15 interesting facts about Christmas

Betty MacDonald fan club fans, have you bought all your Christmas presents yet? A wonderful Christmas gift is Satire is My Favorite Animal by Heidelberg author Wolfgang Hampel. According to many readers worldwide, Satire is My Favorite Animal is one of the funniest books of all time. It is really true - even my very dear but somewhat humorless mother-in-law had to laugh out loud while reading this book. Please put this wonderful book under the Christmas tree, because we need a lot of humor especially in these times. Wolfgang Hampel and the Vita Magica team support cultural institutions through book sales and readings. Many greetings, Mats ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 interesting facts about Christmas Christmas atmosphere, everywhere it smells of cookies and fir branches. But where do the traditions come from, what myths are there and how do people actually celebrate the festival of love in other countries? Here are the 15 craziest facts about the most contemplative time of the year. 1. what would be a Christmas tree without colorful gifts? Don't worry, the tradition of Christmas gifts is not a retail invention. It even goes back to the ancient Romans, who hoped for good luck in the new year by giving gifts to each other. However, the gift-giving under the Christmas tree as we know it today did not come into being until the 18th century. In the past, the gifts were also intended to fulfill an educational aspect, to reward the children for their good behavior. 2 Is Rudolf with the red nose a reindeer cow? In the USA, the American Santa Claus harnesses his nine reindeer in front of his sleigh. Their names are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitz and of course Rudolf. But shouldn't the famous antlers actually have female first names? Because the fact is: every year the male reindeer shed their antlers, only the cows keep their proud splendor until spring. 3 Why do you have to kiss under the mistletoe? Happy ending of a Nordic gods' saga: It is said that the mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigg, the goddess of love. But her son Balder was killed with an arrow from this branch, of all things. Only with great effort could Frigg bring him back to life. Out of joy, she kissed everyone who walked under the tree from which the fateful branch came. 4 Where does the speculoos come from? There is a possible relationship to the East Frisian word "Spikelätsje". This, in turn, has its origins in the Dutch "speculatie," which in the 18th century described plastically shaped sugar confectionery. Other sources trace the name back to "Speculator", as St. Nicholas was also called. The traditional baking day for the delicious cookies made of spicy shortbread is said to have been the sixth of December. 5 Are poinsettias really poisonous? The pretty ornamental plant with the bright red leaves belongs to the spurge family. This means that the milky sap stored in the plant's body is slightly poisonous and can cause skin irritation. But don't worry, the poinsettia's dangerous constituents, known as diterpenes, are only present in wild plants. Sparkling specimens from the flower store can be bought without hesitation. 6 Who invented the Christmas market? We owe the contemplative market hustle and bustle to the Saxon Elector Frederick II (1412-1464). He gave his brother Sigismund, who lived in Dresden, a one-day meat market in 1434 "on the day before Christmas Eve". This was so well received by the people that it was held again every year and became larger and larger. 7 As early as 3,000 years ago, the inhabitants of the Orient dipped straw in fat to create a lasting source of light. However, this stank terribly. The low tallow candles used by the Romans since the 2nd century AD were better. But it was not until the Frenchman Jules de Cambacérès developed the braided wick around 1828 that the candle found its present form. 8 There used to be more tinsel? How right Grandpa Hoppenstedt is in the Loriot sketch. Shiny tree decorations have declined by almost 70 percent in the past 20 years. By the way, tinsel comes from the Italian word "llama," which means metal leaf. The glittery threads are supposed to represent icicles. 9. Were Christmas trees always fir trees? Today, a beautifully decorated Nordmann fir - or a similar coniferous tree - is part of the celebration of love. Yet the first German Christmas tree was much more exotic. In 1570, there was a date palm tree in the craftsmen's guild house in Bremen. This was decorated with small delicacies and plundered together after the holidays. 10. cookies or Christmas cookies? Since coffee and tea were increasingly drunk in Germany in the 18th century, they were accompanied by sugar cookies - called Plätzchen. The word is derived from the Latin "placenta" (German: "cake"). Cookies, in turn, originated in the 19th century on the model of "English cakes." This was the name given to rusks on English ships. So cookies are sugary-sweet, cookies rather nutritious. 11. who perfected the nutcracker? The oldest figure dates back to 1591 and can be seen today in the Vienna Museum of Ethnology. Unfortunately, it is not known who created it. But the era of the artistic helpers was definitely ushered in by the carpenter Friedrich Wilhelm Füchtner (1844-1923), who came from the Erzgebirge. In 1870, he came up with the idea of turning nutcrackers by machine instead of carving them by hand. 12 Why did the Christmas tree ball go around the world? Frank Winfield Woolworth (1852-1919) held up a hand-blown Christmas bauble from Lauscha (Thuringia) in amazement. "We need something like that in America, too," he thought to himself. Without further ado, the businessman had dozens of boxes of Christmas baubles shipped to the U.S. in 1880 and sold them there in his famous department stores. From there, the pretty decorative pieces spread all over the world. 13 Why do the English celebrate "Boxing Day"? No, this is not about heaping brawls in the pub at Christmas time. Boxing Day is an old tradition. In the past, employers used to give their employees their Christmas bonus and a gift in a box. And it is precisely this gesture that the British still celebrate today. 14 Was Jesus not born on Christmas Eve? If we follow the research results of Australian astronomers, we would actually celebrate Christmas Eve in summer. They calculated the position of the stars over the Holy Land about 2,000 years ago. They compared their data with corresponding information from the Bible. The result: Mary should have given birth to the baby Jesus on June 17. 15 How do other nations actually celebrate the Christmas season? The Swedes, for example, celebrate a billy goat. Originally, the figure made of straw, the "Julbock," stood for a rich harvest. In the meantime, the approximately 13-meter-high Julbock on Castle Square in Gävle is in the Guinness Book of Records. Smaller versions adorn the Christmas tree at home. Other countries, other customs. This also applies to the Icelanders. For centuries, it has not been Santa Claus who brings the presents, but 13 Christmas gnomes. From December 12 to 24, a different one comes every day, which is why the Icelandic Advent calendar has only 13 windows. