Many beloved holiday traditions have surprising origins that differ from their modern associations. The classic song "Jingle Bells," for example, was originally written for a Thanksgiving Sunday school program under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" and later became the first music ever played in outer space by Gemini 6 astronauts. Similarly, the customs of feasting and gift-giving trace back to Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival where social norms were flipped and masters served dinner to enslaved people. Even the abbreviation "Xmas" is historically religious rather than secular; the "X" represents the Greek letter Chi, a shorthand for Christ that scribes have used for over a thousand years to save ink and parchment.

Visual symbols and global figures of the season also carry unique histories. The Christmas tree began as a stage prop for medieval "Paradise plays" representing the Garden of Eden, eventually becoming a global phenomenon after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized the look in 1848. While many cultures celebrate a single Santa Claus, Icelandic folklore features thirteen mischievous "Yule Lads" who visit children over the thirteen nights leading up to the holiday. Despite these festive traditions, the holiday was not always welcomed; in the 17th century, the festivities were considered so rowdy and wild that Puritan leaders in England and Massachusetts passed laws banning Christmas entirely.

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