Fun Facts for Thursday, December 25, 2014

Fun Facts for Thursday, December 25, 2014

The 359 day of the year

6 days left in the year 

THIS WEEK IS

• It’s About Time Week

TODAY IS

• Christmas
• A'Phabet Day or No "L" Day
• Christmas Pudding Day
• The Feast Of The Seven Fishes
• National Pumpkin Pie Day

ON THIS DATE...
336 A.D.: the first recorded celebration of Christmas on December 25th took place in Rome. 
1776: General George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey.

1818: the Christmas carol "Silent Night" was sung for the first time in Oberndorff, Austria. 


1896: the classic march "Stars and Stripes Forever" was written by legendary march composer John Philip Sousa. 

1939: Montgomery Ward introduced Rudolph as the ninth reindeer on Santa's sleigh. 


1939: actor Lionel Barrymore read Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" on CBS Radio's "The Campbell Playhouse."  The reading became an annual radio event for many years. 
1941: Bing Crosby introduces White Christmas. 
1946: actor/comedian W.C. Fields died at age 67.  

1948: Spike Jones and The City Slickers topped the music charts with "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)." 


1950: "The Steve Allen Show" debuted on CBS. 
1950: comic-strip hero "Dick Tracy" married Tess Truehart. 

1957: the classic film "Old Yeller" was released. 
1959: Ringo Starr received his first drum set as a Christmas present. 

1971: The longest pro-football game finally ended when Garo Yepremian kicked a field goal in the second quarter of a sudden death overtime. Miami’s Dolphins nipped Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24. The game lasted 82 minutes and 40 seconds.

1977: "The Little Tramp," Charlie Chaplin, died at age 88.  He starred in many films, including "The Gold Rush" and "City Lights." 
1993: Mariah Carey topped the pop singles chart with "Hero." 
1997: actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld announced his NBC sitcom, "Seinfeld," would be ending its successful run at the end of the season. 
2009: a 23-year-old Nigerian man allegedly attempted to set off an explosive device aboard a Delta Airlines A330 Airbus on Christmas Day.  He was overpowered by other passengers and the aircraft landed safely in Detroit.   


HISTORY SPOTLIGHT

Washington crosses the Delaware (Taken from Link)

During the American Revolution, Patriot General George Washington crosses the Delaware River with 5,400 troops, hoping to surprise a Hessian force celebrating Christmas at their winter quarters in Trenton, New Jersey. The unconventional attack came after several months of substantial defeats for Washington's army that had resulted in the loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region.



QUICK TRIVIA 

Bing Crosby introduces “White Christmas” to the public (Taken from Link)

"White Christmas," written by the formidable composer and lyricist Irving Berlin receives its world premiere on this day in 1941 on Bing Crosby's weekly NBC radio program, The Kraft Music Hall. It went on to become one of the most commercially successful singles of all time, and the top-selling single ever until being surpassed by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997."



WORD OF THE DAY

Christmas  [kris-muh  s] noun

The annual festival of the Christian church commemorating the birth of Jesus: celebrated on December 25 and now generally observed as a legal holiday and an occasion for exchanging gifts.

Origin: Old English: Mass of Christ


“Wayne never grew tired of wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.”


INTRIGUING BIBLE FACT

The Bible does not say exactly when Jesus was born. There have been all sorts of debate and guesses. Christians celebrate on December 25 because of tradition. Perhaps we do not know the exact debate because we should celebrate His coming into the world every day! 


WORD FROM THE WORD 

They shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” —Matthew 1:23



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