The Real Story of Christmas (2010)

Without a doubt, Christmas is the most spellbinding time of the year; however, do we ever wonder where did all the traditions that we keep until nowadays come from? For instance, when did we start singing carols and decorate the Christmas tree; moreover, why do we hang socks over the fireplace, and how did Santa Claus get his red suit and his eight-reindeer sleigh? Obviously, all contemporary customs hide old and diverse stories behind them; some of them are of dark and mystical origins, while others are more related to profit and commercialism. In the end--beyond Clement Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", Thomas Nast's Santa Claus illustrations, and the commercialisation of Christmas--the only thing certain is that, even though traditions and holidays are never static, we all cherish the moments we share with our beloved ones during this holiday in the middle of the winter.