Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Trivia

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

- John 1:1


ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY, NUMBER 16 PRESENTS SOME CHRISTMAS TRIVIA


Did you know that Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born on Christmas Day in North Oxford, Massachusetts in 1821.


Clara Barton


Did you know that the poinsettia originated in Mexico.  It was named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico.  Poinsett introduced the plant into the United States in the 1820s. In Mexico, it is called "Flor de Noche Buena" (Christmas Eve flower).





Did you know that a cyclone devastated Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia on Christmas Day, 1974.  Known as Cyclone Tracy, it killed 71 people and destroyed over 70 per cent of Darwin's buildings.

Did you know that Christmas Island is a territory of Australia?  It is located in the Indian Ocean, 2,600 kilometres (1,600 miles) northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth.  It's closest neighbour, however, is the Indonesian island, Java, which is 360 km. (223 miles) away.  It was named Christmas Island because it was discovered on Christmas Day in 1643.  Its discoverer was Captain Willaim Mynors of the Royal Mary, a ship of the British East India Company.  The island has a tropical equatorial climate.





Did you know that the turkey is native to the forests of North America?


Did you know that in the middle ages the traditional Christmas dinner in England was a pig's head prepared with mustard sauce?


Did you know that the abbreviation Xmas is religious?  The letter X is actually the Greek abbreviation for Christ.


Did you know that the correct name of the famous Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore is not Twas the Night Before Christmas?  The correct title is A Visit from St. Nicholas.


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT FROM NUMBER 16.


- Joanne

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