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Whether it's developing milk and cookies for Santa Claus or low-suspended stockings above the fireplace, there are countless Christmas traditions that are an integral part of family celebrations in the United States. However, while some of them Traditions may also seem American As an apple pie, their original stories are anything but. From those who come from druid fertility practices to those who have their roots in Roman rituals, continue to read to find out which countries are responsible for your favorite traditions.

In relation: 70 fun Christmas facts to put you in the holiday spirit .

Christmas traditions around the world

1. The first Christmas card was sent to England by the founder of a British museum.

While Christmas cards have been immemorial since time, the first greeting of the holidays was of British origin. According to Museum Victoria & Albert , founding director of the institution, Henry Cole , sent the first known Christmas card, which included a drawing of a family gathering and words "a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" in 1843.

2. Leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus is rooted in Nordic mythology.

According to History.com, the legend is that the Nordic God Odin had an eight -legged horse named Sleipnir, for which the children would leave treats in the hope that Odin would favor them with gifts in return. Tradition has gained popularity in America during the Great Depression, when the parents tried to make children understand the importance of being grateful for everything they could receive at Christmas.

3. The establishment and decoration of Christmas trees began in Germany in the 16th century.

Although the use of trees in the celebrations of the holidays would have originally been a pagan practice, more recognizable iterations of the Christmas tree hail from Germany and appointment from the 16th century . The modern Christmas tree, however, was popularized in the United Kingdom in the 1840s, when German Prince Albert Displayed the first British Christmas tree known to the castle of Windsor. Today you can find a Christmas tree farm in one of the 50 states. Together, these companies are responsible for taking 25 to 30 million trees To market each season.

4. Christmas lights are a tradition of Germany which dates back to the 17th century.

While Thomas Edison colleague Edward Hibberd Johnson is credited as the inventor of Christmas lights connected to the strands, the tradition of Christmas trees lighting Comes from Germany, where it was practiced in the 17th century, according to the Congress Library. However, the lights at the time were much less safe than the LEDs that we corrected today - at the time, the celebrants simply attached candles to their trees and lit them.

5. Legend has it that Christmas stockings are from Turkey in the 4th century.

The legend associated with Christmas stockings dates back to time of Saint Nicolas During the 3rd and 4th centuries in what is now Turkey. According to Smithsonian review, Saint Nicholas has heard of fate of a poor widower and his three daughters and wanted to help. He slipped into the house, saw the bass of the girls recently whiten dry by fire and filled them with gold coins before going silently in the night.

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6. Christmas song is from Great Britain in the 13th century.

Although there is no clear answer as long as the first songs of the birth of Jesus were written, the origin of Carring as we know it goes back to Britain of the 13th century. At the time, instead of singing, the Anglo-Saxons went from door to door wishing their neighbors good health-or "waes hael" in Anglo-Saxon, according to Andy Thomas , author of the book 2019 Christmas: a short story of the solstice at Santa Claus .

7. Kiss under the guy during the holidays comes from the Druids.

Have you ever been somacred under a bit of guy during the holidays? You have the Druids to thank for that. According to Ronald Hutton , author of the 2009 book Blood and Gui: the history of druids in Great Britain Gui was supposed to have fertility restoration properties for sterile animals - perhaps the reason why the parasitic plant is associated with love and romance today.

8. Christmas crackers were developed by a British candy manufacturer.

If you have already opened a Christmas cracker and put on his paper crown for the holidays, you can thank Tom Smith . The British candy creator is recognized for inventing the modern Christmas cracker in 1847 when he tried to design new packaging for some of his holiday candies. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

9. The concept of Santa Claus comes from Turkey.

While the joyful version of Santa Claus belly and a relatively modern invention, the story of Saint Nicholas dates back to Turkey in the 3rd century. The real Saint Nicholas was a bishop born in what is now Turkey in 270 AD and would have done frequent charity actions for others, which earned him praise. However, according to the Saint-Nicolas center , it was in the 20th century that modern Santa Claus obtained his red costume and his considerable stomach.

10. The fruit cake is a pastry from Western Europe.

According to a 2010 article in Smithsonian review, The fruit cake goes back to the Middle Ages , when imports of dried fruit to Western Europe from Asia gave birth to this sweet and dense treat, which has become popular in several European countries during the same period. European immigrants have brought tradition to the United States - and you will always see some of its European iterations, such as German Stollen and Italian Panforte, in American stores during the holidays today.

