Cheshire Edition December
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1.SpeedySanta<br />
USscientistscalculatedthatSantawouldhavetovisit822homesasecondto<br />
deliveraltheworld'spresentsonChristmasEve,travelingat650milesasecond.<br />
2.Robins<br />
ROBINSoncardswereajoke150yearsagowhenpostmenworeredtunicsandwere<br />
namedafterthem.<br />
3.MincePies<br />
ALTHOUGHnow mostlyvegetarian,inVictoriantimes,mincepiesweremadewith<br />
beefandspices.<br />
4.Tangerines<br />
THEtraditionofputingtangerinesinstockingscomesfrom 12th-centuryFrench<br />
nunswholeftsocksfuloffruit,nutsandtangerinesatthehousesofthepoor.<br />
5.ThreeWiseMen?<br />
DESPITEthetaleofthreewisemenpayinghomagetobabyJesus,theBiblenever<br />
givesanumber.Mathew'sGospelreferstomerely"wisemen".<br />
6.Wassailing<br />
CAROLSbeganasanoldEnglishcustom caledwassailing,toastingneighboursto<br />
alonglife.<br />
7.Carols<br />
CAROLSweren'tsunginchurchesuntiltheywereintroducedbyStFrancisofAssisi<br />
inthe13thcentury.<br />
8.Stockings<br />
HANGINGstockingsoutcomesfrom theDutchcustom ofleavingshoespacked<br />
withfoodforStNicholas'sdonkeys.Hewouldleavesmalgiftsinreturn.<br />
9.AngelsSinging?<br />
THEREisnoreferencetoangelssinginganywhereintheBible.<br />
10.ChristmasTrees<br />
NEARLY60milionChristmastreesaregrowneachyearinEurope<br />
11.Noel<br />
THEwordNoelderivesfrom theFrenchexpression"lesbonnes<br />
nouveles"or"thegoodnews".<br />
12.BanningChristmas<br />
IN1647,aftertheEnglishCivilWar,OliverCromwelbannedfestivities.<br />
Thelaw wasn'tlifteduntil1660.
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