12 Christmas Myths Debunked: Separating Fact from Festive Fiction

Christmas, a time of joy, traditions, and… well, a few misconceptions. How many of the stories you know about Christmas are actually true? Let's unwrap the truth behind 12 common Christmas myths.

1. Santa's Red Suit: A Coca-Cola Creation?

The image of Santa Claus in his iconic red suit is often attributed to Coca-Cola's marketing genius. While Coca-Cola did use Santa in their ads, the red suit predates their campaigns. Before Coca-Cola's ads in the 1930s, Santa Claus appeared in various colors, including brown, green, and yellow. American artist Thomas Nast popularized the red Santa in an 1881 issue of Harper's Weekly. By the early 20th century, red and white became Santa’s definitive colors in the USA, Canada, and even Japan. Coca-Cola's ads simply reinforced an already established image.

2. Advent Always Starts on December 1st

Advent calendars might start on December 1st, but the Advent season doesn't. Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day (November 30th). This means Advent can start as early as November 27th or as late as December 3rd. The standardization of Advent calendars to begin on December 1st was a commercial decision by manufacturers to simplify production and sell off old stock.

3. Prince Albert Introduced Christmas Trees to Britain

While Prince Albert certainly popularized the Christmas tree in Britain, he wasn't the first to bring one to the royal household. Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, introduced the Christmas tree to Britain in 1800, decades before Albert married Queen Victoria. By the time Albert arrived, Christmas trees were already gaining popularity among British high society.

4. Christmas Is Just a Rebranded Saturnalia

The idea that Christmas is simply a rebranded pagan festival, Saturnalia, is a common misconception. Saturnalia, a Roman festival dedicated to the god of agriculture, did involve feasting and gift-giving, but it took place on December 17th and lasted until December 23rd. Some historians suggest the festival of Sol Invictus, celebrated on December 25th, as a possible precursor. However, Christian writings indicate that Christians were celebrating Jesus’ birth on December 25th before Sol Invictus became an official Roman holiday.

5. Decorations Must Come Down on Twelfth Night

The tradition of taking down Christmas decorations on Twelfth Night is a Victorian invention. Before the 19th century, decorations often stayed up until Candlemas (February 2nd). The Victorians promoted the earlier de-decorating to encourage a return to work after the festive season.

6. Dreaming of a White Christmas?

Thanks to songs and stories, many associate Christmas with snow. Charles Dickens, who grew up during a particularly cold decade, often depicted snowy scenes in his writings. However, the chances of a white Christmas are statistically low for many regions. The definition of a "White Christmas" also varies. In the US, it requires more than 1 centimeter of snow by 7 am on Christmas morning. In the UK, it only requires snow to be observed falling on December 25th.

7. Christmas: The Most Important Christian Holiday?

Despite its cultural significance, Christmas isn't the most important holiday for Christians. Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, holds greater theological importance. Early Christians didn't even agree on a date for Christmas until Pope Julius I declared December 25th as the official date in AD 350.

8. Turkey: The Quintessential Christmas Dinner

Turkey is a relatively recent addition to the Christmas dinner table, becoming popular after World War II, and even then, primarily in the USA and Britain. Traditional Christmas dinners vary widely across the globe. Before turkeys became affordable, goose was a more common choice in Britain.

9. "Jingle Bells" Is a Christmas Carol

Despite its association with the holiday season, "Jingle Bells" was originally written for Thanksgiving. Titled "One Horse Open Sleigh," the song is believed to be about horse sleigh races and was composed for a Thanksgiving service in the 1850s.

10. The Nativity Story: Three Kings?

The traditional Nativity scene often includes three kings bearing gifts. However, the Bible only mentions "wise men" (magi) in the Book of Matthew. The Bible never specifies that there were three of them; that assumption comes from the three types of gifts they brought.

11. No Room at the Inn: The Full Story

The popular image of Mary and Joseph being turned away from a crowded inn and forced to give birth in a stable isn't entirely accurate. The Nativity story is only covered in two Gospels, and Matthew's version suggests they already lived in a house in Bethlehem. Luke's Gospel mentions a census and their travel to Bethlehem, but the word "inn" is a mistranslation of the Greek word "kataluma," which refers to a guest room or place to stay, not a commercial inn. Scholars suggest the guest room of Joseph's extended family was full, so they stayed in the main family room, where animals were sometimes kept for warmth and protection.

12. Christmas Is Jesus' Actual Birthday

Even the name "Jesus" is a modern pronunciation. The man we call Jesus would have been called "Yeshu" (Yay-shoo). The Gospels mention shepherds watching flocks and a Roman census, both more likely to have occurred in the spring. Early Church leaders proposed various dates for Jesus' birth, including May 20th, April 21st, and March 28th. December 25th was chosen because early Christians agreed on March 25th as the date to celebrate the Annunciation, so they simply added nine months.

So, this Christmas, you can impress your friends and family with your newfound knowledge of Christmas trivia! Merry Myth-Busting!