50+ Lifestyles

December Fun Facts

Christmas Pig or Boar

Do you know the real tradition is to have a boar(pig) for Christmas and not a Goose or Turkey? This dates way back to the Norse folklore where boar was served in Valhalla, the mythical hall where Odin received the souls of heroes who had fallen in battle. Having a Christmas Ham is about as close as we get to this old custom today.

Christmas Cards

The first Christmas card printer was Lewis Prang in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and the artwork featured biblical nativity scenes as well as characters like Santa Claus and social events like shopping and hanging stockings.

Christmas Trees

The Christmas Tree came to the U.S. from Germany. However, the origin is not in Germany, but is actually from Egypt. The Egyptians held a mid-winter festival in honor of their god Horus, and they used a palm tree with 12 shoots(one for each month).

Some Christmas Phobias

Ochlophobia or Agoraphobia……….Fear of Crowds
Katagelophobia……….Fear of ridicule or embarrassment
Mythophobia……….Fear of making a false statement
Pogonophobia……….Fear of Beards
Pediophobia……….Fear of Children or Dolls
Dronophobia………..Fear of Driving on Expressways

Happy Holidays from the staff of 50+ Lifestyles!