They say...

...Christmas day used to fall on January 6th.  The change came about because of the switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.  This accounts for "The Twelve Days of Christmas," immortalized in that (rather annoying) Christmas song we hear each year.  "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...." http://www.bartleby.com/81/3540.html

...When "Merry Christmas" was first said, the definition of merry was peaceful or blessed.  So, people wished each other not a day of mirth and parties, but a bless'd and peaceful day.

...Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States was first to display a tree in the White House. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/traditions.html

...Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House out of environmental concerns. http://www.tri-cityherald.com/HOME/GARDEN/garden1215.html

...In the early eastern United States, the Christmas tree was considered a "quaint foreign custom."  By 1850, it had become an accepted holiday tradition. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/traditions.html

And a few other Christmas thingies....

"The First Christmas:  Cowboy Style," by Baxter Black: http://www.drafthorsejournal.com/humor/baxter01/baxter01.htm

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/virginia.html

"is there a santa?" http://winn.com/christmas/christmas-isthere.html

A Christmas Trivia Quiz: http://www.familygames.com/features/quizzes/xmasquiz.html

Restructuring the 12 Days of Christmas: http://www.visi.com/~rodsmine/reading/humor/restruct.html

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