When you settle in with a steaming mug of cocoa and cue up a classic holiday film, you probably expect pure joy and cozy nostalgia. Yet the top 10 horrible truths lurking behind those festive flicks often read more like a behind‑the‑scenes thriller than a feel‑good story. From backstage battles to unsettling rumors, each of these ten iconic movies carries a darker side that most viewers never see. Let’s dive into the shadowy side of holiday cinema, where the magic sometimes comes at a steep price.

10 On‑Set Tensions

The highest‑grossing Christmas film of all time, Home Alone, could have turned out drastically different had it not been for the bitter and repulsive attitude of Chevy Chase. Chase, who was signed on for John Hughes’s Christmas Vacation, met with then‑director Chris Columbus. Not only did their meeting go awry, but Columbus quit as director of Christmas Vacation despite desperately needing the work. “There’s no way I can do this movie,” Columbus told Hughes, “I can’t do it with this guy.” Two weeks after resigning, Hughes sent Columbus the script for Home Alone. Columbus’s artistic direction not only altered the most infamous booby‑trap scenes but made the semi‑dark script more festively warm and endearing for audiences across the world.

Therefore, in a way we have Chevy Chase to thank for the brilliant outcome of Columbus’s final cut. This is perhaps the first time any gratitude has been given to a man who has made enemies across the board. He is notoriously known for having an inflated ego and a penchant for “pissing people off.” In addition, he is a master at insults which nearly caused a physical altercation with Bill Murray when he told the comedian that his face “looked like something Neil Armstrong landed on.” Thankfully, his narcissism and arrogance led to his departure from his last high‑profile gig, Community, in 2012.

9 Catholic Legion of Decency

For more than four decades, the American film industry was highly influenced by the Catholic Legion of Decency, particularly in the 1930s and ‘40s. This meant that a substantial degree of Hollywood entertainment was being dictated by Catholic ideology. Thus, anything the church deemed offensive—including premarital sex, abortion, divorce, and homosexuality—was officially “Condemned” and given a “C” rating. Such labels clearly had negative effects on films that dared to test the Legion’s leniency.

One surprising movie, in particular, is 1947’s A Miracle On 34th Street; a film that was ahead of its time by challenging the notion of what a woman’s role is and should be in America. The movie’s storyline surrounding a divorced, working mother, whose cynical and cold worldviews are being taught to her daughter, outraged the Catholic Legion of Decency. Despite the film’s values being questioned, the Legion gave the film a “B” rating for being “morally objectionable.”

8 Naughty Santa

Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause caused quite the stir when parents across America began receiving enormous charges on their telephone bills. In the film, Allen’s character jokes about calling the number 1‑800‑SPANKME. To Disney’s dismay, hundreds of curious kids took to the phones not knowing their call to Santa was being directed to a 900 line.

One outraged father received a bill for more than $500 while another furious dad in Long Island demanded that the movie be recalled. In his case, he stated that his daughter showed “signs of being disturbed and upset” causing them to have to pay for counseling. The comfort of his financial security only worsened upon receiving bills totaling in the hundreds of dollars; “Disney (which owns ABC) will pay $1.25 million to Allen per Home Improvement episode, but it won’t spend a dime to recall a film with a ‘porno’ number.” The Santa Clause went on to gross $145 million dollars with Disney firmly casting blame on the parents for the charges their children had racked up.

7 The Grinch

The thriving career of acclaimed cinematographer Don Peterman came to an end in 1997 while on the set of Mighty Joe Young. A crane holding a platform 18 feet off the ground snapped with Peterman standing directly below it. Despite being nearly crushed by the platform, Peterman was dragged away with only a broken leg and minor head injuries. For two years Peterman convalesced prior to returning to work on Ron Howard’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Nonetheless, the wounds that he sustained debilitated him for the rest of his days. Every day on set was a struggle both physically and emotionally. In spite of that, he was able to complete the shoot, one that would be his last.

Another tragic figure of the Christmas film was Joshua Ryan Evans who stole the show by playing the young Grinch. Due to a rare growth disorder, Evans stood at 3‑foot‑2. He passed away at 20, merely two years after his success with the film.

6 John Candy the Vampire

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is arguably one of John Hughes’s most endeared films of his career. Interestingly enough, the 1987 classic road‑trip movie starring Steve Martin and John Candy was Hughes’s first adult‑centered film after a string of teenage blockbusters.

The on‑screen chemistry between Martin and Candy caught the attention of Hughes causing him to drastically alter the script. In fact, the entire plot was removed and replaced with a more wholesome Thanksgiving theme. The original draft was quite dark with Candy’s character being a blood‑sucking vampire hell‑bent on being invited into Martin’s family home. This premise plays on the folklore that vampires cannot enter a house without an invitation. One cannot help but think how sinister Hughes’s original script was or how convincing the jovial John Candy would have been. Nonetheless, Planes, Trains and Automobiles went on to become one of the most quietly celebrated holiday films to date.

5 The King Lives

Since Elvis Presley’s untimely death in 1977 at age 42, countless conspiracy theorists have claimed that the rock legend still walks among us. Such a farcical theory even made its way into John Hughes’s 1990 film, Home Alone. For years, Elvis skeptics around the world have been perpetuating the false narrative that The King is seen standing behind actress Catherine O’Hara at the airport as she pleads to board a plane.

Due to the endless speculation, director Chris Columbus had to officially confirm that the extra was not Elvis, adding; “They are convinced, these people, that this is Elvis Presley,” he said. “That he’s faked his death, and because he still loves show business, he’s an extra in Home Alone.”

Sadly, what these sightseeing skeptics do not understand is the profound and unnecessary pain such theories bring to the Presley family. Since his death, the notion of a cover‑up has opened up old wounds for those who were closest to the musician. In retrospect, it causes an immense disservice to the memory of Elvis by those who claim to be his biggest fans.

4 A Risqué Christmas Story

Bob Clark’s modestly budgeted comedy A Christmas Story was released a week before Thanksgiving in 1983 to limited and select theatres. With strong word‑of‑mouth and a continuous growth of followers, the film crept into the hearts of the public, eventually becoming a cult classic.

Surprisingly, the inspiration for the nostalgic family Christmas tale was based on a collection of short stories that first appeared in Playboy. With that said, it is quite possible that Clark may truly be the only man to have purchased the risqué magazine solely for the articles.

Determined to make a movie, Clark tried for years to find a studio to finance a semi‑autobiographical holiday film based on stories from a nude magazine. A Christmas Story went on to become the inspiration for the television show The Wonder Years, as well as being considered “one of the most popular holiday movies of all time.” These days, more than 40 million people tune in every year on Christmas Eve to catch the annual marathon on TBS.

