Who invented Christmas Who invented Christmas? Santa Claus was invented by the Coca Cola corporation

Who invented Christmas Who invented Christmas? Santa Claus was invented by the Coca Cola corporation False - Santa Claus is based on the 4th Century bishop of Myra, Saint Nicholas, but is also linked to other mythological figures. Coca Cola used a picture of a jolly Santa Claus in a red suit to advertise their drink in the 1930s.

Mary and Joseph were from Bethlehem

Mary and Joseph were from Bethlehem False - the Bible says that Mary and Joseph came from Nazareth, another town in Israel. They had to travel to Bethlehem to take part in a census of all the citizens of the Roman Empire.

There were three wise men who brought gold, silver and bronze

There were three wise men who brought gold, silver and bronze False - the Bible doesn’t specify how many wise men visited Jesus, but it does say that they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The first people to hear about Jesus’ birth (other than Mary and Joseph!) were some shepherds

The first people to hear about Jesus’ birth (other than Mary and Joseph!) were some shepherds True - this is unexpected because shepherds were not thought to be important in their society at the time.

In the United States, you’re not meant to put your Christmas decorations up until after the John Lewis advert has been released

In the United States, you’re not meant to put your Christmas decorations up until after the John Lewis advert has been released False - there is no definite rule about when is the right time to put up your decorations, but in some parts of America, people wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate.

Christmas technically isn’t over until 6th January

Christmas technically isn’t over until 6th January True - in the Christian tradition, the feast of Christmas finishes on 6th January (Epiphany or Twelfth Night), the day that marks the visit of the wise men to the baby Jesus.

Jesus was born on 25th December

Jesus was born on 25th December False - we don’t know exactly when Jesus’ birthday is, but it’s most likely that the actual date is around harvest time (September or October when the shepherds would have been in the fields). The 25th December was chosen later as the day to celebrate his birth, and is connected to existing festivals of light.

Christmas trees are mentioned in the Bible

Christmas trees are mentioned in the Bible False - Christmas trees were introduced to the UK by Queen Charlotte in around 1800. They became popular in the 1840s when Prince Albert married Queen Victoria. Queen Charlotte

In ‘A Christmas Carol’, Ebenezer Scrooge, is visited by three ghosts - the ghosts of Christmas Past Christmas Present and Christmas Future

In ‘A Christmas Carol’, Ebenezer Scrooge, is visited by three ghosts - the ghosts of Christmas Past Christmas Present and Christmas Future False - Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, and by three spirits - Past, Present and Yet To Come.

Dutch people wish each other 'Nice Christmas'

Dutch people wish each other 'Nice Christmas' True - one of the Dutch phrases for 'Happy Christmas' (Prettig Kerstfeest) actually translates as 'Nice Christmas’.