become one of the most beloved holiday tunes!

• In Japan, a KFC Christmas is tradition.
  • Originating as a KFC marketing initiative during the 1970s, it has transformed into a widespread tradition of enjoying a KFC chicken bucket to mark Christmas. Numerous individuals pre-order their KFC meals significantly ahead to guarantee their Christmas feast.

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer almost had a different name.
  • Before ultimately deciding on Rudolph, the inventor, Robert L. May, contemplated using names like Rollo and Reginald for the character.

• The first Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was actually small.
  • Back in 1931, construction workers set up the initial bare tree at Rockefeller Center. Nowadays, the renowned tree boasts over 50,000 multicolored LED lights—equivalent to nearly five miles of lighting!

• 'The Grinch' is the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time.
  • In 2018, the computer-animated movie grossed $512,858,819 globally, securing the top spot. Following closely behind was the beloved Christmas classic from 1990, Home Alone.

• It is estimated that 85% of kids in American believe in Santa Claus.
  • As per the 2018 international Exeter Santa Survey, the typical age when children cease believing is eight. Bonus trivia: Throughout November and December, Santa gets approximately 32,000 letters daily from these true believers!

• The Friday and Saturday before Christmas are the busiest shopping days of the year.
  • Step aside, Black Friday! Recent stats reveal that the top ten most bustling shopping days in the U.S. make up almost half of all holiday retail activity, encompassing the weekend just before the main event. For the entire holiday shopping period, the NRF approximates sales hit $936.3 billion in 2022.

• Tom Hanks played six different roles in 'Polar Express.'
  • In addition to voicing the conductor, Hanks also played Hero Boy, Father, Hobo, Scrooge, and Santa Claus.

• 'It's a Wonderful Life' was a box office flop.
  • Surprisingly, the timeless Christmas favorite initially flopped at the box office. It wasn't until 1974, when its copyright lapsed and TV networks could broadcast it without cost, that it solidified its position as one of the most cherished Christmas films ever.

• Coca-Cola played a big role in the image of Santa.
  • During 1931, Coca-Cola hired artist Haddon Sundblom to depict Santa Claus for their Christmas advertisements. Drawing inspiration from the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," the artist crafted the familiar, cheerful character we recognize today, complete with rosy cheeks, a white beard, and sparkling eyes.

• What is the best-selling Christmas song of all time?
  • Bing Crosby's timeless tune "White Christmas" holds the title not just as the top-selling Christmas song but also as the best-selling single ever.
• Natalie Wood still believed in Santa Claus when she starred in 'Miracle on 34th Street.'
  • The actress, who was eight during filming, believed Edmund Gwenn, the actor playing Santa, was genuine. She'd never seen him without his meticulously crafted beard and was surprised at the end of filming when she saw him without it, finding it hard to adjust to the change.
• Why do we leave milk and cookies for Santa?
  • During the Great Depression in America, the custom of leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve emerged as parents encouraged children to maintain their generous nature despite the economic challenges.
• Why do we kiss underneath the mistletoe?
  • The popular kissing tradition may have Norse roots, where Frigg, the goddess of love, promised kisses to those passing under a berry-laden plant that saved her son's life. However, it wasn't until the 18th century that this custom gained traction in England during Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our Cutting Edge, Realtors family to yours! See you in the new year.