3 Drunken Method Actor

Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life hit the silver screen in 1946 becoming one of the most renowned and cherished holiday films of all time. The director’s masterpiece tells about a desperate man—George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart)—who is on the brink of suicide. Capra’s intense style of directing along with dedicated method actors, however, proved harmful to child actor Bob Anderson who played the young George Bailey. In one scene in particular, Capra allowed method actor H.B. Warner to get into character by drinking a bottle of alcohol before filming. By the time the cameras rolled, Warner had become loud and demanding causing an already disturbing scene, in which his character smacks young George in the face, to become too realistic. “He actually bloodied my ear,” recalled Anderson. As Jimmy Stewart fearfully looked on in the distance, the smacks continued; “My ear was beat up and my face was red and I was in tears. I was gonna get knocked on my butt.”

Excessive physicality reached its pinnacle on yet another holiday film, Scrooged (1988) starring Bill Murray. Carol Kane, who played the manic and abusive Ghost of Christmas Present, became so immersed in her role that she actually tore Murray’s lip open causing production to halt for several days.

2 The Racist Inn

Irving Berlin’s 1942 film, Holiday Inn, was destined to be a box office hit given the large audiences Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire attracted. However, the series of musical episodes in the film, such as “Easter Parade” and “White Christmas,” alters the mood from nostalgic to festive to downright unconscionable in today’s society.

In one scene, Crosby and Astaire perform a musical number for Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in which they appear in blackface. In fact, the entire band and waiters/waitresses also sport the highly offensive facial paint, in front of an entirely white audience. Ironically enough, the song details the emancipation of black American slaves. If this was not distasteful enough, the film’s true black actors are excluded from the performance only to be shown singing along to themselves in a distant room. Oh, the unity of the holidays.

1 Punk Rock Resentment

The 1970s American band New York Dolls saw its share of turmoil just as quickly as they emerged on the punk rock scene. With the death of their original drummer followed by the demise of his replacement and the founding guitarist, the Dolls disbanded by 1977. Lead singer David Johansen found fame on the silver screen, leaving guitarist and bassist Arthur “Killer” Kane with profound resentment.

Kane’s jealousy and anger spiraled out of control one evening when his former bandmate unexpectedly appeared in the movie that he was watching. Unbeknownst to Kane, Johansen starred opposite Bill Murray in the 1988 Christmas film Scrooged as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Johansen’s success of having a prospering career sent a self‑defeated and depressed Kane skydiving out his third‑story window. Fortunately, Kane landed on an awning below saving his life. While hospitalized, the “Killer” found God causing him to leave behind his life of drugs and alcohol. He remained sober until his death in 2004 when he went to the emergency room believing he had the flu. Sadly, Kane was diagnosed with leukemia and died just two hours later at the age of 55.

Adam is just a hubcap trying to hold on in the fast lane.

Conclusion

Even the most beloved holiday movies have shadows lurking behind the glitter and tinsel. From on‑set injuries and creative disputes to outright scandal, the top 10 horrible facts remind us that cinema magic often comes at a price. The next time you press play, you might just hear the faint echo of a broken crane, a disgruntled star, or a whispered conspiracy—adding a new layer of intrigue to those timeless holiday moments.

When you think of “10 christmas towns” you probably picture twinkling lights, candy‑cane lanes, and a year‑round Santa‑themed vibe. Yet the United States Census Bureau tells us that many of these cheerfully‑named places earned their monikers for reasons that have nothing to do with December celebrations. From pioneer promises to clerical slip‑ups, each community carries a backstory that’s as surprising as a snowball in the desert.

Why These 10 Christmas Towns Aren’t All About the Holiday

10 Rudolph, Wisconsin

Rudolph, Wisconsin, officially incorporated in 1960, sits about seven miles north of Wisconsin Rapids and is home to just over four hundred residents. Though the village is celebrated for its dairy heritage—hosting Dairy State Cheese, a shop that stocks more than two hundred varieties of the state’s famed cheese—it also boasts the famous Grotto Shrine and Wonder Cave.

The shrine’s origin traces back to Father Phillip Wagner, who, while studying for priesthood in Europe in 1912, fell seriously ill. He journeyed to the famed healing shrine at Lourdes, France, and vowed to the Virgin Mary that, should his health be restored, he would build a shrine in her honor. His condition gradually improved, allowing him to be ordained in 1915.

By the 1920s Father Wagner fulfilled his promise, establishing the Rudolph Grotto. Spread across more than five acres, the grotto features lush gardens, a collection of shrines, a museum and a gift shop, drawing roughly thirty thousand visitors annually.

Even though the village embraces the red‑nosed reindeer motif—with street signs bearing the iconic image, a special reindeer stamp at the post office, and an annual Christmas celebration featuring a live nativity, horse‑drawn wagon rides, cookie decorating, storytelling, craft sales, train rides, and a illuminated parade—the name “Rudolph” actually honors Rudolph Hecox, the first Caucasian male born in the area during the 1850s, not the famous reindeer.

9 Snowflake, Arizona

Snowflake, Arizona, may sound like a winter wonderland, but the desert town receives only about thirteen inches of snow each year. Its name isn’t linked to holiday cheer; instead, it reflects a unique religious heritage dating back to the late 1870s.

The settlement grew out of a directive from Brigham Young, who sent a group of Mormon pioneers—including land agent William J. Flake—to colonize the Southwest. After selling his property in Beaver, Utah, Flake and his companions arrived in the Little Colorado Valley, establishing several camps before seeking a more sustainable location.

Flake eventually secured a 300‑acre tract along Silver Creek, negotiating the price down to eleven thousand dollars after a deal with rancher James Stinson. The settlers moved in on July 21, 1878, and later, on September 24, they met Apostle Erastus Snow, who was dedicating new colonies. While some wanted to name the town after Snow and others after Flake, the community settled on “Snowflake,” a blend of the two surnames.

8 Garland, Texas

Garland, Texas, shares its name with a classic Christmas decoration, yet the city’s title stems from a 19th‑century dispute between two rival railroad towns—Duck Creek and Embree. After a fire devastated Duck Creek in 1887, the post office relocated to Embree, which then tried to incorporate by inflating its population count, sparking a legal battle.

Congressman Joseph Abbott intervened, creating a neutral settlement midway between the feuding communities. He named the new town Garland in honor of U.S. Attorney General Augustus H. Garland, who served under President Grover Cleveland, giving the city a name unrelated to festive greenery.

7 Noel, Missouri

Founded in 1891, Noel, Missouri, takes its name from brothers Clark Wallace Noel and William Jasper Noel, early livestock raisers and sawmill owners. Though pronounced “Nole,” the town’s moniker coincides with the French word for Christmas, a coincidence that sparked a unique holiday tradition.

During the Great Depression, postmaster Edward T. Roussett highlighted the French meaning of “Noël” and proposed a special Christmas postmark for the only U.S. town bearing that name. The idea gained traction after vocalist Kate Smith mentioned it on her radio program.

Since 1932, the Noel post office has processed mail from every state and several foreign countries, stamping each piece with one of four festive designs—a green tree, a red wreath, a red “Noel,” or a blue “Noel”—and the town temporarily switches its pronunciation to “Noel” each December. Though the postmarks haven’t turned Noel into a tourist hotspot, they earned the two‑square‑mile community the nickname “Christmas City.”

