Thanks to the website factretriever.com, here are some things to ponder as you celebrate this most wonderful time of the year.

1. In A.D. 350, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ.

2. The first person to decorate a Christmas tree was reportedly the Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). According to legend, he was so moved by the beauty of the stars shining between the branches of a fir tree, he brought home an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to share the image with his children.

3. It is estimated that the song  “White Christmas”,  recorded by Bing Crosby and written by Irving Berlin,  is the best selling single record of all time, with over 100 million sales worldwide.

4. Many of the most popular Christmas songs, such as “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” were written or co-written by people of the Jewish faith.

5. In 1962, the first Christmas postage stamp was issued in the United States.

More From ESPN 960 San Angelo