65 Christmas Fun Facts for Kids to Learn & Enjoy

Christmas is more than just presents and decorations. It’s packed with amazing stories and traditions from every corner of the world. 

I’ve gathered 65 Christmas fun facts for kids that will make learning about the holidays as exciting as celebrating them. 

Share these at family dinners and impress everyone with your knowledge. 

Let’s make this Christmas both fun and educational.

Why Christmas Fun Facts Are Exciting for Kids

Learning Christmas fun facts helps children understand history, traditions, and cultures in a playful way. It makes the holiday season more magical and encourages curiosity.

Kids love sharing these interesting tidbits with family and friends. Facts about different countries show how people celebrate in their own special ways.

These details make Christmas feel bigger than just one day. They connect children to stories from long ago and places far away.

65 Christmas Fun Facts for Kids

Here are 65 amazing Christmas facts that kids will love learning and sharing with friends and family.

Christmas Around the World

1. In Poland, people decorate their homes with spiders and webs for Christmas.
2. In Bolivia, Many celebrate Misa del Gallo (Mass of the Rooster) with roosters at midnight mass.
3. In the Netherlands, children leave milk and cookies for Sinter Klaas.
4. In Germany & US, Hide a pickle in the Christmas tree. The finder opens the first gift.
5. In Japan, families eat fast-food chicken on Christmas Day.
6. In Peru, Christmas is celebrated mainly on Christmas Eve (La Noche Buena).
7. In Sweden, Children leave coffee for Santa instead of cookies.
8. In Italy, La Befana, a kind witch, delivers gifts to children on January 6.
9. In Iceland, 13 mischievous “Yule Lads” visit children in the nights leading up to Christmas.
10. In Germany, Santa is called Kriss Kringle. France calls him Pere Noel.
11. In the UK, Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree is a gift from Norway each year.
12. In Ukraine, families decorate Christmas trees with spider webs for good luck.
13. In Scotland, Christmas was banned until 1958. They celebrate Hogmanay instead.

Christmas Food Fun Facts



14. Mince pies originally contained real minced beef.
15. Eating a mince pie with a knife was considered unlucky.
16. Christmas pudding was once a soup called ‘frumenty.’
17. Candy canes were invented to keep kids quiet in church.
18. Turkey wasn’t common on Christmas dinner until Henry VIII’s reign.
19. Eggnog comes from the word “grog,” a rum-based drink.
20. Americans spend around $2 billion annually on Christmas candy.
21. Mince pies today are filled with fruit and spices, not meat.
22. Santa’s elves bake mince pies and make hot chocolate all year round.
23. Chocolate, nuts, and sweets were first used to decorate Christmas trees.
24. Gingerbread houses became popular in Germany in the 1800s.
25. Some families still enjoy traditional dishes like pigs’ head with mustard.
26. Santa Fruit Kebabs and mini Christmas puddings are kid-friendly festive treats.

Christmas Tree Fun Facts



27. Evergreens were used in Roman and Egyptian winter solstice celebrations.
28. Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to England in 1840.
29. Martin Luther was one of the first to decorate a tree with candles in the 1500s.
30. London’s Trafalgar Square tree is a yearly gift from Norway.
31. The tallest Christmas tree on record was 221 feet in Seattle (1950).
32. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1931.
33. The first White House Christmas tree may have been decorated by Franklin Pierce or Benjamin Harrison.
34. Teddy Roosevelt banned Christmas trees in the White House in 1901.
35. Tinsel used to be made from real silver.
36. Tree toppers started in Victorian times. Angels and stars are popular.
37. Artificial Christmas trees were once made entirely of dyed goose feathers.
38. Christmas trees grow 2 to 3 feet per year depending on location.
39. Americans have been buying trees for their homes since 1850.

Santa Claus and Reindeer Facts



40. Santa Claus originates from St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop.

41.Santa is also linked to the Viking god Odin, who rode an eight-legged horse.

