First Performance of “Silent Night”
“Silent Night” was first performed on Christmas Eve in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, in 1818.
Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
On December 18, 1966, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered on TV.
The World’s First Christmas Stamp
On December 7, 1898, Canada issued what many consider to be the world’s first Christmas stamp.
Holiday Celebrations Series
On October 22, 1996, the USPS issued its first stamp honoring Hanukkah, which was also the first stamp in the Holiday Celebrations Series.
America’s First Theme Park
On August 3, 1946, the first themed amusement park in America opened in Santa Claus, Indiana.
Happy Birthday, Martha Washington!
America’s first First Lady was born Martha Dandridge on June 2, 1731 (by the Old Style calendar), on her parents’ Chestnut Grove Plantation near Williamsburg, Virginia.
Happy Birthday Bing Crosby
The best-selling record artist of the 20th century, Bing Crosby, was born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. in Tacoma, Washington, on May 3, 1903.
West Point’s Eggnog Riot
On the night of December 24, 1826, a group of cadets launched an eggnog-fueled riot that was silenced the following morning.
“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”
In answer to a young girl’s letter to “The Sun” newspaper, Francis Church wrote one of the most famous editorials of all time. Church’s editorial response appeared on September 21, 1897 and deeply affected most who read it.