You can sing all the verses of "Jingle Bells" and recite "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by heart, but how much do you really know about everyone's favorite holiday?  

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer got his start at Montgomery Ward! Copywriter Robert May wrote the story as a giveaway to attract families with children to do their holiday shopping at the store.  

The famous carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is actually a secret Christian code:  

The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus.  

The two turtledoves stand for the Old and New Testaments.  

The ten lords a-leaping symbolize the Ten Commandments.

Poinsettias are associated with Christmas because, according to Mexican legend, a poor boy who had no gift for the baby Jesus prayed outside a church, and in response, a beautiful red poinsettia blossomed where he knelt. Mexicans call this plant the "Flower of the Holy Night."  

The holiday book is packed with Christmas treats like carols, crafts, recipes, legends, songs, and trivia, perfect for falling in love with Christmas all over again!  

Meera Lester is an artist and author of a dozen books, including works on early Christianity and saints. She prepares for Christmas year-round and cherishes her childhood memories of old-fashioned celebrations.