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(Source: Unknown)
Christmas cards were introduced in Britain in 1840, with the postal service,
and penny stamps. In those days a penny was a lot of money, and printed cards
were very expensive and hard to come by. As the postal service improved, along
with printing methods, cards became more popular. By about 1860 they were
fairly common.
When they first began, Christmas cards showed religious scenes and often had
religious text in them. Nowadays, they can have just about any picture on them,
including winter scenes, and most do not contain any reference to religion.
(Source:unknown)
Christmas trees were originally part of the German Christmas celebrations. Like
St. Nicholas, they have gradually been adopted and incorporated into Christmas
tradition around the world. In Germany the tree is still one of the most
important parts of the celebrations for children. Traditionally the tree held
candies, fruit, nuts and cookies, but now it also has tinsel, glitter ornaments
and toys hanging from it. It is put up during the afternoon of Christmas Eve,
in a locked room, and children only get to see it after eating special meal. In
Germany children are told either Santa Klaus or the Kristkind (Christ child)
put up the tree.
He believes in Santa Claus.
He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus.
He is Santa Claus.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
There are quite a few incorporated places (e.g., cities, towns, villages or
boroughs) around the nation whose names are associated with the holiday season:
Place Est.
population (1998)
|
North Pole,
Alaska..................................................................... |
1,669 |
| Santa Claus,
Indiana.................................................................. |
1,497 |
| Santa Claus,
Georgia................................................................. |
156 |
| Rudolph,
Wisconsin................................................................... |
480 |
| Noel,
Missouri.............................................................................. |
1,271 |
| Merryville,
Louisiana................................................................... |
1,262 |
| Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania............................................................. |
69,383 |
| Bethlehem, West
Virginia............................................................. |
2,738 |
| Bethlehem,
Georgia....................................................................... |
448 |
| Jolly,
Texas..................................................................................... |
223 |
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