6 Santa Claus, Georgia

Santa Claus, Georgia, is a tiny hamlet of fewer than three hundred souls nestled between Macon and Savannah. While the town’s streets—Candy Cane Lane, Dancer Street, Prancer Street, Rudolph Way, and Noel Street—are festively named, the settlement’s origin is rooted in shrewd marketing rather than holiday spirit.

The community was founded in the 1930s by pecan farmer C. G. “Farmer” Greene, who sold nuts, fruit, and souvenirs to travelers along U.S. Highway 1. Seeking a name that would attract attention and draw motorists off the road, Greene christened the settlement “Santa Claus,” a ploy that succeeded in putting the town on the map.

Today, Santa Claus boasts a year‑round Christmas theme, with a city hall at 25 December Drive and a welcome center housing a museum and gift shop. On Christmas Eve, residents line the streets with luminaries, turning Sleight Street and Candy Cane Lane into a glowing pathway for Santa’s imagined arrival, even though the town’s name was never meant to reflect actual holiday celebrations.

5 Shepherd, Montana

Shepherd, Montana, emerged in the early 1900s after the U.S. government encouraged immigrants to settle the region. The construction of the 65‑mile Billings Bench Water Association canal in 1905 attracted Dutch, German, and Scandinavian farmers who transformed former cattle‑ranch land into productive farms.

Despite early prosperity, the community faced a series of setbacks—drought, thistles, coyotes, prairie dogs, and a devastating grasshopper swarm in 1936 that destroyed sugar beet crops—prompting many settlers to abandon their homesteads. The area eventually reverted to ranching, and Shepherd now functions as a quiet suburb of Billings along the Yellowstone River, home to about 815 residents.

The town’s name might evoke the biblical shepherds of nativity scenes, but it actually honors R. E. Shepherd, an early European pioneer who co‑founded the Billings Land and Irrigation Company and helped establish the Merchant’s National Bank.

4 Snowball, Arkansas

Only two U.S. towns bear the name Snowball—one in Minnesota and this one in Arkansas. Though the name conjures images of winter play, Snowball, Arkansas, acquired its title through a clerical mishap rather than snowfall.

Settlers arrived in the Calf Creek Valley during the 1830s, establishing a grist mill and cotton gin. In 1885, the local Masonic Lodge, No. 426, erected a two‑story building that also served as a church and school, naming it Snow Hall in honor of Sheriff Benjamin Franklin Hall.

When residents petitioned for a post office in 1888, the application for “Snow Hall” was mistakenly approved as “Snowball,” either due to a prankster’s joke or a simple error. The community has carried the name ever since.

Snowball thrived until a fire ravaged its business district on October 19, 1945. By the 1970s, the population dwindled to four families, though the back‑to‑the‑land movement later attracted some newcomers. Today, only a few residents remain, but the Masonic Lodge and Snowball Baptist Church continue to serve the area.

3 Christmas Valley, Oregon

Christmas Valley, Oregon, sits in the high desert of Southern Oregon, where sagebrush and alfalfa fields dominate the landscape. Despite street names like Snowman Road and Christmas Tree Lane, the community offers little in the way of traditional holiday décor, even when winter snows blanket the area.

The valley’s name does not stem from any festive inspiration. It derives from the nearby dry lake bed known as Christmas Lake, which itself was named after pioneer stockman Peter Christman. Over time, his surname was corrupted to “Christmas,” giving the lake—and subsequently the valley—its unconventional title.

While the town may lack holiday cheer, the surrounding scenery is spectacular, featuring geological wonders such as Fort Rock, the expansive Christmas Valley Sand Dunes, and the nearby volcanic fissure known as Crack‑in‑the‑Ground, which houses a 70‑foot underground hiking trail.

2 Blitzen, Oregon

Blitzen, Oregon, once thrived in the Catlow Valley, a 1,300‑square‑mile basin of the high desert in Harney County. From 1905 to 1920, the area attracted dry‑farming homesteaders, with Blitzen emerging as the largest settlement.

The town’s name has nothing to do with Santa’s reindeer. It honors the nearby Donner and Blitzen River, which received its moniker in 1864 when Army Captain George Currey, caught in a thunderstorm while crossing the waterway, christened it “Donner ünd Blitzen,” German for “thunder and lightning.”

Blitzen once hosted a post office, general store, school, saloon, and several homes, but its population steadily declined until the post office closed in 1943, leaving the town a ghostly reminder of early frontier ambition.

1 Egg Nog, Utah

The neighborhood of Egg Nog, Utah, was founded in 1979 within Garfield County, just southeast of Capitol Reef. Although its name echoes the creamy holiday beverage, the community earned the moniker because its early residents frequently served egg‑nog to ranch workers, providing a high‑energy, protein‑rich drink to sustain them.

Egg nog, made from beaten eggs, sugar, cream or milk, and often a splash of alcohol, offered a quick nutritional boost for laborers in the rugged Utah terrain, cementing the quirky name for the settlement.

If you’re hunting for a getaway now or plotting a future escape, this roundup of 10 hot holiday spots will point you in the right direction. Whether you crave glittering casinos, buzzing nightlife, pristine beaches, or a dash of exclusivity, we’ve gathered a worldwide palette of experiences to spark your wanderlust.

10 Hot Holiday Highlights

1 Monte Carlo

Monaco

For: The gambling

If you fancy a Bond‑style escape, Monte Carlo is the ultimate playground. Prepare to leave with lighter pockets but a treasure chest of memories. Oddly enough, Monaco’s own citizens are barred from entering the glittering casinos, yet they enjoy a tax‑free lifestyle that draws the world’s billionaires. Beyond the gaming tables, the city roars with the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, dazzling fashion shows, and the legacy of Grace Kelly, the Hollywood actress turned Princess of Monaco.

2 Sydney

Australia

For: The Nightlife

Sydney is a vibrant, pulse‑quickening metropolis that never truly sleeps. While the land is home to some of the deadliest creatures on Earth, the city’s friendly locals and reasonable crime rates make it a safe playground. Cruise the harbour after dark, dine beneath the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, or venture inland to marvel at unique flora and fauna. The nightlife thrives in Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and The Rocks, each offering bars, clubs and restaurants. And if you fancy a flutter, Star City Casino sits beside Darling Harbour.

3 Cape Town

South Africa

For: Beaches

Cape Town, the third‑largest city in South Africa, dazzles with a sun‑kissed climate and jaw‑dropping scenery. The iconic Table Mountain crowns the horizon, while the city’s geography lets you hop between dramatically different beaches in a single day. Architectural lovers revel in the world’s highest concentration of Cape Dutch buildings, and the nightlife buzzes along Long Street and the revitalised Cape Malay quarter, De Waterkant, where top‑tier restaurants and lively bars abound.

4 Pyongyang

North Korea

For: Exclusivity

This is the trip for the truly adventurous intellect – a chance to claim you’ve set foot in one of the world’s most restricted nations. Securing a visa is a Herculean task, and the journey comes with a steep price tag, but you’ll join a tiny elite of travelers. Expect attentive service, plentiful food, and a constant guide who explains every sight (even if they’re a state‑appointed docent). Highlights include a massive shopping centre populated by paid shoppers and, if you’re lucky, the spectacular Arirang Mass Games held each 15 April to honor Kim Il‑sung’s birthday.

