Nine amazing facts about Christmas that you've never heard about

The winter holidays mean different things to different people. You may already know Santa's big secret, but there are things about Christmas you still have yet to discover.

They say Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It might be cold outside, but here inside is cozy and warm, there's food on the table, gifts under the tree, and the cheer of family and friends fill the air.

Tradition plays a big role in Christmas. Some things seem to never change: the food, the gifts, the music. However, there are some things about the holidays that might surprise you.

We're certain about the protagonists of the nativity set: There's Baby Jesus, the literal star of Christmas, Mary, Joseph, a varied assortment of farm animals and three wise men from the Far East that came following a star. Well, not quite…

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The truth is that the Bible never explicitly say there were three wise men. The Gospel According to Matthew said that “many wise men” came to visit Christ and brought three gifts. It also never describes them as rulers of any kind, though the Psalms do mention many kings would bow to the Messiah.

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The wise men, regardless if they were two or two hundred, also never went to a manger. Reverend Ian Paul tells The Guardian the idea that Christ was born in a stable is born out of a mistranslation and misunderstanding of the customs of First-Century Bethlehem.

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Peasant families at that time and place would live in single-room abodes, with a lower room or cellar where animals would be fed and kept. That's where Jesus is born.

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On the other end of the spectrum, there's Santa Claus and the more secular trappings of Christmas. You probably have heard that Coca-Cola invented the modern image of Santa Claus for their ads, somewhere in the 1930s.

Although Kris Kingle does don the company colors for the world's most recognizable soft drink, The Guardian highlights that Santa has been wearing red and white since the early 19th century.

Some people even trace back Santa Claus to St. Nicholas of Myra, a 4th-century saint from present-day Turkey, or pagan traditions of an older, bearded man to represent the wintertime.

However, the idea of Santa Claus or Father Christmas as a jolly gift-bringer on Christmas Eve is relatively modern, from the Victorian Era.

The holidays just wouldn't be the same without music, and the most iconic of all is probably 'Jingle Bells'. However, there's one problem you probably didn't notice before.

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Published for the first time in September 1857 with the title 'The One Horse Open Sleigh', the song makes no mention of Christmas in its lyrics and was actually originally thought out as a Thanksgiving song!

Another famous Christmas carol, of course, is about good King Wenceslas, giving alms to the poor on St. Stephen's Day. But have you ever wondered who he was exactly?

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The historical St. Wenceslas of Bohemia was not a king but a 10th-century duke or high prince, only elevated as a king after his death. He's considered the patron saint of Czechia.

Pictured: The Wenceslas Monument in Prague.

Regardless of your denomination, you would think Christians of every stripe have always come together for centuries to celebrate the birth of the Christ. This has not always been the case, though.

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Christmas was looked down by several Protestant groups during the 16th century and onwards, being banned by the Puritans during Oliver Cromwell's interregnum for being “too Catholic” and was looked down by pilgrims in Colonial America!

But if you're Catholic, Protestant, or any other denomination, you all can gather together to celebrate on December 25th. However, there are exceptions...

For Orthodox Christians in Russia, Ukraine, Greece, and around the globe, Christmas is celebrated on January 7.

Although Santa Claus has become the big holiday man, we can't forget that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, it's right there in the name!

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Scholars have debated for centuries the year and season in which Christ has been born. One argument is certain: Wintertime would probably have been too cold to have shepherds watching over sheep pasturing.

Still, regardless how you celebrate it and what things you do or don't do, all that matters is enjoying a good time with the people we love and care about. Though, getting a gift or two is also nice!