Commentary
As a historian of Christmas, I get to hear a lot of misinformation about the world’s favourite festival.
Here are some examples: “Did you hear that ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ is really a secret Catholic code from the days when the Church was persecuted in England?” No, it’s not. It’s an 18th-century counting song. “Coca-Cola gave us the look of Santa Claus to match their red and white corporate colours.” No, they didn’t. Santa Claus rocked that outfit long before the ads by artist Haddon Sundblom started in 1931. “I bet you didn’t know that Martin Luther started the fashion for decorating Christmas trees with candles, trying to imitate the night sky over Bethlehem.” No, he didn’t. Luther had nothing to do with the Christmas tree. “OK, so then the Christmas tree idea came from St. Boniface chopping down the Oak of Thor and replacing it with a little evergreen.” No, he didn’t. That tale became popular only after an 1891 American short story….