5 Venice

Italy

For: History

Venice is a living museum, where every winding alley and shimmering canal whispers centuries of history. Whether you visit in sweltering summer or crisp winter, the city offers unforgettable architecture, world‑class cuisine and a mystique that feels timeless. Churches pepper every corner, and the atmosphere is one of elegant intrigue. Wander from your hotel without a map and you’ll inevitably discover hidden lanes, grand piazzas and the romantic gondola rides that, while pricey (around 75 EUR for 45 minutes), are worth every cent.

6 Hong Kong

China

For: Unique Culture

Hong Kong is where East meets West in a dazzling urban tapestry. One street may host a traditional Chinese herbal shop, while the next showcases a Hollywood blockbuster cinema, an English‑style pub, or a McDonald’s. The culinary scene mirrors this blend: fresh seafood, classic Chinese fare, and an eclectic mix of European, American, Japanese, Korean and more. From bustling cha chaan tengs to humble dai pai dongs, the city’s food culture is serious business, attracting top chefs eager to wow discerning diners. Cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Philharmonic Orchestra further enrich the experience.

7 New York

United States of America

For: Shopping

When the US dollar dips, New York becomes a shopper’s paradise. Beyond the iconic skyline, the city offers sprawling state parks like Adirondack Park – the size of Vermont – and cultural staples such as the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, Broadway, the Met, Central Park and Rockefeller Center. Luxury retail lines Fifth and Madison Avenues, while neighborhoods like Greenwich Village host quirky boutiques. Food lovers revel in the city’s melting‑pot cuisine, from bagels and cheesecake to haute‑fashion dining.

8 Paris

France

For: Food

Paris lives up to its reputation as a culinary capital. From buttery macarons at Ladurée on the Champs‑Élysées to the world‑renowned ice‑cream at Berthillon, the city tempts every palate. Indulge in pastries by Pierre Hermé, the Picasso of pâtisserie, and explore the legendary department store Printemps on Boulevard Haussmann. Whether you stay in budget lodgings or splurge on five‑star suites, make sure to reserve funds for the gastronomy that defines the French capital.

9 Queenstown

New Zealand

For: Excitement

Queenstown thrives year‑round. In winter it transforms into a skier’s haven; in summer, the Shotover River invites white‑water thrills. The town’s waterfront hotels overlook Lake Wakatipu, a chilly yet breathtaking lake that provides a stunning backdrop. Adventure seekers can jump off bridges, ride jetboats, or even pan for gold in nearby Arrowtown. The locals are famously friendly, making every adrenaline‑pumped day feel welcoming.

10 The Maldives

For: Relaxation

The Maldives, a string of idyllic islands in the Indian Ocean, lures travelers with picture‑perfect resorts and crystal‑clear waters. Most visitors stay in private overwater villas linked to the mainland by slender walkways, offering unrivalled seclusion. English is widely spoken in tourist zones, and the official language, Dhivehi, shares roots with Sri Lanka’s Sinhala. Unwind with a margarita on your floating porch and let the gentle waves lull you into bliss.

Modern audiences have grown accustomed to a pattern of TV broadcasting: war stories over Memorial Day weekend, frightening flicks before Halloween, and Christmas themes in December. Yet surprisingly, the original debut dates of these seasonally flavored films were not coordinated with the calendar, whether due to obstacles, indifference, or even intent. This roundup of 10 holiday movies shows how each film missed its ideal season.

Why These 10 Holiday Movies Missed Their Seasons

10 The Shop Around the Corner

The heartwarming dramedy The Shop Around the Corner unfolds during the run‑up to Christmas, as two coworkers in a leather goods store in pre‑WWII Budapest bicker constantly, unaware that they are falling in love as anonymous pen pals. However, holiday decorations were already down by the time it was released on January 10, 1940.

Director Ernst Lubitsch planned to begin filming before the end of 1938, but the deal fell through. The timetable was pushed back again when he changed studios. Lubitsch then made Ninotchka (1939) while waiting for his preferred stars, James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, to become available. Once work finally began, the movie was shot in twenty‑eight days.

This plot may sound familiar, having been recycled twice without the holiday setting. In the Good Old Summertime (1949) changed the venue to a music store to create a vehicle for Judy Garland. You’ve Got Mail (1998) brought the love/hate into the computer age with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks at competing bookstores.

9 Holiday Inn

In Holiday Inn (1942), Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire sing, dance, and compete for the same woman at a country inn that only does business at select times. Though its scenes are structured around holiday‑specific songs, the film had its New York City opening in the holiday desert of August. Only later would it become a December TV staple, thanks to its Oscar‑winning hit “White Christmas.” (These days, the “Abraham” number for Lincoln’s birthday is often cut due to its use of blackface as part of a plot device.)

Current events had a significant influence on the film’s content. When the bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred during production, the patriotism of the segment honoring Independence Day was amped up with images of munitions production, military exercises, General MacArthur, and President Roosevelt. Likewise, Astaire’s dance number “Let’s Say It with Firecrackers” had so many real explosions added around his feet that crew members had to wear goggles.

On a more playful note, the introduction to November has an animated turkey jump between Thursdays on a calendar page, a reference to the confusion before Congressional action standardized Thanksgiving as the fourth, rather than last, Thursday of the month to encourage a longer Christmas shopping season.

8 Christmas in Connecticut

In a major holiday mismatch, Christmas in Connecticut (1945) opened on the Fourth of July. Barbara Stanwyck plays a magazine writer who entertains her readers with accounts of her domestic skills in the rural home she shares with her husband and baby. In reality, she is single and childless, lives in a New York City apartment, and cannot boil water. When her publisher insists that she prepare a home‑cooked dinner for a World War II veteran, hijinks ensue as she pulls together a borrowed farm and family plus a holiday feast.

The movie itself had its share of fakery. The New England country house featured was the same California set used for Bringing Up Baby (1938). The sleight‑of‑hand sleigh ride scene was filmed on a Warner Bros. sound stage, with soap‑flake snow as phony as the lead character’s cooking skills. But with the war finally coming to an end, this celebration of romance and returning soldiers was a perfectly timed hit, even if audiences stepped outside from a Christmas charade into the summer sunshine.

7 It Happened on 5th Avenue

Premiering It Happened on 5th Avenue on April 5, 1947, in Miami, Florida, was an equally peculiar choice for a story that takes place at Christmastime in Manhattan. The comedy‑romance was originally announced in 1945 as the first project of director Frank Capra’s new production company, but he chose to make It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) instead.

Capra then sold the rights to Monogram Pictures, a studio known for B‑movies and Westerns that wanted to upgrade its image with classier fare. Filming began on August 5, 1946, and was completed by mid‑October, yet the movie waited almost six months for release.

Even with a change in directors, the movie is loaded with Capra‑esque themes: a homeless man and others needing refuge move into the vacant mansion of “the second richest man in the world,” who has gone south for the winter. Complications arise when the millionaire’s adult daughter unexpectedly returns home. Under the guise of being poor, she falls in love with one of its other “guests” and then manages to reunite her divorced parents.

