FROM PAGE TO SCREEN TO STAGE 14 THINGS ST. NICK DOES IN `NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS'
In the 56 brief lines of his poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (popularly known as "The Night Before Christmas"), author Clement C. Moore paints St. Nick as a very active senior citizen. Here's everything he does in his short visit.
1. Whistles
2. Shouts
3. Calls his reindeer by name
4. Comes down the chimney with a bound
5. Holds the stump of his pipe tight in his teeth
6. Laughs, causing his belly to shake like a bowlful of jelly
7. Winks his eye
8. Nods his head
9. Fills all the stockings
10. Turns with a jerk
11. Lays his finger aside of his nose
12. Gives another nod
13. Goes up the chimney
14. Exclaims, "Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"
FOURTEEN THINGS THE GRINCH STOLE (BESIDES CHRISTMAS) IN THE BOOK "HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS"
1. The stockings all hung in a row
2. Pop guns
3. Bicycles
4. Roller skates
5. Drums
6. Checkerboards
7. Tricycles
8. Popcorn
9. Plums
10. Who-pudding
11. Roast beast
12. The last can of Who-hash
13. The Christmas tree
14. The log for the fire
SIX CHRISTMAS CLASSICS THAT DIDN'T WIN ANY ACADEMY AWARDS
Just because it's a holiday favorite doesn't mean it's considered a cinema classic. The films we love to watch on television every holiday season didn't often make it to the winner's circle at Oscar time.
1. "A Christmas Story"
2. "White Christmas"
3. "A Christmas Carol" (1951)
4. "It's a Wonderful Life"
5. "A Christmas Carol" (1938)
6. "Christmas in Connecticut"
TWELVE MISFITS IN THE TELEVISION SPECIAL RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER AND WHY THEY'RE MISFITS
1. Rudolph, the legendary red-nosed reindeer
2. Herbie, the elf who wanted to be a dentist
3. Yukon Cornelius, the prospector for silver and gold who ALWAYS came up empty-handed
4. A Jack-in-the-Box named Charlie
5. Nesting clowns with a wind-up mouse inside
6. A spotted elephant
7. A train with square wheels
8. A water pistol that shoots jelly
9. A bird that can't fly - it swims
10. A cowboy who rides an ostrich
11. A boat that sinks
12. A doll. We're never quite sure why she's on the island of Misfit Toys, as she seems perfectly fine. Nevertheless, she definitely considers herself a misfit. Perhaps she suffers from low self-esteem.
THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS:
15 HOLIDAY SONGS WITH THE WORD `CHRISTMAS' IN THE TITLE
1. "All I Want for Christmas"
2. "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire")
3. "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
4. "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
5. "White Christmas"
6. "Blue Christmas"
7. "Christmas in Killarney"
8. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
9. "We Need a Little Christmas"
10. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
11. "A Holly Jolly Christmas"
12. "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
13. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
14. "The Christmas Waltz"
and, in Hawaiian ...
15. "Mele Kalikamaka"
TEN CAROLS THAT DATE FROM THE RENAISSANCE OR BEFORE
1. "The Cherry Tree Carol" (medieval)
2. "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" (pre-16th century)
3. "Good Christian Men Rejoice" (1400s)
4. "The Holly and the Ivy" (medieval)
5. "I Saw Three Ships" (pre-15th century)
6. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (12th century)
7. "O Tannebaum" (medieval)
8. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (medieval)
9. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (medieval)
10. "What Child Is This?" (pre-16th century)
CHRISTMAS IN THE UNITED STATES
SEVEN TRENDY CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND THEIR YEARS OF PEAK POPULARITY
1. Teddy Bear, 1903
2. The Coonskin Cap, 1955
3. Hula Hoop, 1957
4. Skateboard, 1965
5. Pet Rock, 1974
6. Cabbage Patch Doll, 1984
7. Barney the Dinosaur, 1993
SEVEN STATES WITH CITIES CALLED BETHLEHEM
1. Connecticut
2. Georgia
3. Indiana
4. Kentucky
5. Maryland
6. New Hampshire
7. Pennsylvania
SEVENTEEN AMERICAN TOWNS WITH CHRISTMAS-Y NAMES
1. Christmas, Mich.
2. Christmas, Mo.
3. Christmas Cove, Maine
4. Christmas Valley, Ore.
5. Fort Christmas, Fla.
6. Holly, Colo.
7. Holly, Mich.
8. Holly, W.V.
9. Mistletoe, Ky.
10. Mount Holly, N.J.
11. Mount Holly, Vt.
12. Noel, Mo.
13. Noel, Va.
14. Santa Claus, Calif.
15. Santa Claus, Idaho
16. Santa Claus, Ind.
17. Snowflake, Ariz.
FIVE PLANTS
ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTMAS AND THEIR MEANINGS
1. Evergreen. A symbol of undying life and, therefore, associated with Christ. As with so many Christmas traditions, the decking of our homes with evergreens was originally a pagan tradition to celebrate the winter solstice.
