STORIES+Sweeden

Shine a little extra around the Christmas table with some funny Christmas stories Here you will find some fun Christmas facts you probably do not have a clue about. Did you know that ...   In December, 15 000 mail carriers handing out almost 40 million Christmas cards every year in Sweden, despite today's modern technology. 1.5 million packages are also given out.
 * Everything you did not know about Christmas **

It is estimated that about 400 000 people each year become ill after eating old Christmas food.

Santa's role model comes from St. Nicholas, a bishop in Turkey of 300's, who was canonized after having saved many children from prostitution. It is also after him as the English name Santa Claus comes from.

U.S. President Barack Obama tops the list of celebrities that the Swedes would prefer to send Christmas cards to.

Saffron comes from the marks of a crocus, and to extract one kilograms saffron requires about 40 000 flowers.

World's Smallest Christmas card sent in 1929 to the Duke of Windsor and was made of a grain of rice. In addition to the address and a hand-drawn picture was also Greetings "His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, with heartfelt Christmas greetings from The Joseph G".

World's Largest Christmas card sent in 1968 and was 9600 feet long and weighed 2 tons. It was greetings by a U.S. soldier and was dedicated to his comrades in Vietnam.

The images that formed the basis for Santa's appearance here in Sweden come from Jenny Nyström's famous Christmas cards. The American counterpart is said, however, have had their appearance from a Coca-Cola commercial from the 1930s.

35% are showing their Christmas greetings/cards in the home so that others can see them, for example, on a chest of drawers in the hall. Those who really want to show the Christmas cards they received, as much as 46%, are men between 30-49 years.

Thomas Noons subscription Santa Clause in Camp was the one who first linked the Santa Claus with reindeer and sleigh. The drawing, which shows how Santa Clause handing out Christmas gifts to soldiers in the American Civil War, was published in Harper's Weekly January 3, 1863.

Put the almonds in the porridge is probably an old custom from the late 1800s, when it mainly focused on who the building's unmarried girls who would get the almonds, and so on which also have the luck to be married in the coming year.

The tradition of giving Christmas presents come from the New Year's gifts that have been known since antiquity. Another source is the schools and the Church's celebration of St. Nicholas day, December 6, when the children got presents.

The northern European custom to put candles(mostly electrical lights) in the Christmas tree comes from the belief that it would protect the forest land of other trees during the winter. To decorate the tree is an ancient custom which is said to protect against evil spirits.

Six out of ten individuals are buying gifts over the Internet.

Christmas tree tradition originated in Germany in the 1400s when the rich people put in the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, and decorated it with apples, cakes and glitter. In Sweden, the tradition started in the 1900s.

The tradition of sending Christmas cards comes from England, where the first was sent around 165 years ago. In Sweden, it became popular in the late 1800s, but only during the 1910s, became a regular Christmas cards, where the famous artist Jenny Nyström began painting her famous Santa Clause. Among the Swedish Christmas traditions Christmas card is older than the Christmas tree. Lucia's chandelier is said to come from a story when Lucia was bringing food for prisoners in a deep dungeon, and to be able to carry as much as possible, she put the candles on her head.

Each year approximately 100 000 letters is mailed to Santa Claus in Tomteboda. The letters contain everything from wish lists, gifts, maps and tips. Would you like to send Christmas cards to Santa Claus? Here is his address: Tomten (Santa Claus) 173 2000 Tomteboda