Christmas, a commercial holiday, a spiritual observance, and of course, a festive celebration. Many households throughout the world celebrate that much awaited day at the end of December. Decorations and baking, gifts and music help us to rejoice in a holiday season that is loved by children and adults alike. Although many of us know the date as the birth of Jesus Christ, or the night that Santa Claus slides down the chimney with presents for our children, there are some very interesting facts about Christmas that are certain to drop your jaw.

Think you know Santa?

* Saint Nicholas of Myra, the original Santa Claus, was the patron saint of children, thieves and pawnbrokers.

* Santa’s famed reindeer “Donner”, is actually “Donder”.

* In order to give out all the gifts, Santa Claus would have to visit 42,466,666 homes in a 12-hour period — that’s 983 homes per second.

* Santa Claus’s image that we know and use today is based on a very famous political cartoon, sketched by Sam Nast. He created the well known “Uncle Sam” icon, and Democrats’ cartoon donkey, and the Republicans’ cartoon elephant.

* Coca-Cola inspired Santa’s famous red suit, to match the ads of the Coke labels.

* Stockings were stuffed originally for Santa because St. Nicholas threw items for young children down chimney’s as he passed by. Those gifts filling the stockings that were placed at the bottom of the chimney on the outside of the fireplaces.

Tradition Facts:

* Exchanging kisses beneath the mistletoe tree was originated in ancient Scandinavia, where mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship.

* Mistletoe and Holly plants are both poisonous when ingested.

* Mistletoe was used by druids as a symbol of love.

* Christmas lights were made famous by Martin Luther, as he placed candles on a tree to represent the light the Christ shined upon all men.

* The Poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the “Flower of the Holy Night”.

* The Pointsettia is poisonous when ingested.

* Candy canes are traditionally shaped like canes to be able to hang from the tree, but cookies were originally hung in Germany.

* The Christmas Tree, which originated in Germany was originally a Fir tree that was decorated to represent the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden, certainly predating the birth of Christ.