Need some strange holiday table conversations starters to end the weirdest year ever? Look no further than these lesser-known facts about the “manufacturing” of Christmas, both literal and figurative.
The birth of faux trees
The artificial Christmas tree as we know it has its roots in…wait for it…toilet brushes. A shortage of evergreens in Great Britain caused a need for innovation in the early 1900s. After realizing the similarity between a toilet brush design and real branches, American toilet brush company Addis Brush made some modifications and started producing artificial tree kits. A brand new industry—as well as a new export market—was born.
Follow that reindeer
Since 1958, Santa’s journey around the world has been tracked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Why? The whole venture started when a kid accidentally dialed an unlisted number thinking she was calling Santa after seeing an ad in the local paper. The actual number she dialed just happened to belong to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center. The air force colonel that answered her call decided to turn a child’s mishap into some Christmas magic, and the Santa Tracker has been humming ever since.
Kentucky fried Christmas
If it’s Christmas in Japan, you’re eating KFC. In the 1970s, Japan’s fast-food industry exploded in a largely secular nation obsessed with American pop culture. KFC’s “Kentucky for Christmas” ad campaign took off famously, sparking a holiday hankering for the Colonel’s famous recipe ever since. It’s such a holiday tradition now that chicken orders are reportedly placed two months in advance.
Mainstream Santa
Speaking of the power of marketing, the world has a 1930s Coca Cola ad campaign to thank for our image of a white-bearded Santa in a red suit and hat. It was the first time the world’s most famous elf was ever illustrated that way for the masses—and the image stuck.
Whatever and wherever you celebrate, may your holidays ring true.