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FEATURED GALLERY: DECEMBER 2025 | 6 CHRISTMAS FUN FACTS
When Was Jesus Born? (1/6)
While the actual day and month of Jesus’s birth is uncertain, historical evidence for the holiday of Christmas dates back to the 4th century. The Philocalian Calendar, written in Rome in 336, provides the earliest reference to celebrating the birth of Christ on December 25.
The First Illuminated Christmas Tree (2/6)
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree with lights is widely attributed to Martin Luther. After being mesmerized by the way the stars shone amid the evergreens during a winter walk, Luther decided to capture the beautiful sight for his family. He accomplished this by setting up a tree in his home and using wired candles to light its branches.
Deciphering the 'X' in Xmas (3/6)
Contrary to the belief that the "X" in Xmas is meant to eliminate "Christ" from Christmas, the symbol actually has religious origins. The letter X represents Chi, the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, which is Christos. This abbreviation (Xristos) was commonly used in Greek New Testament manuscripts. The practice was adopted into Old English as early as AD 1000, and by the 15th century, "Xmas" had become a widely accepted abbreviation for Christmas.
When Christmas Was Banned in 1647 (4/6)
The Puritans strongly opposed the celebration of Christmas. In 1647, the Puritan government officially canceled the holiday, making traditional merriment illegal. They ordered that shops must remain open and churches must stay closed. Furthermore, any minister who dared to preach on Christmas Day faced arrest.
The United States Officially Recognize Christmas (5/6)
Although Christmas was federally declared an official holiday on June 26, 1870, individual states adopted it at different times. Alabama recognized the holiday first in 1836. It took until 1907 for Oklahoma to become the final state to officially do so.
Tracing 4 Popular Christmas Terms (6/6)
Terms we use for the Christmas holiday come from several ancient languages: (1) Christmas: A contracted form of the Middle English “Christ’s Mass.” (2) Nativity: Derived from the Latin nātīvitās, meaning “birth.”
(3) Yule (Gēola): An Old English term originally referring to the December/January period before being associated with Christmas. (4) Noel (Nowell): Adopted from Old French (noël or naël) in the late 14th century, which itself originates from the Latin nātālis (diēs), meaning “(day) of birth.”
(3) Yule (Gēola): An Old English term originally referring to the December/January period before being associated with Christmas. (4) Noel (Nowell): Adopted from Old French (noël or naël) in the late 14th century, which itself originates from the Latin nātālis (diēs), meaning “(day) of birth.”
FEATURED GALLERY: NOVEMBER 2025 | 10 THANKSGIVING FUN FACTS
The Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving (1/10)
Thanksgiving originates from an Autumn harvest feast shared in 1621 by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (now part of Massachusetts) and the local Wampanoag tribe. The Wampanoag had been essential to the Pilgrims' survival, providing them with food during their difficult first New England winter.
George Washington makes the 1st Presidential Thanksgiving proclamation (2/10)
The tradition of a presidential proclamation for Thanksgiving began with George Washington. On October 3, 1789, in New York City, he declared the first such observance for Thursday, November 26, 1789. Washington specified it should be a day of "public thanksgiving and prayer," honoring "that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good."
“Mary Had A Little Lamb” author helped make Thanksgiving a Holiday (3/10)
The person primarily responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday is Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor and writer of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb." After proposing the idea in 1846, Hale spent 17 years advocating for it until she finally convinced Abraham Lincoln to officially establish the holiday in 1863.
“A Federal holiday at last” (4/10)
Following the critical events of 1863 (Emancipation Proclamation and the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg) President Lincoln called for a national Thanksgiving holiday. By setting the celebration for the last Thursday in November, he referenced the timing of Washington's first proclamation. This holiday has been celebrated annually without interruption since its establishment.
“4th Thursday of every November” (5/10)
The traditional date of Thanksgiving created a problem in 1939 when it landed on November 30. Driven by the desire for an extended holiday shopping season, retailers persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt to move the day one week earlier. This action split the country: 32 of the 48 states followed Roosevelt's "Democratic Thanksgiving," while 16 states observed the "Republican Thanksgiving" on the original date. This period of confusion and public outcry, nicknamed "Franksgiving," ended when Roosevelt signed legislation that formally and permanently designated Thanksgiving as a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday in November.
