10 Things You Didn't Know About Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, I am sure you are all running around buying and wrapping presents, cooking and traveling all over creation. I am in the same boat, but I thought it may be interesting to take a quick break and reflect on the holiday itself. For a holiday we spend so much time thinking about all year, there is still much we don't know about it.

Here are a few stats and facts I was able to uncover that you may not have known about Christmas. Enjoy!

Date of the first Christmas:

December 25, 336 in Rome

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First US State to recognize Christmas:

Alabama in 1836

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Percentage of Americans that celebrate Christmas:

92%

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Percentage of Americans that put up a Christmas tree:

79%

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Largest exporter of Christmas trees in the world:

Canada

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Percentage of Americans that send Christmas cards:

65%

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Number of Christmas cards purchased annually:

1.6 billion

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Amount it would cost if you purchased everything in the 12 Days of Christmas:

well over $100,000

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First use of the name "Santa Claus" in the American press:

1773

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Poinsettias are originally from Mexico and were first brought to the US in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.

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Bonus Christmas factoid: From 1647-1660, Christmas was banned in England by the Puritans.

Image credit: LimeBye via flickr