Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2019!
The NGB Consulting team wishes you good health, personal happiness and boundless creative drive!
Christmas and the holidays are drawing closer and can be felt more and more, even though there's still no snow in some places. The Christmas markets are opening and we can enjoy the Western influence here at home too.
As you know, our team has traveled all over the place. That's why we've gathered a few interesting facts about the holiday from around the world and here at home.
- The tallest Christmas tree in the world – 67 m – was decorated in 1950 in Seattle, Washington
- The song "Jingle Bells" was the first song ever sung in space. It happened on December 16, 1965, when astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang it aboard Gemini 6.
- Pope Julius I (Bishop of Rome) was the first to declare the Nativity of Christ – December 25 – an official holiday.
- In America, on Christmas morning, an ornament shaped like a pickle is hidden in the tree, and whichever child finds it gets an extra present from Santa Claus. It's a funny tradition that some Americans follow, and it is believed to come from Germany.
- In Argentina, Christmas combines American, European and Hispanic traditions. Some of the traditions include Santa's boots, red and white flowers, and putting cotton on the Christmas tree to imitate snow. Most families gather around the holiday table for a lavish feast, exchange gifts after midnight, and the children go to bed to the sound of fireworks. As an interesting side note, I'd add that my family also used to decorate the tree with cotton in places instead of snow. Maybe Argentina isn't the only place that mixes different traditions. ;)
- In 1886, the French gave the USA the biggest gift ever made – the Statue of Liberty, built by the creator of the Eiffel Tower.
- The tradition of exchanging gifts at Christmas is not connected with Christianity, but is pagan. In the distant past, on this day the Romans honored Saturn, the god of agriculture (Cronus to the Greeks). To mark the end of the sowing season, they held feasts and exchanged gifts as a gesture of social equality.
- In Bulgaria we have a Christmas tradition called Koleduvane (caroling), a winter custom for fertility, health and good luck. It is performed by young men, the so-called koledari, who in different parts of the country are called koladnitsi, koledare or kolednitsi.
- By tradition, the holiday table in our country must have 7, 9 or 12 meatless dishes – 7 because that's how many days there are in a week; 9 because that's how long a pregnancy lasts; and 12, as many as the months in the year. The table must be abundant and include everything produced in the household. And a walnut is placed in each of the four corners of the room to bless the four corners of the world.
- And last but not least, don't forget to make a wish at midnight on Christmas Eve! According to legend, that is exactly when every wish is sure to come true!