100 Random Fun Facts about Holidays

We’ve created this list of 100 random fun facts about holidays for your enjoyment and for you to share with friends!

Random Fun Facts 1-25
Random Fun Facts 25-50
Random Run Facts 51-75
Random Run Facts 76-100

Random Fun Facts 1-25

Here are 25 random fun facts about holidays:

The word “holiday” comes from the Old English word “hāligdæg,” which means “holy day.”
The first recorded celebration of Christmas was in Rome in 336 AD.
In Japan, Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated with decorations and gift-giving.
Halloween originated from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrated the end of the harvest season.
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace on Christmas Eve comes from the story of St. Nicholas.
The tallest Christmas tree ever recorded was over 221 feet tall and was in the town of Dortmund, Germany.
Boxing Day, celebrated in many countries on December 26th, originated from the tradition of giving gifts to service workers.
In Norway, it is traditional to hide brooms on Christmas Eve to prevent witches from stealing them.
The largest Easter egg ever made weighed 15,873 pounds and was over 34 feet tall.
The Christmas holiday season is the busiest shopping season of the year.
The tradition of blowing out candles on a birthday cake dates back to ancient Greece.
In Russia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, as the Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar.
The first recorded New Year’s celebration dates back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylon.
In Greece, it is traditional to leave a piece of cake on the doorstep on Christmas Eve as a symbol of hospitality.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe dates back to ancient Scandinavia.
In Austria, it is traditional to leave a pickle on the Christmas tree, and the first person to find it receives a special gift.
Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights to commemorate the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days.
The tradition of exchanging Valentine’s Day cards dates back to the 15th century.
In Italy, the Christmas holiday season begins on December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924.
In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) arrives by boat and is accompanied by his helpers, who are dressed in blackface.
In India, Diwali is celebrated to honor the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees originated in Germany in the 16th century.
In the United States, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May to honor those who have died while serving in the military.

Random Fun Facts 26-50

Here are another 25 random fun facts about holidays:

In Spain, it is traditional to eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve, one for each stroke of the clock.
The tradition of carving pumpkins for Halloween originated in Ireland, where they used turnips.
In Denmark, it is traditional to break dishes on the doorsteps of friends and family on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck.
The first Thanksgiving football game was played in 1876 between Yale and Princeton.
In Germany, it is traditional to hide a pickle in the Christmas tree, and the first person to find it receives a special gift.
The largest pumpkin pie ever made weighed over 3,699 pounds and was over 20 feet in diameter.
In Mexico, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is celebrated to honor and remember loved ones who have died.
The tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace on Christmas Eve is said to have originated from the story of St. Nicholas, who left gifts in the stockings of three poor sisters.
In Brazil, Christmas falls during the summer months, and it is traditional to celebrate with barbecues on the beach.
The first recorded use of the term “Easter Bunny” was in 1682.
In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday, and it is celebrated with parades, festivals, and lots of green.
The first recorded use of the term “White Christmas” was in the song “White Christmas,” written by Irving Berlin in 1942.
In Egypt, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th, as they use the Julian calendar.
The tradition of exchanging Christmas cards dates back to the 1840s in England.
In Japan, it is traditional to eat KFC on Christmas Eve, and it has become a popular holiday tradition.
The first recorded use of the term “Trick or Treat” was in 1927.
In Greece, it is traditional to serve baklava and other sweet pastries on Christmas Eve.
The largest snowflake ever recorded was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick.
In France, the Christmas holiday season is celebrated with the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional meal featuring seafood.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is said to have originated from the Norse legend of Baldur and the mistletoe.
In Australia, Christmas falls during the summer months, and it is traditional to celebrate with barbecues and outdoor activities.
The first recorded use of the term “Black Friday” to refer to the day after Thanksgiving was in 1951.
In Russia, it is traditional to celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks and champagne.
The tradition of decorating Easter eggs dates back to ancient Persia.
In Spain, it is traditional to celebrate Epiphany (Dia de los Reyes) on January 6th, and children receive gifts from the Three Wise Men.

