5 things you didn´t Know about Santa Claus

5 things you didn´t Know about Santa Claus

1.His sleigh is probably the fastest vehicle ever made.

sleigh santa facts

Santa doesn’t get enough credit for the amount of work he does in just one night. It’s one thing to say he visits every boy and girl and leaves them gifts, but when you crunch the numbers, you start to realize what a staggering job that really is. There are roughly 2.1 billion children in the world, and an average of 2.5 children per household.

2.He’s only worn red since he started shilling for Coca-Cola.

coca cola sign

Santa’s had a wide range of colorful outfits over the years—green, brown, blue, and even tan—but it’s only been since 1931 that he’s known to wear primarily a red-and-white suit. It’s all thanks to the Coca-Cola company, which used Santa in the early 30s to sell Coke products, and of course dressed him in the brand’s trademark colors. It’s been that way ever since, and Santa continues to be one of the centerpiece of Coke’s holiday advertising campaign.

3.He was a bachelor for many years.

santa facts

Santa (or a version of Santa) has been around for centuries, and he’s been a part of American culture since at least the late 1700s. But it wasn’t until the mid-19th century before anybody bothered to wonder if Santa would ever give up his bachelor ways and settle down. His spouse was first revealed in an 1849 short story—”A Christmas Legend,” written by a Philadelphia missionary named James Rees—and Mrs. Claus soon became a regular presence in Christmas tales. But it wasn’t until 1889, in a poem called “Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride,” that she started to demand more of the holiday spotlight. “Why should you have all the glory of the joyous Christmas story?” she asks her hubbie.

4. All letters addressed to Santa in the United States go to the same post office.

Since around 1914, all letters addressed to Santa Claus go to the same place. No, not the North Pole; they end up at a small post office in Santa Claus, Indiana, where every letter with a return address will receive a reply, handwritten by the postmaster or one of his many “elf” volunteers. Pat Koch has carried on the tradition that began with his father, and his many helpers share his enthusiasm. “They’re writing a letter to us, and they’re wanting an answer back from Santa Claus,” Ed Rinehart, an elf at the Santa Claus post office, said in an interview. “So my job is to make sure that those letters get back in the mail to them.”

5.He eats way too much sugar.

chocolate chip cookies

Santa didn’t get a little round belly that shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly from eating too much broccoli. No, Kris Kringle loves his sweets. And he has millions of kids across the globe encouraging his bad habits. If every household he visits leaves an average of two cookies for Santa, that means in a single evening, he consumes 374 billion calories, 33,000 tons of sugar, and 151,000 tons of fat. To burn off all of those empty calories, Santa would need to run for approximately 109,000 years. Good luck with that, Santa!

5 things you didn´t Know about Santa Claus

5 Things You Didn´t Know About thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day | Meaning, History, & Facts | Britannica
  • The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three day harvest festival. It included 50 Pilgrims, 90 Wampanoag Indians, and lasted three days. It is believed by historians that only five women were present.
  • Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish were likely served, alongside pumpkins and cranberries (but not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce!).
  • Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863. Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who wrote “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” convinced Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday after writing letters for 17 years.
  • The history of U.S. presidents pardoning turkeys is patchy. Harry Truman is often credited with being the first president to pardon a turkey, but that’s not quite true. He was the first to receive a ceremonial turkey from the National Turkey Federation – and he had it for dinner. John F. Kennedy was the first to let a Thanksgiving turkey go, followed by Richard Nixon who sent his turkey to a petting zoo. George H.W. Bush is the president who formalized the turkey pardoning tradition in 1989.
  • There are four towns in the United States named “Turkey.” They can be found in Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.
5 things you didn´t Know about Santa Claus

5 Things You Didn´t Know About iPads

  • Pads were Apple’s answer to netbooks. …
  • Steve Jobs didn’t like tablets. …
  • The iPad originally featured a kickstand and handles. …
  • Apple’s biggest product launch. …
  • The original iPad was jailbroken in one day.
5 things you didn´t Know about Santa Claus

5 Things

1. It’s not the same as Halloween

While Halloween is celebrated Oct. 31, Día de los Muertos is celebrated right after, on Nov. 2. Many communities that celebrate Día de los Muertos also celebrate Halloween.