The script received an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Original Story but lost to yet another Christmas film released later that spring and set just across town.

6 Miracle on 34th Street

20th Century Fox studio head Darryl F. Zanuck believed more people went to the movies in the summertime, so Miracle on 34th Street (1947) had its debut on June 4, 1947, with the word “Christmas” dropped from its title. Its cryptic trailer made no reference to the holiday or gave the slightest clue to its plot. Previews merely listed the stars and praised the film as “Hilarious! Romantic! Delightful! Charming! Tender! Exciting! and even Groovey!”

Multiple cameras were set up along the route of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 1946, to capture this one‑take opportunity. Edmund Gwenn’s Santa Claus addressed the real crowd in front of the Macy’s marquee, and scenes inside Macy’s were filmed at night after business hours. Although audiences may have come in from the heat, the onscreen winter was all too real. During the closing scene when young Susan ran to her dream house, it was so cold that cameras froze, and a neighbor invited the crew inside her home to warm up while they were repaired.

Zanuck also thought the story was too corny to succeed, but this yuletide classic earned three Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for Gwenn and Best Original Story for its screenwriter Valentine Davies, as well as a nomination for Best Picture.

5 Easter Parade

When composer Irving Berlin wanted an old‑timey tune for a 1933 musical revue, he repurposed the melody from his 1917 number “Smile and Show Your Dimple” with new lyrics to create “Easter Parade.” Years later, he reused the song in Holiday Inn, and, like “White Christmas,” this sentimental favorite ultimately inspired a spinoff story of its own.

However, the resulting film missed its spring target date and did not reach theaters until June 30, 1948, because of delays caused by casting changes. The original leading man, Gene Kelly, broke his ankle while playing volleyball and was replaced by Fred Astaire. Ann Miller stepped in for Cyd Charisse, who suffered a knee injury on another film.

Even with its new cast, the production had its share of drama. Costar Judy Garland had recently been released from a sanitarium for treatment of mental health issues and drug dependency, and her psychiatrist recommended that director Vincente Minnelli, her then‑husband, be taken off the picture to reduce her stress. Miller performed her rapid‑fire tap numbers wearing a back brace due to an injury she had suffered when her drunken (soon‑to‑be‑ex) husband had thrown her down a flight of stairs while she was pregnant.

4 We’re No Angels

We’re No Angels showcases Humphrey Bogart in a rare comedic role. He is joined by Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray as three escapees from Devil’s Island on Christmas Eve, 1895, who plan to rob a struggling shopkeeper to fund a getaway. In response to the family’s kindness, the trio decides “cutting their throats might spoil their Christmas.” Instead, they plot to save the couple and their daughter from greedy relatives, with the aid of a small poisonous snake named Adolphe.

Paramount purchased the rights to the French source material in mid‑February 1952. During the lengthy merry‑go‑round of development, trade magazines variously announced Van Heflin, Audrey Hepburn, Irene Dunne, Gig Young, and two members of the Los Angeles Rams as part of the cast.

Once Bogart was attached to the project, Michael Curtiz, who had won an Oscar working with Bogie on Casablanca (1942), was brought on board to direct. Principal photography was completed in early August 1954, yet this quirky Christmas tale sat on the shelf until July 7, 1955.

3 The Ten Commandments

Though today it is an Easter/Passover broadcast tradition, The Ten Commandments (1956) first dazzled audiences on October 5. But even without a holiday tie‑in, director Cecil B. DeMille’s last film was easily the box office leader of its year. This three‑hour forty‑minute Technicolor spectacle was an expansion of DeMille’s 1923 silent film of the same name, in which the first part had portrayed Moses leading his people out of Egypt, followed by a contemporary tale that demonstrated the human cost of breaking the commandments.

Completing the movie was a miracle in itself. Executing DeMille’s vision required not only the famous parting of the Red Sea but also 1,200 storyboard sketches, more than 14,000 extras, and 15,000 animals. After years of pre‑production, the 73‑year‑old DeMille suffered a serious heart attack in 1954 during three months of filming in Egypt.

Back in Hollywood, he completed almost four months of shooting on set, followed by fourteen months of post‑production work. While perhaps not concerned about release dates, DeMille did reportedly time filming to enable Charlton Heston’s three‑month‑old son, Fraser, to play baby Moses.

2 Ben‑Hur

The other perennial Easter epic, Ben‑Hur, clocks in at only eight minutes shorter than its Old Testament companion piece. It took about as long from conception to release on November 18, 1959. MGM planned to begin shooting in July 1954 but encountered delays due to multiple script revisions and changes in the director, producer, and major studio executives.

By the time filming began in Rome in May 1958, set construction was long underway. The track for the chariot race covered 18 acres (7.3 hectares) and took six months to build. The race itself fills ten minutes of screen time but took ten weeks to shoot and ate up one‑quarter of the $15 million budget ($162 million in 2024). Even though director William Wyler maintained a sixteen‑hour, seven‑day‑a‑week schedule, filming took nine months to complete. Recording the lengthy musical score alone required twelve sessions over a seventy‑hour period.

MGM’s long wait and huge financial gamble paid off, with a five‑fold box office return and a then‑record‑setting eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Charlton Heston, his only career nomination.

1 Die Hard

Despite its frequent F‑bombs, a body count of eighteen, and a release date of July 12, Die Hard (1988) has long been heralded for its many holiday elements, beginning with Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” in its soundtrack. The action ramps up as Bruce Willis’s character, John McClane, and his estranged wife, notably named Holly, attend a company Christmas party. Festive trees and ornaments deck the halls of the building under siege. McClane even leaves a bad guy in an elevator wearing a Santa hat and a sweatshirt that reads, “Now I have a machine gun ho‑ho‑ho.”

Director John McTiernan is on record that Die Hard evolved into a Christmas movie during production, and 20th Century Fox came to agree. The studio brought the film back to theaters in November 2018 and released what it called a “30th Anniversary Christmas Edition” on Blu‑ray with a trailer promoting it as “the greatest Christmas story ever told” and the tag line: “CHRISTMAS MOVIE? YIPPEE KI YES!”

Peter Billingsley, who played young Ralphie in A Christmas Story (1983), endorsed the Christmas claim during a podcast conversation with Die Hard cinematographer Jan de Bont in December 2023. Billingsley said of this rare holiday thriller, “Most importantly, I think it embodies the themes of Christmas of acceptance, forgiveness, love and family.”

When you hear the phrase “10 wtf facts” you probably expect a list of jaw‑dropping trivia, and that’s exactly what we’re serving up about Christopher Columbus. The man still enjoys a dedicated holiday, yet the dark, often forgotten details of his voyages read more like a horror novel than a heroic saga. Below, we dive into ten unsettling revelations that make a strong case for retiring his commemorative day.