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty MacDonald fan club fans, we hope you'll enjoy this wonderful Christmas concert from Heidelberg with unique Julia Migenes as much as many Betty MacDonald fan club fans around the world. Please don't miss it. I bet Mark Twain would love very witty and wise Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel. It's acoording to many delighted readers around the world one of the funniest books ever written. It's a perfect Xmas gift and by the way don't miss Betty MacDonald fan club contest, please. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty MacDonald fan club fans, Don't miss our wonderful Betty MacDonald fan club Xmas surprise, please. Send us your favourite text from very witty book Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel, please and you have the chance to win a signed first edition of Betty MacDonald's Nancy and Plum. We have a wonderful Xmas surprise for everybody who joins Betty MacDonald fan club Xmas contest. Deadline: December 23, 2020 Everybody is a winner because we have a great Betty MacDonald fan club Xmas surprise for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Betty MacDonald fan club fans, a new fascinating Betty MacDonald biography by Wolfgang Hampel, bestselling author of ' Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) will be published in 2021. Wolfgang Hampel was a very good friend of author Monica Sone, described by Betty MacDonald as Kimi in The Plague and I. Monica Sone shared the most interesting info on her wonderful friend Betty MacDonald. Wolfgang Hampel and Betty MacDonald fan club are working on this golden treasure for many Betty MacDonald fans around the world. Greetings, Mats -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2020/07/readers-praise-satire-ist-mein.html Why are funny books so important? Take me, I'm a very optimistic personality but in these days I need some kind of support. Therefore I'm very glad and grateful I can read a very intelligent and funny book. Satire ist mein Lieblingstier (Satire is my favourite animal) by Wolfgang Hampel is a perfect example of very funny and very intelligent literature. Yes, indeed it requires lateral thinking; making unexpected connections; being one step ahead of the reader. If you are looking for a very funny and very intelligent book try brilliant Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Wolfgang Hampel. You'll enjoy it as much as I do and many, many delighted readers around the world. Take care, Martine Didier ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty MacDonald fan club fans, we wish you a great time with one of the funniest books ever written. Send us your thoughts regarding humour, please. We are going to include the best essays in our next Betty MacDonald fan club newsletters. You might be one of our Betty MacDonald fan club surprise winners. Good luck! Why do I think that Satire is my favourite animal by Wolfgang Hampel is such a popular book? I guess the reason why is it's so witty and intelligent. Yes, it's true. You can read Satire is my favourite animal over and over again the same way I do and it won't bore you. To me this happens very, very seldom. Very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Wolfgang Hampel the best recipe for bad mood and depression - especially important in times like we have now. Please don't miss Satire ist mein Lieblingstier by Heidelberg author Wolfgang Hampel ( Satire is my favourite animal ) one of the funniest books ever written according to many readers around the world. (UK, USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and many other countries) Very successful writers are going to introduce their fascinating books at Vita Magica January - June 2021. You are very welcome! Vita Magica setzt ihr Programm auch 2021 fort. Im ersten Halbjahr werden großartige neue Autoren ihre sehr erfolgreichen Bücher vorstellen. Vita Magica will continue with fascinating new authors and their very interesting books at Vita Magica January - June 2021. A fascinating new Vita Magica program. Wir brauchen jetzt sehr witzige und heitere Bücher!!! Golden laughter is very important - especially now!!!! Das wunderbare Buch ' Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) von Wolfgang Hampel ist ein brilliantes Feuerwerk der besten Pointen mit sehr geistreicher, witziger und hintergründiger Unterhaltung!!!!! https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Wolfgang-Hampel/dp/3958281559 Wenn Sie ein sehr humorvolles Buch lesen wollen, dann verpassen Sie bitte nicht 'Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ' von Wolfgang Hampel. Das sehr witzige Buch 'Satire ist mein Lieblingstier' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) von Wolfgang Hampel lieben vieler Leser auf der ganzen Welt!!!!( USA, UK, Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz und vielen anderen Ländern ) Wolfgang Hampel, author of very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) and Vita Magica Team support culturual institutions with special events and book sales of Satire ist mein Lieblingstier. This very witty book is according to many readers from all over the world one of the funniest books ever written. https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Wolfgang-Hampel/dp/3958281559 Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Wolfgang Hampel is like golden sunshine in dark Winter. Please don't miss very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ). It's one of the funniest books ever written according to many readers around the world. It brings lots of fun and joy to many readers around the world. Many of them including me take this best medicine for bad mood every day. Betty MacDonald fan club - and Vita Magica founder, Wolfgang Hampel from Heidelberg, author of very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) is working on a new Betty MacDonald biography. 'Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ' by Wolfgang Hampel is very successful in USA, UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and many other countries!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can read Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) by Wolfgang Hampel over and over again and it won't be boring. Don't miss it, please. Wolfgang Hampel, author of very witty Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal ) and Vita Magica Team support culturual institutions with special events and book sales of Satire ist mein Lieblingstier. This very witty book is according to many readers from all over the world one of the funniest books ever written. https://www.amazon.com/Satire-ist-mein-Lieblingstier-Satirische/dp/3958281559 Take care, Greta