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CHRISTMAS LEGENDS AND ODDITIES

Who Is Santa Claus?
Most people think that Santa Claus has nothing to do with the religious side of Christmas. In some ways they are right. However, Santa Claus is actually supposed to be Saint Nicholas. Up until the 1930's he was shown in paintings to look like an ordinary person, dressed normally but wearing a red cloak. Then in the 1930's the Coca-Cola Company ran an advertisement showing Santa Claus the way we know him now; rather fat and jolly, with his red suit and long white whiskers. He was much more appealing to children this way, and so the image stuck.

How Did Christmas Cards Begin?
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.

Click "Ol' Santa" Cartoon to view Funny Christmas Cards!

View some Funny Christmas Cards:

• Texas Christmas Cards
• Western Christmas Cards
• Golf Christmas Cards
• Fishing Christmas Cards
• Nautical Christmas Cards
• Funny Christmas Cards
• Hobby Christmas Cards
• Everyday Christmas Cards
• Business Christmas Cards
• Patriotic Christmas Cards
• Photo Insert Christmas Cards
• Coastal Christmas Cards
• Northern Christmas Cards,
• Dogs Christmas Cards
• Cats Christmas Cards
• Armadillos Christmas Cards
• Farm animals Christmas Cards
• Critters Christmas Cards
• Wild Animals Christmas Cards

Ways to Confuse Santa Claus

• Instead of milk and cookies, leave him a salad, and a note explaining that you think he could stand to lose a few pounds.
• Leave him a note, explaining that you've gone away for the holidays. Ask if he would mind watering your plants.
• Leave a note by the telephone, telling Santa that Mrs. Claus called and wanted to remind him to pick up some milk and a loaf of bread on his way home.
• Paint “hoof-prints” all over your face and clothes. While he's in the house, go out on the roof. When he comes backup, act like you've been “trampled.” Threaten to sue.
• Instead of ornaments, decorate the tree with Easter eggs. Dress up like the Easter Bunny. Wait for Santa to come in and then say, “This neighborhood ain't big enough for both of us.”
• Leave out a Santa suit, with a dry-cleaning bill.
• Leave a copy of your Christmas list with last-minute changes and corrections.
• Leave lots of hunting trophies and guns out where Santa's sure to see them. Go outside, yell, “Ooh! Look! A deer! And he's got a red nose!” and fire a gun.
• While he's in the house, go find his sleigh and write him a speeding ticket.
• While he's in the house, replace all his reindeers with exact replicas. Then wait and see what happens when he tries to get them to fly.

Where Do Christmas Trees Come From?
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.

The 3 stages of Man

• He believes in Santa Claus.
• He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
• He is Santa Claus.

Names Of Towns
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 Estimated Population):

• North Pole, Alaska (1,699)
• 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)

Christmas Office Memo

To: All Employees

From: Management

Subject: Office conduct during the Christmas Season

• Running aluminum foil through the paper shredder to make tinsel is discouraged.
• Playing Jingle Bells on the push-button phone is forbidden (it runs up an incredible long distance bill).
• Work request are not to be filed under “Bah humbug.”
• Company cars are not to be used to go over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house.
• All fruitcake is to be eaten BEFORE July 25.
• Eggnog will NOT be dispensed in vending machines.

In spite of all this, the staff is encouraged to have a Happy Holiday.

Santa's Reindeer
We're not sure when Saint Nick's white horse was transformed into eight sleigh-pulling reindeer. The earliest evidence was from Clement Moore wrote the famous poem/story ( ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas ) In 1882 and they were named: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. In 1949 a new along comes Rudolph!

Click "Rudolph Reindeer" Cartoon to view Funny Christmas Cards!

SANTA STATISTICS

• There are currently 78 people named S. Claus living in the U.S. – and one Kris Kringle.
• December is the most popular month for nose jobs.
• Weight of Santa's sleigh loaded with one Beanie Baby for every kid on earth: 333,333 tons.
• Number of reindeer required to pull a 333,333 ton sleigh: 214,206 – Plus Rudolph.
• Average wage of a mall Santa: $11 an hour. With real beard: $20.
• To deliver his gifts in one night, Santa would have to make 822.6 visits per second, sleighing at 3,000 times the speed of sound. At hat speed, Santa and his reindeer would burst into flame instantaneously.