10 wtf facts Overview

10 He Cut The Hands Off Of Natives Who Didn’t Bring Him Enough Gold

When Columbus first set foot on the islands he promised the Spanish crown a bounty of gold and slaves, writing that he would deliver “as much gold as they need… and as many slaves as they ask.” To meet that impossible quota, he instituted a brutal system: every native over fourteen was forced into a labor camp in what is now Haiti, tasked with digging for the imagined riches.

Those who managed to bring back a sufficient amount of gold received a copper token to hang around their necks, a grim badge of life. Anyone caught without the token faced a savage penalty – their hands were severed on the spot, the wounds left untreated so they bled out on the beach.

The promised gold fields were largely a myth; the terrain offered little of the precious metal Columbus coveted. Realizing the futility, many natives attempted to flee, only to be hunted down by armed Spaniards and their dogs, who killed anyone they could catch.

In the end, the policy resulted in a terrifying combination of forced labor, amputation, and mass murder, all to satisfy a promise that was never realistic.

9 Columbus’s Men Tested Their Blades By Killing People

Father Bartolomé de las Casas, who accompanied the expedition, sent a harrowing letter back to Europe describing scenes that read like a nightmare. He wrote that the Spaniards would capture natives only to slice off pieces of flesh, using the acts as a grotesque way to test the sharpness of their swords.

According to his account, the soldiers turned execution into a perverse sport, betting on who could cleave a man in two or behead someone with a single blow. The cruelty didn’t stop at adult males; infants were snatched from mothers’ arms and brutally smashed against rocks, while other babies were thrust onto swords, their tiny bodies shredded.

These atrocities were not random; they were systematic, serving as both entertainment and intimidation. De las Casas noted a “stream of blood” flowing through the villages, likening it to a herd of slaughtered cattle.

The sheer savagery of these acts shocked even contemporary observers, highlighting a level of violence that far exceeded the usual colonial exploitation narratives.

Such accounts underscore the depth of cruelty that accompanied Columbus’s quest for wealth and dominance.

8 Columbus Also Mutilated His Own Spaniards

Columbus’s tyranny extended to his own crew. As supplies dwindled, he hoarded food aboard his ships, refusing to share with the starving settlers. To enforce his draconian rule, he declared that any theft of bread would result in hanging.

The punishments, however, went far beyond execution. When a cabin boy pilfered a fish from a trap, Columbus ordered the boy’s hand to be nailed to the spot where the fish had been taken. Another youngster caught stealing corn suffered the removal of both ears and his nose, followed by whipping, shackling, and eventual sale into slavery.

Even the act of purchasing food with personal gold was deemed treasonous. A group of twelve Spaniards were bound by neck and feet, then publicly flogged for buying pork and bread without the admiral’s permission.

By the time Columbus abandoned the settlement, fifty of his men had perished from starvation, while he remained relatively well‑fed, his belly kept full by strict command. When a subordinate failed to provision his pantry adequately, Columbus stripped him naked and delivered a hundred lashes.

This internal cruelty paints a picture of a leader whose cruelty knew no ethnic boundaries.

7 Women Were Regularly Paraded Naked Through The Streets

When a Spanish woman crossed Columbus or his brothers, the punishment was public humiliation on a grotesque scale. Rather than simply whipping or imprisoning her, Columbus ordered her to be stripped completely, mounted on a mule, and forced to trot through the town in her shame.

The first recorded incident involved a woman accused of falsely claiming pregnancy. Columbus sentenced her to the naked parade, turning her personal grievance into a spectacle for all to witness.

Later, Bartolomé, Columbus’s brother, repeated the cruelty when a woman alleged they were the sons of a common journeyman. After the public stripping, he also had her tongue cut out, a gruesome addition to the humiliation.

A third case saw Teresa de Vaeca punished for an affair committed by a friend. Though she herself had done nothing, the authorities deemed her guilty of “pimping,” stripping her naked, lashing her a hundred times, and cutting out her tongue.

These episodes reveal a pattern of gender‑based terror used to enforce obedience and protect the reputation of the Columbus family.

6 He Started A Child Sex Slave Ring

When Columbus realized that prostitution could be more lucrative than agriculture, he organized a ring of sex slaves, treating women and girls as mere commodities. He wrote home that a hundred castellanos could be earned from a woman as easily as from a farm, justifying the abduction and sale of women for forced sexual exploitation.

His correspondence makes it clear that the most profitable victims were not adult women but pre‑pubescent girls. He specifically mentioned that children “from nine to ten are now in demand,” indicating a calculated market for child sexual slavery.

One chilling testimony comes from Michele de Cuneo, who received a young girl as a gift from Columbus. Cuneo described how the girl fiercely resisted, scratching him with her nails and crying out in agony as he tried to bind her with rope. He later remarked that the experience was so harrowing he wished he’d never been given the child.

This sordid chapter underscores the depths of exploitation Columbus pursued in the New World, turning human lives into a profit‑driven enterprise.

5 He Lied About Being The First Person To Spot Land

Beyond the bloodshed, Columbus displayed petty greed. The Spanish monarchs had promised a lifelong pension to whoever first laid eyes on new land. While his crew kept vigilant watch, it was Rodrigo de Triaga who, in the dead of night, first sighted the horizon.

Instead of crediting his man, Columbus claimed he had seen a candle‑like light the previous day, insisting he deserved the reward. He argued that his earlier observation, though not officially reported, entitled him to the pension, effectively stealing the prize from his own subordinate.

Historians believe Columbus’s motive was not financial need—he already commanded wealth and power—but sheer pride. By inserting himself into the record as the first discoverer, he secured a permanent place in the annals of history while denying his crew their rightful honor.

This act of deception illustrates how personal vanity could eclipse even the grandest of voyages.

4 He Paraded Dismembered Bodies Through Town

When the Arawak people attempted to resist Columbus’s rule, the Spaniards responded with overwhelming force. Armed with armor, muskets, swords, and horses, they crushed the rebellion, hanging prisoners, enslaving survivors, and burning some alive.

To send a chilling warning, the conquistadors dismembered the corpses of those they killed, then marched the severed parts through native villages. The macabre display was intended to terrorize any would‑be rebels, making clear that defiance would be met with gruesome, public retribution.

This gruesome parade of bodies served as a stark psychological weapon, reinforcing Columbus’s dominance through fear and horror.

3 He Pretended To Be God To Keep The Natives Working For Him

When the Arawak people realized they could starve Columbus by withholding food, he resorted to deception. Knowing the date of a forthcoming lunar eclipse from an astronomical table, he warned the natives that his god was angry and that the Moon would turn fiery as a sign of divine wrath.

As the eclipse darkened the sky, the natives, terrified, rushed to Columbus’s ships laden with provisions, pleading for intercession. Columbus’s son Ferdinand recorded the moment, noting how the indigenous people begged the admiral to appeal to God on their behalf.

This clever manipulation bought Columbus the supplies he needed, allowing him to survive while the natives continued to suffer under his rule.

The episode shows how Columbus leveraged superstition and fear, presenting himself as a divine intermediary to maintain control.

2 The Arawaks Committed Mass Suicide Rather Than Live With Columbus

Facing relentless oppression, many Arawak communities chose death over continued subjugation. Whole villages coordinated mass suicides, often in groups of a hundred, to escape the horrors Columbus imposed.

