Christmas became a federal holiday in the United States in 1870 when President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill creating four new holidays for federal workers: January 1, Thanksgiving Day, July 4, and December 25. Interestingly, the official language of the bill did not refer to the holiday as “Christmas,” but simply as “December 25th … commonly called Christmas Day.” This careful wording was meant to respect the First Amendment’s establishment clause, which prohibits the government from endorsing or favoring any one religion.
Did you know that Santa’s outfit wasn’t always red? In the early 19th century, Santa was often depicted wearing green, blue, or brown. Coca-Cola’s 1930s advertising popularized the iconic red suit.
Can you imagine that the world’s tallest Christmas tree was over 200 feet tall?! It was displayed in Seattle in 1950, this Douglas fir set the record for the tallest Christmas tree ever.
Did you know that the song “White Christmas” is the best- selling single of all time? Bing Crosby’s rendition has sold over 50 million copies worldwide since 1942.
