Rather, this midwinter choice was due to older festivals being held in the winter, which increased the chances of this new annual event \u2013 Christmas \u2013 being embraced by a wider population.<\/p>\n
Read more about the origins of Christmas as we know it today<\/a><\/p>\n The creation of Santa Claus is often linked to Coca-Cola<\/a>, thanks to their commissioning of the illustrator Haddon Sundblom in 1931. Sundblom produced an image of a man with ruddy cheeks, a white beard, and a red suit \u2013 and so the Santa we imagine today was born.<\/p>\n However, inspiration for our jolly visitor predates this modern depiction by centuries. The legend can be traced back to a monk named St Nicholas, who lived around AD 280 in Lycia, now part of modern Turkey. He was known for his generosity towards the poor and infirm, and was later declared the patron saint of children by the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n In the Netherlands, St Nicholas, known as \u2018Sint Nicolaas\u2019 or \u2018Sinterklass\u2019 (hence our name \u2018Santa Claus\u2019) is still celebrated on 6 December, the anniversary of his death. On the evening of 5 December, Dutch families commemorate this day by leaving a shoe out overnight, in hope that it will be filled with sweet treats and gifts by morning.<\/p>\n Discover more of the history behind Santa Claus<\/a><\/p>\n The tradition of decorating trees in the home was mostly contained to Germany until the late 1700s. Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation, is credited with adding candles to tree branches in attempt to re-create the night sky indoors.<\/p>\n It\u2019s commonly believed that Prince Albert, Queen Victoria<\/a>\u2019s consort, introduced the Christmas tree to England in 1840. Though, the first recorded Christmas tree was erected by Queen Charlotte<\/a>, wife of George III, in December 1800. By the mid-19th century, Christmas trees had become a popular staple amongst the middle classes, adorned with candles, homemade decorations, confectionary, and gifts.<\/p>\n Discover the Christmas traditions we can thank the Victorians for<\/a><\/p>\n Vocal traditions during midwinter pre-date Christianity, with people singing, dancing and feasting to keep spirits high during the cold months. The earliest carols were often sung in a circle and accompanied by a dance, although these have since faded into obscurity.<\/p>\n Other carols originate from songs that weren\u2019t originally associated with Christmas.<\/p>\n \u201cOne popular 16th-century song was the carol we know today as Deck the Halls<\/em>,\u201d Alexandra Coghlan told HistoryExtra. \u201cBack then it was a favourite Welsh song, originally titled Nos Galan<\/em>. It wasn\u2019t until the 19th century that it acquired Christmassy words and became part of our own festivities. In its earliest form, Deck the Halls<\/em> was just a folk song, but one with some rather naughty words.\u201d<\/p>\n Read about the history behind other Christmas carols<\/a><\/p>\n The origin of Christmas stockings can also be traced back to the benevolent monk St Nicholas. Legend has it that he dropped a bag of gold down a chimney to aid a household in need, and the gift landed in a stocking hung to dry on the fireplace.<\/p>\n In 1822, minister Clement Clarke Moore penned the famous Christmas poem An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas<\/em>, now known for its opening line, \u201cTwas the night before Christmas\u201d. This poem went one step further than the original legend and depicted St Nicholas flying on a reindeer-driven sled to deliver toys by entering through the chimney, solidifying the character\u2019s connection with gift-giving.<\/p>\n The earliest known record of Christmas wreaths can be traced back to Germany in 1833. A clergyman in the Lutheran church lit a candle in a wreath each Sunday during Advent. As he did so, he would narrate the nativity story from the Bible.<\/p>\n \u201cWreath\u201d originates from a Germanic word \u201cwrithian\u201d which means \u201cto twist\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Over time, this religious custom spread to domestic use. Families created their own wreaths \u2013 typically made from evergreen branches \u2013 and adorned them with small candles, which would be lit one by one on the Sundays leading up to Christmas. This process symbolised the coming of the \u2018Light of the World\u2019 and the hope and anticipation of Christ\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n In the later 19th century, wreaths adopted a slightly different form. The candles were replaced with ornaments, berries, pinecones and bows, resulting in the more decorative pieces we recognise today. They also became known as \u2018welcome rings\u2019, hung on front doors during the festive season.<\/p>\n The first recorded Christmas card was sent in 1611 by German physician Michael Maier to King James I<\/a> of England and his son, the Prince of Wales. It read:<\/p>\n \u201cA greeting on the birthday of the Sacred King, to the most worshipful and energetic lord and most eminent James, King of Great Britain and Ireland, and Defender of the true faith, with a gesture of joyful celebration of the Birthday of the Lord, in most joy and fortune, we enter the new auspicious year 1612.\u201d<\/p>\n Though this was the first known festive correspondence, the concept of mass-produced cards wasn\u2019t introduced until centuries later, in 1843. Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant, requested his friend, John Callcott Horsley, to illustrate a card for him. One thousand copies of the final product were printed, and an advert to purchase these cards detailed:<\/p>\n \u201cJust published. A Christmas Congratulation Card: or picture emblematical of Old English Festivity to Perpetuate kind recollections between Dear Friends.\u201d<\/p>\n In the 1870s, advances in publishing made sending Christmas cards like this affordable for the masses.<\/p>\n It was London confectioner Tom Smith who first introduced the world to the Christmas cracker, in his attempt to boost sales of the French bonbon \u2013 a sugar-almond wrapped in paper with a twist at both ends.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s addition of a \u2018love motto\u2019 added an element of surprise to the treat. Yet, its evolution didn\u2019t stop there. Later, he enlarged the packaging and replaced the bonbon with a small gift.<\/p>\n However, the true explosion of excitement arrived in 1847 when Smith first patented the festive \u2018crack\u2019 that would provide its name. This mechanism was perfected in the 1860s.<\/p>\n Read more about the history behind the Christmas cracker<\/a><\/p>\n There are many opinions on where the practice of kissing beneath the mistletoe might come from. One derives from a Viking myth of Frigg \u2013 the goddess of motherhood and marriage, and her son Balder. A doting mother, she cast a powerful spell to make sure no plant grown on Earth could be used as a weapon against her son.<\/p>\n The god Loki, envious of Balder\u2019s invincibility, realised that one thing had escaped Frigg\u2019s notice: mistletoe. This was because it grew from the trees and not from the earth.<\/p>\n He made a spear out of it that would eventually kill Balder. In her devastation, Frigg promised to kiss anyone who walked beneath it in memory of her son.<\/p>\n Find out more about why we kiss under the mistletoe<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some Christmas facts from the QI<\/em> team, featured in their books 1,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted<\/em> and The Third QI Book of General Ignorance<\/em>:<\/p>\nWho invented Santa Claus?<\/h2>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/GettyImages-89856757-dbc9be9-e1701337776126.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C412\" "\\"An")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>What is the history of the Christmas tree?<\/h2>\n
How old are Christmas carols?<\/h2>\n
Why do we hang stockings on our fireplaces?<\/h2>\n
![\"Santa](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/GettyImages-525373295-a4b1fbe-e1701338345672.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413\" "\\"Santa")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
What are the origins of the Christmas wreath?<\/h2>\n
Did you know?<\/h4>\n
When did we begin sending Christmas cards?<\/h2>\n
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![\"The](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/GettyImages-599911439-98a7e1d-e1701337744363.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C412\" "\\"The")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>Who created the Christmas cracker?<\/h2>\n
Why do we kiss beneath the mistletoe?<\/h2>\n
10 festive facts you might not know<\/h3>\n