Mothers administered cassava‑derived poison to their children, ensuring painless departures, while young women swore never to bear more children under such tyranny. A Spanish chronicler, Perdro de Corboda, recorded that pregnant women took abortive measures and that many mothers killed their newborns to prevent them from enduring slavery.

At the height of this tragedy, approximately 250,000 native Haitians lost their lives within just two years, a stark testament to the desperation and hopelessness they felt.

1 He Brought Syphilis To Europe

While Columbus’s voyages decimated indigenous populations, they also introduced a new scourge to Europe. In 1495, shortly after his return, the continent experienced its first recorded outbreak of syphilis, a disease previously unknown in Europe.

Historians link the epidemic to the infected crew members who had engaged in the child sex‑slave trade in the New World. The disease spread rapidly as sailors, now part of various European armies, carried it across borders, causing widespread devastation.

The initial outbreak claimed the lives of more than five million Europeans. Some scholars even suggest that Columbus himself may have succumbed to complications from the disease, which was later misdiagnosed as gout or Reiter’s syndrome.

This tragic irony—Columbus’s own demise possibly tied to the very illness his expeditions unleashed—adds another layer of darkness to his legacy.

When the calendar flips to a festive day, we all expect joy, sparkle, and perhaps a little overindulgence. Yet, the very same spotlight that makes holidays magical can also expose a darker side of humanity. This is why our top 10 craziest holiday tragedies deserve a second look – they remind us that celebrations can sometimes turn into nightmares.

10 The Covina Massacre

Why This Is Among the Top 10 Craziest Holiday Horrors

On the night of December 24, 2008, a seemingly ordinary Christmas party in Covina, California, turned into a blood‑soaked nightmare. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, freshly reeling from a costly divorce and furious over spousal‑support payments, decided to exact a horrific revenge. He meticulously plotted his attack on the gathering his ex‑wife would attend, even renting a trolley to haul a flamethrower and arming himself with four automatic handguns.

Dressed in a Santa suit to blend in, Pardo stormed the party, unleashing gunfire and flames. Nine people perished, including his own eight‑year‑old niece, and the home was set ablaze as terrified guests fled. After the carnage, Pardo turned the gun on himself, ending his life that very night. The tragedy left his former family shattered, a stark reminder of how personal turmoil can explode into public horror.

9 The Dresden Bombing

If you’ve ever flipped through Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse‑Five,” you already know the harrowing story of Dresden’s devastation. On February 14, 1945 – Valentine’s Day – a massive aerial assault of over 1,000 British RAF and USAAF aircraft rained down nearly 4,000 pounds of explosives on the German city. Estimates of the death toll vary, but the conservative figure sits around 25,000, with higher counts suggested by scholars.

Critics argue that Dresden held little strategic value, serving instead as a cultural treasure trove. Vonnegut, who survived as a prisoner of war, recounted the grim task of gathering bodies for burial, noting that the sheer volume forced German troops to resort to burning corpses with flamethrowers. The bombing remains one of the most controversial acts of World War II.

8 The Shanghai Stampede

New Year’s Eve 2014 in Shanghai should have been a dazzling celebration along the Huangpu River, as 300,000 hopeful revelers gathered at Chen Yi Square to watch a spectacular light show. Unfortunately, city planners had grossly underestimated the crowd size, and official crowd‑control measures were virtually nonexistent.

Just minutes before midnight, panic erupted. Thousands surged forward in a chaotic crush, trampling one another as the crowd collapsed into a deadly stampede. The disaster claimed 36 lives and injured 49 more. Chinese media offered vague, conflicting reports about the trigger, and to this day, no definitive cause has been officially confirmed.

7 The Lawson Family Murders

Christmas Day 1929 brought an unimaginable horror to a farm in the American heartland. Charles Lawson, a farmer beset by unknown motives, opened fire on his own family, killing his wife and six of his seven children. He began with two daughters, ambushing them near the family’s tobacco field with a shotgun, then turned to the porch to shoot his wife, Fannie.

The remaining children fled to the house, only to be discovered and slaughtered by Lawson. His final victim was a four‑month‑old infant. After the massacre, Lawson arranged the bodies with crossed arms and heads propped on rocks before disappearing into the woods, where he later took his own life. Rumors hinted at a possible incestuous relationship with one of his daughters, but no concrete motive was ever established.

6 The Tool Box Killers

Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris earned the chilling moniker “Tool Box Killers” for their gruesome habit of using ordinary household implements to torture and murder their victims. Their reign of terror culminated on Halloween night in 1979, when they seized 19‑year‑old Shirley Lynette Ledford outside a gas station.

The duo bound, repeatedly raped, and subjected her to horrific torture with their signature toolkit before finally ending her life. They discarded her body on a random lawn, apparently to gauge media reaction to the location. Their depraved methods left an indelible scar on the annals of criminal history.

5 The Tangiwai Disaster

On Christmas Eve 1953, a passenger train carrying 285 souls sped across New Zealand’s South Island, unaware that a nearby dam had catastrophically failed. The sudden surge of mud and water undermined the support pillars of a railway bridge, rendering it dangerously unstable.

When the train crossed, the compromised bridge collapsed under its weight, sending the locomotive and carriages plunging into the river below. The tragedy claimed 151 lives, with 20 passengers never recovered, presumed swept away by the torrent. Rescue teams scoured the wreckage for days, searching for any sign of survivors amid the icy waters.

4 Ronald Sisman And Elizabeth Platzman

Halloween night 1981 turned deadly for New York City couple Ronald Sisman and Elizabeth Platzman. Their home became a crime scene when they were brutally beaten, forced to their knees, and then executed with a single gunshot to the head each.

Initial police theory labeled the incident a robbery gone awry, given the ransacked house and missing valuables. However, a chilling twist emerged: incarcerated serial killer David Berkowitz, known as “Son of Sam,” had warned authorities that a satanic cult he once belonged to planned a ritual murder that very night. He accurately described the victims’ residence, leading investigators to the gruesome reality of a cult‑driven killing.

3 The Carnation Murders

In the quiet town of Carnation, Washington, Christmas Eve 2007 erupted into a blood‑soaked massacre. Joseph McEnroe and his accomplice Michele Anderson plotted to eliminate Anderson’s entire family, arriving at the parents’ home armed and ready.

First, Anderson’s parents were gunned down as they entered. The killers then cleaned the scene, resetting their lethal trap. Soon after, Anderson’s brother, sister‑in‑law, and their two young children arrived, only to meet the same fate. When questioned, Anderson claimed she felt mistreated by her parents and that her brother owed her money, while McEnroe offered incoherent ramblings. The tragedy left the small community reeling.

2 Omaima Nelson

Thanksgiving Day 1991 saw Egyptian model Omaima Nelson commit a gruesome murder of her husband, allegedly in retaliation for an alleged sexual assault that night. The horror, however, extended far beyond the initial killing.

