It's safe to bet that most people are unaware that the American military played the song "White Christmas" during the Vietnam War as a covert signal to evacuate Saigon; and hat just scratches the surface on facts about the Christmas classics! Here's 5 Things You Didn't Know about some of the most popular holiday tunes -- guaranteed to divert any awkward family dinner conversation.
"Jingle Bells" Was Originally A Thanksgiving Song
It was written originally as a Thanksgiving song and was also the first song ever performed in space.
The Creator of "White Christmas" Tried To Get Elvis' Version Banned
Irving Berlin hated Elvis' version of the song so much that he tried to get it banned from radio stations. Bing Crosby's version is the biggest selling single of all time, according to the Guinness World Records.
"All I Want For Christmas Is You" and "My Heart Will Go On" Were Written By The Same Person
The co-writer of Mariah Carey's modern classic also wrote Celine Dion's epic ballad from "Titanic."
Austrailian's Have Their Own Version Of "12 Days Of Christmas"
The List's Bradley Hasemeyer beautiful sings part of this song. There are three different versions.
Version One
- Twelve possums playing
- Eleven lizards leaping
- Ten wombats washing
- Nine crocs a-snoozing
- Eight dingos dancing
- Seven emus laying
- Six sharks a-surfing
- Five kangaroos
- Four lyrebirds
- Three wet galahs
- Two snakes on skis
- And a kookaburra in a gum tree
Version Two
- Twelve parrots prattling
- Eleven numbats nagging
- Ten lizards leaping
- Nine wombats working
- Eight dingoes digging
- Seven possums playing
- Six brolgas dancing
- Five kangaroos
- Four koalas cuddling
- Three kookaburras laughing
- Two pink galahs
- And an emu up a gum tree!
Version Three
- Twelve parrots prattling
- Eleven numbats nagging
- Ten lizards leaping
- Nine wombats working
- Eight possums playing
- Seven koalas climbing
- Six platypuses
- Five kangaroos
- Four kookaburras
- Three jabirus
- Two pink galahs
- And an emu up a gum tree
Christmas Carolers By Phone
The residence of Snyder Hall at the University of Illinois celebrate good cheer each year during finals week with a week-ling dial-a-thon. Anyone from around the world can call and request any Christmas song, and the students will wither sing or play it for the caller.
This years' event has passed, and 2016 will mark 56 years for the tradition.
