Merry Christmas from Team Snopes!

We've got five Christmas myths under the tree to unwrap just for you.

#1: The celebration of Christmas was NOT illegal in the United States until 1836.

A Facebook meme highlighted the Puritan colonists' dim view of December 25 celebrations.

#2: Jingle Bells was not originally a Christmas song.

Perhaps no single piece of secular music is more ubiquitous during the Christmas holiday season than "Jingle Bells."

#3: The term 'Xmas' is not a modern and disrespectful abbreviation for 'Christmas.'

The words "Christ" and "Christmas" have been abbreviated in English since long before the modern 'Xmas' came to be commonly used.

Santa says* that fighting misinformation automatically puts you on his good list. Help him bring the truth down your chimney by contributing to Snopes today.

*This claim is currently rated Unproven.


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#4: Coca-Cola didn’t invent the modern image of Santa.

The image of Santa Claus as a jolly large man in a red-and-white suit was the standard long before Coca-Cola co-opted it for their advertising.

#5: Candy canes did not originate as religious symbols.

Despite modern religious legends, candy canes were not created as Christian symbols representing the blood and purity of Jesus.

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Study, Learn and Grow

Friday, December 25, 2020

Five Things People Say About Christmas More Fake Than a Plastic Christmas Tree