Turkeys getting pardoned goes back to the Truman Administration (6/10)
Though many anecdotes about Presidents sparing a turkey exist from as far back as the Truman Administration, the official ceremony is a relatively modern invention. Ronald Reagan initiated the first formal turkey pardon in 1987. Two years later, in 1989, President George H.W. Bush cemented the act as an annual Thanksgiving tradition. The exempted turkey is generally sent to a petting zoo or farm afterward.
Football and Thanksgiving go hand and hand – In America (7/10)
Football has been connected to Thanksgiving since the late-19th century. This history is marked by the enduring tradition of professional games hosted by the Detroit Lions (since 1934, with a pause for WWII) and the Dallas Cowboys (since 1966). At the collegiate level, the long weekend is strongly associated with intense "rivalry games." Furthermore, many local amateur groups (from schools or civic organizations) participate in casual "Turkey Bowls," often raising money for charity in the process.
Who came up with term “Black Friday”?! (8/10)
The shopping day after Thanksgiving, known as “Black Friday,” was originally coined in the 1950s by the Philadelphia Police traffic unit. Reporter Joseph P. Barrett formalized the name in 1961, using it in the Evening Bulletin to describe the unbearable traffic and crowds that kicked off the Christmas shopping season. Despite attempts by merchants and Police Commissioner Albert N. Brown to replace the negative phrase with “Big Friday,” the term “Black Friday” had already caught on in the media and became permanent.
The book of Colossians says….. (9/10)
(Colossians 1:11–12) May you be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
And lastly the book of Ephesians says.... (10/10)
Ephesians 5:20: “ . . . giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
FEATURED GALLERY: OCTOBER 2025 | REFORMATION DAY
Date and Event: (1/10)
Reformation Day is observed annually on October 31st. It commemorates the day in 1517 when Martin Luther is said to have posted his Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg, Germany.
The Starting Point: (2/10)
Luther's act of posting the Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church is traditionally seen as the spark that ignited the Protestant Reformation.
The Main Issue: (3/10)
The primary grievance of the Ninety-five Theses was the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences, which were certificates that could be purchased to reduce the time a soul would spend in purgatory.
Luther's Intent: (4/10)
Martin Luther, who was a Catholic monk and professor of theology at the time, initially sought academic debate and reform within the Catholic Church, not to break away and start a new religion.
The Power of the Press: (5/10)
The Reformation's ideas spread rapidly due to the invention of the printing press. The Ninety-five Theses were quickly translated from Latin into German, printed, and distributed widely across Europe.
The "Five Solas": (6/10)
The Reformation is summarized by five Latin phrases known as the "Five Solas," which articulate the core Protestant theological beliefs:
Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
Sola Fide (Faith alone)
Sola Gratia (Grace alone)
Solus Christus (Christ alone)
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)
Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
Sola Fide (Faith alone)
Sola Gratia (Grace alone)
Solus Christus (Christ alone)
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)
Skepticism on the "Nailing": (7/10)
While the image of Luther dramatically nailing the Theses is iconic, many historians believe he likely sent the Theses to the Archbishop of Mainz and other church officials first, following proper procedure for an academic debate, and may or may not have physically nailed them to the door.
Liturgical Color: (8/10)
The traditional liturgical color for Reformation Day in Lutheran and other Protestant churches is Red, symbolizing the Holy Spirit and the blood of the Christian martyrs who suffered during the Reformation.
A Hymn of the Day: (9/10)
One of the most famous hymns written by Martin Luther, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott), based on Psalm 46, is a central song for Reformation Day services.
Sharing a Date with Halloween: (10/10)
The date October 31st was chosen because it was the Vigil of All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Eve/Halloween), a major holy day when many people would be in Wittenberg to view the church's relics, ensuring maximum exposure for a debate announcement.
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