41. Santa’s real age is about 1,750 years old. Mrs. Claus is 1,139 years old.
42. Santa’s sleigh travels 842 million stops on Christmas Eve.
43. He uses nine reindeer and they are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.
44. Rudolph wasn’t one of the original reindeer. His red nose was added in 1939.
45. Santa has 200,000 elves helping with gifts and preparations.
46. The only light on Santa’s sleigh is Rudolph’s glowing nose.
47. In Canada, Santa’s postal code is HOH OHO.
48. In the US, children leave letters for Santa, which the Postal Service delivers.
49. Santa’s “naughty or nice” list was first mentioned in a 1934 song.
50. Santa’s helpers ensure children are asleep in some traditions using cats.
51. Children from Germany to the US continue hiding pickles for Santa’s holiday fun.

Random, Funny, and Historical Christmas Facts



52. “Jingle Bells” was originally written for Thanksgiving.
53. The first Christmas card was sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole in England.
54. The largest gingerbread house measured 160 feet long and 42 feet wide.
55. More babies are conceived around Christmas than any other time. September has the most births.
56. LEGO kits sell 28 every second during December.
57. “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin is the best-selling Christmas song of all time.
58. Xmas comes from the Greek letter X, meaning Christ.
59. Jewish composers wrote many popular Christmas songs, like “Rudolph” and “White Christmas.”
60. Puritans outlawed Christmas celebrations in early America. Fines were imposed for celebrating.
61. Silent Night has nearly 750 recorded versions.
62. The largest Christmas gift in history was the Statue of Liberty from France (1886).
63. Hallmark Channel Christmas movies typically take only two weeks to film.
64. Astronauts aboard Gemini 6 played “Jingle Bells,” making it the first song in space.

DIY and Activity Ideas for Kids

Turn these Christmas fun facts into hands-on activities that kids will love doing at home or school.

• Make your own Christmas tree decorations using ideas from different countries. Try adding spider web designs like Polish families do or create paper angels and stars for the tree topper.
• Host a Christmas trivia game based on these facts for your next party. Write questions on cards and see who knows the most about holiday traditions from around the world.
• Write creative letters to Santa that include some of these fun facts. Kids can mention their favorite traditions or ask Santa about his reindeer and elves.
• Create fact-based worksheets where kids match countries with their Christmas traditions. This makes learning geography and culture fun while celebrating the holidays.
• Draw pictures showing different Christmas customs from around the world. Kids can illustrate Japanese families eating chicken or Swedish children leaving coffee for Santa.

Conclusion

I hope these 65 Christmas fun facts for kids brought some extra magic to your holiday season. 

My family loves the pickle ornament tradition, and watching my kids race to find it each year never gets old. 

These facts turn ordinary moments into teaching opportunities. Share them during dinner, create your own trivia games, or quiz family members. 

Christmas becomes richer when we understand its history and global traditions. 

Which fact surprised you most? Drop a comment below and tell us about your favorite Christmas tradition. Let’s keep the holiday spirit alive together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most interesting Christmas fact for kids?

The Christmas pickle tradition from Germany is really fun. Families hide a pickle ornament on the tree, and whoever finds it first gets to open the first gift.

Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25?

Early Christians chose December 25 to celebrate Jesus’ birth. The exact date isn’t known, but this aligned with winter festivals that cultures already celebrated.

How old is Santa Claus really?

Santa is based on St. Nicholas from the 4th century. That makes him about 1,750 years old, while Mrs. Claus is around 1,139 years old.

What country started the Christmas tree tradition?

Germany started the modern Christmas tree tradition. Martin Luther decorated a tree with candles in the 1500s, and it spread worldwide from there.

Why is Christmas celebrated differently around the world?

Different countries mix Christmas with their own cultural traditions. Local customs create special celebrations like Japan eating chicken or Sweden leaving coffee for Santa.