Have you ever wondered why stockings are hung by the chimney with care? Or who created the candy cane?
1. Candy Canes: Originally White—and for Bored Kids
The first known candy cane was made in 1670 by a German choirmaster to help children endure lengthy nativity services.
They were white and modelled after shepherds’ canes.
The candy cane made its way to America in 1847, when a German immigrant decorated the tree in his Ohio home with the iconic candy.
2. The Bible Does Not State When Jesus Was Born
The Gospels leave specific dates and even seasonal references out, but mention shepherds tending their flocks when Jesus was born.
This leads some to believe that he’s more likely an Aries than a Capricorn, since spring is the season when lambs tend to be born.
3. A Fishy Tradition
In parts of Eastern Europe, it’s customary to place a live carp in your bathtub for consumption on Christmas Eve.
Why?
Some suggest that it’s due to the fish’s vital role in the area’s fishing industry and because eating meat was considered a luxury—thus the need to save the carp for a special occasion.