Next time you’re invited to one of those “Ugly Christmas Sweater” parties, wow the crowd with your knowledge of snowflakes, sweaters, and other Christmas icons. Enjoy the following yuletide facts, and have a very happy holiday.
- 1,200 yards of yarn are needed to make one large man’s sweater.
- In the U.S., 36% of all Christmas sweaters are sold in the Northeast.
- Only 18% are sold in Midwest.
- Historically speaking, the color green symbolizes life and rebirth.
- The color red symbolizes the blood of Christ.
- The color gold represents light, as well as wealth and royalty.
- The bauble has been a Christmas tree mainstay since 1847.
- Glass baubles were first made in Lauscha, Germany.
- Hans Greiner produced garlands of glass beads similar to the popcorn strands and tin figures that could be hung on trees.
- The reindeer is the 2nd most common animal found on Christmas sweaters. The first is the bear.
- Caribou (reindeer) are known to travel up to 3,000 miles (nearly 5,000 km) in a year, the longest documented movements of any terrestrial mammal.
- Reindeer are covered with hollow hairs that trap in air and keep them well-insulated from the elements.
- Though no two are alike, all snowflakes have six sides.
- The world’s largest single snowflake was reported to be 15″ across and 8″ thick, back in 1887 in Montana.
- Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the U.S. since about 1850.
- 77 million Christmas trees are planted each year.
See all the images used in this post by checking out our Sweaters lightbox. Bigstock wishes you a fun, festive holiday!