2. Holly. The red of the holly berry has traditionally been symbolic of Christ's blood. This plant is also associated with the crown of thorns that Christ wore at the Crucifixion.
3. Mistletoe. At one time, it was believed that the cross was made from the wood of mistletoe. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is a pre-Christian tradition popularized by the usually stoic English.
4. Poinsettia. Mexican legend says that a young boy who could not afford to bring a gift to the creche knelt to offer a prayer instead. The poinsettia (or the Flower of the Night, as it is called in Mexico) grew where the boy had knelt. The poinsettia was introduced to the United States by John Henry Poinsett.
5. Rose. For a rose to grow in winter is as miraculous as for the Son of God to be born in a humble manger. That is the legend associated with this Christmas plant.
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
WHO BRINGS THE GIFTS IN 25 NATIONS
1. Austria - Krampus
2. Belgium - Saint Nicholas
3. Brazil - Papa Noel
4. Bulgaria - Grandfather Koleda
5. Chile - Viejo Pascuero (Old Man Christmas)
6. Costa Rica - Christ Child
7. England - Father Christmas
8. Finland - Father Christmas
9. Germany - Christkind Angel
10. Guatemala - Christ Child
11. Holland - Sinter Klaas
12. Hungary - Mikulas
13. Italy - Befana or Babbo Natale
14. Japan - Hoteiosho
15. Lebanon - Magic Mule
16. Mexico - The Three Wise Men
17. Norway - Julenisse
18. Poland - Star Man
19. Russia - Babouschka or Grandfather Frost
20. Spain - The Three Wise Men
21. Sweden - Jultomte the Gnome
22. Switzerland - Christkind
23. Syria - The Smallest Camel in the Wise Men's Caravan
24. United States - Santa Claus
25. Wales - Father Christmas
HOW TO SAY `MERRY CHRISTMAS' IN 16 DIFFERENT NATIONS
1. Denmark - Glaedelig Jul
2. England - Merry Christmas
3. France - Joyeux Noel
4. Germany - Frohliche Weinachten
5. Greece - Kala Christougena
6. Holland - Zalig Kerstfeest
7. Italy - Buon Natale
8. Japan - Meri Kurisumasu
9. Mexico - Feliz Navidad
10. Norway - Gledelig Jul
11. Poland - Wesolych Swiat
12. Portugal - Boas Festas
13. Romania - Sarbatori Vesele
14. Spain - Felices Pascuas
15. Sweden - Glad Ju
16. Wales - Nadolog Llawen
WHERE THE GIFTS ARE LEFT IN EIGHT COUNTRIES
1. Belgium - small baskets
2. Brazil - shoes
3. Ecuador - shoes in the window
4. England - stockings
5. France - shoes
6. Sicily - stockings
7. Spain - shoes left on the balcony
8. United States - under the tree
HOW CHILDREN IN SIX COUNTRIES CIRCULATE THEIR CHRISTMAS LISTS
1. Denmark. Danish children send their letters to Santa Claus in Greenland.
2. England. English children write their letters and then toss them in the fireplace. If a draft carries the letter up the chimney, the children believe the list will be fulfilled by Father Christmas.
3. Finland. Finnish children believe that their Father Christmas lives in Lapland on Korvantunturi hill, and they send their letters to him there.
4. Italy. Children place their "Christmas Letter" under their father's dinner plate on Christmas Eve. Since gifts aren't exchanged until Jan. 6, there is plenty of time for the list to be read and fulfilled.
5. Panama. In Panama, children charmingly send their letters to Baby Jesus in Heaven c/o St. Peter.
6. United States. American children traditionally send their letters to Santa Claus at the North Pole, where he resides with his wife and eight reindeer (nine, if you count Rudolph).