Random Fun Facts 51-75

Here are another 25 random fun facts about holidays:

The largest menorah in the world is located in New York City and stands at over 32 feet tall.
In Mexico, it is traditional to celebrate the Epiphany with a special cake called “Rosca de Reyes.”
The first recorded use of the term “Christmas tree” was in Germany in the 16th century.
In the United States, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor the contributions of workers to society.
The tradition of eating turkey for Thanksgiving dates back to the early settlers of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
In India, Holi is celebrated with the throwing of colored powder and water to celebrate the arrival of spring.
The tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas dates back to the story of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
In Iceland, it is traditional to celebrate Christmas Eve with a special meal of fermented skate, a type of fish.
The tradition of blowing out candles on a birthday cake dates back to ancient Greece, where they believed that candles could carry prayers up to the gods.
In China, the Lunar New Year is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and the giving of red envelopes filled with money.
The first recorded use of the term “New Year’s resolution” was in 1813.
In Italy, the Christmas holiday season is celebrated with the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional meal featuring seafood.
The tradition of carving pumpkins for Halloween originated in Ireland, where they used turnips instead of pumpkins.
In Germany, it is traditional to celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, where children leave out their shoes to be filled with small gifts.
The first recorded use of the term “Happy Holidays” was in 1863 in a letter from an American Civil War soldier.
In Norway, it is traditional to celebrate Christmas Eve with a special rice porridge called “risgrøt.”
The tradition of lighting Hanukkah candles dates back to the story of the miracle of the oil, where a single day’s worth of oil burned for eight days.
In Argentina, it is traditional to celebrate Christmas with a big family dinner on Christmas Eve.
The first recorded use of the term “May Day” to refer to the first day of May was in 1889.
In Scotland, it is traditional to celebrate Hogmanay, or New Year’s Eve, with fireworks and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”
The tradition of eating tamales on Christmas in Latin America dates back to the pre-Columbian era.
In the United States, Independence Day is celebrated on July 4th to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The tradition of eating hot cross buns on Good Friday dates back to ancient Rome.
In South Africa, it is traditional to celebrate Christmas with a braai, or barbecue, with family and friends.
The first recorded use of the term “Valentine” to refer to a sweetheart was in the 14th century.

Random Fun Facts 76-100

Here are another 25 random fun facts about holidays:

In Sweden, it is traditional to celebrate St. Lucia’s Day on December 13th, where a girl dressed in a white gown and a wreath of candles on her head leads a procession.
The tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus dates back to the Great Depression, as a way to teach children about the importance of giving to others.
In Jamaica, it is traditional to celebrate Christmas with a big feast featuring jerk chicken and rice and peas.
The first recorded use of the term “Mardi Gras” to refer to the celebration before Lent was in 1699.
In Israel, it is traditional to celebrate the festival of Purim with costumes, parties, and the eating of hamantaschen, a triangular pastry filled with fruit or poppy seeds.
The tradition of giving chocolate Easter eggs dates back to the 19th century.
In Brazil, it is traditional to celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks on the beach, and many people wear white for good luck.
The first recorded use of the term “Mother’s Day” to refer to a day to honor mothers was in 1908.
In Mexico, it is traditional to celebrate Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) on November 1st and 2nd, where families remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away.
The tradition of kissing at midnight on New Year’s Eve dates back to ancient Rome.
In Greece, it is traditional to celebrate Greek Easter with a midnight service, followed by a big feast featuring lamb and traditional Greek dishes.
The first recorded use of the term “Groundhog Day” to refer to the tradition of predicting the weather based on the behavior of a groundhog was in 1841.
In the Philippines, it is traditional to celebrate Christmas with a nine-day series of masses called “Simbang Gabi.”
The tradition of hiding Easter eggs dates back to the early Christian church, where eggs were originally dyed red to represent the blood of Christ.
In Spain, it is traditional to celebrate Three Kings’ Day (Dia de los Reyes) on January 6th, where children receive gifts from the three wise men.
The tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day dates back to the 17th century, when green became associated with Irish nationalism.
In Japan, it is traditional to celebrate New Year’s Day with a special meal called “osechi,” which includes a variety of traditional dishes.
The tradition of sending Christmas cards dates back to the 1840s, when the first Christmas card was designed by J.C. Horsley.
In Italy, it is traditional to celebrate Epiphany on January 6th, where children receive gifts from La Befana, a witch who delivers presents on a broomstick.
The tradition of singing “Jingle Bells” at Christmas was originally a Thanksgiving song called “One Horse Open Sleigh.”
In India, it is traditional to celebrate Diwali, or the festival of lights, with the lighting of lamps and the exchange of sweets and gifts.
The tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day for good luck dates back to the American South.
In Russia, it is traditional to celebrate New Year’s Day with a big feast featuring traditional Russian dishes like borscht and caviar.
The tradition of making gingerbread houses dates back to 16th-century Germany.
In China, it is traditional to celebrate the Lunar New Year with a 15-day festival featuring dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and the exchange of red envelopes filled with money.