Why Do We Put Up Christmas Trees?
The tradition of decorating with evergreens dates back to ancient Egypt, where greenery symbolized eternal life. Centuries later, Protestant Christians adopted the practice at Christmas for the same reason. Wreaths came to represent the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at his crucifixion. The first Christmas trees appeared in 16th-century Germany, adorned with handmade paper roses, apples, wafers, tinsel, and sweets. Candles were introduced in the 18th century to represent light and hope. Interestingly, the Catholic Church didn’t display a Christmas tree at the Vatican until 1982.

Why Do We Say “Xmas”?
The term Xmas isn’t new or disrespectful—it actually has roots in the 1500s. In Greek, the word “Christ” begins with the letter Chi (Χ), which looks like the English “X.” So “Xmas” is simply a shorthand for “Christmas,” with the same meaning.

Who Was Santa Claus?
Santa Claus has his origins in St. Nicholas, a Christian bishop known for his generosity and kindness toward the poor and for secretly giving gifts to children. His legend spread across Europe, where he became known as Sinterklaas in Dutch—eventually evolving into “Santa Claus.” Early depictions showed him wearing various colors, including green, blue, and purple. It wasn’t until the 1930s that Coca-Cola popularized his now-iconic red suit to match their brand.

What Is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC. The word Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew. The holiday is marked by lighting the menorah (or hanukkiah), a nine-branched candelabrum. Each night for eight nights, an additional candle is lit using the ninth “helper” candle, called the shamash.

Hanukkah was first recognized at the White House in 1951, when Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion presented President Harry Truman with a menorah. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter became the first U.S. president to publicly celebrate the holiday during a candle-lighting ceremony hosted by Chabad-Lubavitch.