2. It originated in Mexico and Central America

Día de los Muertos originated in ancient Mesoamerica (Mexico and northern Central America) where indigenous groups, including Aztec, Maya and Toltec, had specific times when they commemorated their loved ones who had passed away. Certain months were dedicated to remembering the departed, based on whether the deceased was an adult or a child.

After the arrival of the Spanish, this ritual of commemorating the dead was intertwined with two Spanish holidays: All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Soul’s Day (Nov. 2). Día de los Muertos is often celebrated on Nov. 1 as a day to remember children who have passed away, and on Nov. 2 to honor adults.

Today, Día de los Muertos is celebrated mostly in Mexico and some parts of Central and South America. Recently it has become increasingly popular among Latino communities abroad, including in the United States.

paper
Sugar skulls, monarch butterflies, marigolds and traditional paper banners (papel picado) are all symbols of the Día de los Muertos. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian Latino Center)

 

3. It’s a celebration of life, not death

Ancient Mesoamericans believed that death was part of the journey of life. Rather than death ending life, they believed that new life came from death. This cycle is often associated with the cyclical nature of agriculture, whereby crops grow from the ground where the last crop lies buried.

Día de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Like any other celebration, Día de los Muertos is filled with music and dancing. Some popular dances include La Danza de los Viejitos—the dance of the little old men—in which boys and young men dress as old men, walk around crouched over then suddenly jump up in an energetic dance. Another dance is La Danza de los Tecuanes—the dance of the jaguars—that depicts farm workers hunting a jaguar.

altar
The ofrenda, or altar, is composed of mementos, photographs and objects of loved ones who have died and is intended to honor and remember their lives. This is an installation by artist Amalia Mesa-Bains, titled “An Ofrenda for Dolores del Rio” © 1991, Amalia Mesa-Bains. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum)

 

4. The ofrenda is a central component

The ofrenda is often the most recognized symbol of Día de los Muertos. This temporary altar is a way for families to honor their loved ones and provide them what they need on their journey. They place down pictures of the deceased, along with items that belonged to them and objects that serve as a reminder of their lives.

Every ofrenda also includes the four elements: water, wind, earth and fire. Water is left in a pitcher so the spirits can quench their thirst. Papel picado, or traditional paper banners, represent the wind. Earth is represented by food, especially bread. Candles are often left in the form of a cross to represent the cardinal directions, so the spirits can find their way.

skulls
Traditional calaveras, or skulls, which are prominent on Día de los Muertos. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian Latino Center)

 

5. Flowers, butterflies and skulls are typically used as symbols

The cempasúchil, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. With their strong scent and vibrant color the petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families’ homes.

Monarch butterflies play a role in Día de los Muertos because they are believed to hold the spirits of the departed. This belief stems from the fact that the first monarchs arrive in Mexico for the winter each fall on Nov. 1, which coincides with Día de los Muertos.

Calaveritas de azucar, or sugar skulls, along with toys, are left on the altars for children who have passed. The skull is used not as morbid symbol but rather as a whimsical reminder of the cyclicality of life, which is why they are brightly decorated.

5 things you didn´t Know about Santa Claus

5 Things You Didn´t Know About The Voice Global Spelling Bee

1. It is held via Zoom all the way from Africa!

2. We are the only Latin-American school invited to participate.

3. There are participants from all over the world, like India, Africa, Pakistan and even Indonesia.

4. It is based 100% on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

5. Last year we had a great experience with 10 great contestants.


Follow them in Facebook as The Voice Spelling BeeBee prepared for this year´s competition!

5 things you didn´t Know about Santa Claus

5 Things You Didn´t Know About Spelling

1. It has an impact on our basic ability to communicate.

2.  Spelling quality has a direct impact on employment opportunities.

3.  Spelling and reading skills are closely related and help develop overall literacy.

4. The best way of practicing spelling is to use the words as often as possible.

5. Our school will be holding 2 Spelling Bee competitions this year: The Voice Spelling Bee Global Edition (Worldwide via Zoom) and our own Spelling Bee, how exciting isn´t it?