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11. The first Advent calendar was created in Germany.

The first mention of a modern advent calendar is seen in a children's book from 1851, according to the German Christmas Museum . However, the printed advent calendar is attributed to Gerhard Lang , which is recognized for having created the first version available in the business of the Advent calendar - with doors and treats - in his native Germany in 1908.

12. Hanging a crown on your front door comes from a gift tradition.

If you generally decorate your door with a crown in Christmastime, it is because of the Romans. According to a 1988 article in The New York Times ,, The Romans would frequently give friends And the branches of family members to celebrate the new year, with these pieces of greenery finally being fixed in the crown as we know it today.

13. Gingerbread houses are another tradition of the parties adopted in Germany.

Like many other Christmas traditions, gingerbread houses are from Germany. According to the 2015 book Oxford's companion with sugar and candies , Gingerbread was already a popular treat in Germany in the Middle Ages, the city of Nuremberg becoming particularly famous for its houses built in the treat.

14. Cooking Christmas cookies has European origins.

The idea of the Christmas cookie is of European origin - and probably much older than you imagine. According to the 2008 book Entertaining from old Rome to Super Bowl: an encyclopedia , gingerbread cookies and gingerbread houses have probably become popular during the same period, the first being initially used as Christmas tree decorations as treats.

15. The first Christmas market was founded in Germany in the 1400s.

If you frequently like Christmas markets during the holiday season, you continue a German tradition. While similar markets would have been common throughout the Holy Roman Empire, the first modern Christmas market would be Strezelmarkt , founded in 1434.

16. The "ugly Christmas sweaters" are from Canada.

For a more recent trend than the Americans have not invented, look at the custom of carrying sweaters on the theme of the garish vacation a little ironically. By The Washington Post , " Ugly Christmas sweater “The parties have become popular for the first time in Vancouver, Canada ugly fun run sweater .

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17. Germany has also invented candy canes.

Whether you decorate with them, cook with them or snack them, candy canes are a popular Christmas treat. Carly Schildhaus of the National Confectione Association said HISTORY.com that the candy canes were likely Invented in 1670 "When the puncture of Cologne Cathedral in Germany distributed sugar sticks among its young singers to keep them silent during the Living crèche ceremony. "Why the distinctive form?" In honor of the occasion, he folded the candies in the crooks of the shepherds, "added Schildhaus.

18. Poinsettias were once cultivated in Central America.

Bright red flowers can be found in the houses, companies and altars of the church in the United States all the Christmas season, but the Poinsettias were not known in America before Joel Roberts Poinsett —Botanist and the first ambassador to Mexico - brought the plant back to his country of origin in 1828. (Hence the name.) A story associated with the flower is that of a poor Mexican who cannot afford an appropriate gift to bring to the Church for the baby Jesus. It therefore offers weeds with a pure heart, and they are transformed as if by magic into beautiful poinsettias. It is really the thought that counts.

19. See Nutcracker is as Russian as possible.

We all like to indulge in the occasional Christmas film during the holiday season, but seeing a live performance from Nutcracker is a great way to raise this Christmas tradition. He is also the one who came out of Russia. Marked by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by Marius Petipa ,, Nutcracker Firstly created on Christmas Eve from 1892 . It was not until 1934 that the ballet was played outside Russia and 1944 that he finally went to the United States.

20. Christmas pickles would also have come from Germany.

If you are not yet familiar with the tradition of Christmas pickles, here, it is: each year, an ornament in the shape of a pickle should be the last hanging on the Christmas tree. The first child to locate the green ornament , buried in a waste of pine needles and other brilliant objects, will be the first to open their gifts to come in Christmas morning.

Some say that tradition comes from old world Germany while others insist that it can be traced to an American soldier who saved from famine by eating a pickle the day before Christmas. The real story of Christmas, however, has nothing to do with one or the other account. The legend was rather created by sellers in the late 1800s to increase sales of German glass ornaments in American stores.

21. Having fish for dinner the day before Christmas is a popular tradition in Italy.

Many families in the United States appreciate it " The Festival of the Seven Fish "For their big meal the day before Christmas. The tradition of the south of Italy can be attributed to the Roman Catholic custom to avoid meat the day before the holidays, as well as the food diet of this region.

Wrap

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