Nelson first bound her husband and stabbed his chest with scissors. When he survived, she bludgeoned him to death with a clothes iron, breaking the appliance in the process. She then dismembered his body, castrating him, placing his severed head in a freezer, and boiling his hands to erase fingerprints. Although she initially confessed to cannibalizing parts of him, she later retracted, claiming the missing pieces were discarded in a garbage disposal. Investigators ultimately could not account for roughly 80 pounds of his remains.

1 The Cocoanut Grove Fire

The deadliest nightclub fire in history unfolded at Boston’s Cocoanut Grove on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, claiming 492 lives. The venue, bustling with revelers celebrating the holiday weekend, became a furnace of death within minutes.

Investigators never pinpointed the fire’s exact cause, but they determined it ignited on the frond of an artificial palm tree. The blaze surged through the ceiling, engulfing the club in under five minutes. Crucially, many side doors and exits had been bolted shut to prevent patrons from skipping out on their tabs, leaving only a single revolving front door—rendered useless by the crush of fleeing bodies. The tragedy spurred sweeping fire‑safety reforms across the nation, aiming to prevent such a catastrophe from ever happening again.

For many of us, the holiday season is a time of family gatherings and a celebration of the good things that life has to offer. We may reminisce about the past year and begin to dream of the year to come. As you decorate your house, purchase gifts, and roast your holiday ham, let’s explore ten holiday traditions that started because of poverty. 

Related: 10 Strange Christmas Traditions From The Victorian Era

10 The Original Nativity Scene

In the King James Bible, Luke chapters two through seven depict the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. One section reads, “…she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room in the inn.”

The fact that Jesus was born in a stable and had an animal’s manger as a crib comes down to the fact that Bethlehem was crowded with people coming to pay their taxes. It had nothing to do with the poverty of his family. They simply could not find accommodations in the town.

The birth of the Christ child is remembered each holiday season in nativity scenes. Nativity scenes typically include shepherds, sheep, an angel, a donkey, an ox, three wise men, the mother Mary, the father Joseph, baby Jesus, and the star of Bethlehem. Some nativities are simple, while others are elaborate. Many individuals even collect nativity scenes and adorn their homes with displays. 

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene display that used real people and animals in 1223 to encourage Christian worship. Families across the globe still uphold the tradition of dressing up and reenacting the birth of Christ each Christmas season. 

9 From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus

While ole Saint Nick shimmies down chimneys to drop off presents to good boys and girls worldwide, the real Saint Nicholas was a fourth-century Christian bishop who lived in Myra; now modern-day Turkey.

After the death of his parents, Saint Nicholas inherited a fortune from them but was a kind and generous man who donated all he had to those in need. He was renowned for helping the poor and giving life-changing gifts to those in need. Saint Nicholas is well known for being the patron saint of children and sailors, with a yearly celebration to honor the man on December 6th. 

After the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, saints became somewhat unpopular, yet Saint Nicholas retained his allure and grandeur. Dutch families brought “Sinter Klaas” to America, and the rest is well—history. 

8 Hang Your Stockings by the Chimney with Care

If I were to take a guess, I would guess that you have stockings well-hung somewhere in your home. Are they hung up on or near your fireplace? Have you ever wondered why the fireplace? 

Well, the story goes that three poor sisters washed their stockings and hung them out to dry by the fireplace overnight. Knowing that the girls were living in poverty, Saint Nicholas (the same Saint Nicholas in number nine above) threw three bags of gold down the chimney, with each bag falling into each of the sister’s stockings. Now you know why you traditionally hang stockings on the fireplace and why Santa Claus delivers gifts via the chimney!

We still hang up Christmas stockings each year, but unfortunately, few get filled with bags of gold. Now, many stockings are filled with candy, small toys, or even the ever-famous socks and underwear combo. Thanks, Mom!

7 “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly”

Holly, also known as Ilex, is the traditional Christmas flowering plant with which individuals decorate their homes. Its glossy leaves and bright red berries bring a touch of color to drab winter days. Because holly was a common plant in the woodlands of Europe, it was a cheap way for the poor to brighten their homes, and it soon became synonymous with the Christmas season. 

The Romans used holly in their Saturnalia festival around our current Christmas season for the same reasons that we use it today—it’s pretty! On the day of Saturnalia, masters served their slaves.

Nowadays, in the United States, commercial nurseries cultivate European holly for Christmas use. Unfortunately, Ilex likes conditions in America and has become an invasive species that causes considerable damage to native woodlands.

In traditional medicine, holly berries were used as a diuretic, fever relief, and a laxative. We certainly wouldn’t recommend this, as the berries can be toxic to humans. The colorful berries are enticing to small children and pets, but their effects can be sickly. So if you choose to decorate with real holly, please hang it out of reach of your pets and small children.

6 You Say “Panto,” I Say “Mime”

Many families enjoy going to the movies on Christmas day, but did you know similar practices have been going on for centuries? Pantos or pantomimes are not as important in the United States as they are, for example, in Britain. Nevertheless, various theaters across the country put on pantos during the holiday season.

Pantos generally follow the same general theme, whatever the subject. They usually showcase a tussle between bad and good, with clear plot lines, songs, and audience participation. Although pantos often reflect contemporary themes, pantos have a long tradition.

Pantos tradition traces its roots to medieval morality plays. These plays presented Christian themes and Bible stories in a way that was easily understood by the poor, illiterate townspeople who watched them. Services in the church were in Latin, a language that the uneducated didn’t understand. Morality plays were well-received by the public and continue to influence modern-day entertainment practices. 

5 Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant. Its use as a holiday decoration shares, with holly, the virtues of being easy to find and decorative at a time of year when few other plants look their best. Like holly, it was a natural choice for the poor due to its easy access. 

The Greeks used mistletoe as a cure-all, but the Druids saw it as a symbol of vivacity in the first century. Mistletoe thrived when everything else seemed dead; this small step led people to see the plant as a fertility symbol—hence our tradition of kissing under the mistletoe.

This tradition of snatching a kiss seems to have gained popularity in eighteenth-century England, amongst the servants in the great houses, mainly through the literature of the day—Washington Irving’s “Christmas Eve” comes to mind.

4 Winner Winner, Turkey Dinner

There is a story that Turkish merchants brought a tasty African fowl to Europe. In Britain, this bird quickly became known as a “turkey.” Long before Britain established colonies in America, a trader named William Strickland got hold of some American fowl that he sold in Bristol in 1526. These new birds were also named, somewhat unscientifically, as “turkeys.”

Henry VIII decided that the English should eat turkey at Christmas. Although he often seemed to act on a whim, this was a question of the domestic economy. Mid-winter was a terrible season for farmers. Most farmers were poor with small plots of land that could support only a few animals. 

The farmers could kill a chicken or slaughter a cow to celebrate the Christmas feast, but these animals were productive. Farmers could sell the eggs and milk, so they could not afford to lose them. Hence, turkey became an ideal substitute.

3 Yule Logs: From Wood to Cake

Originally, a Yule log was, well, a large log. In poor households, the fireplace was a source of heat and light. It was the center of the home where the whole family gathered. The family would cook their meals and chat in the dark winter evenings. 

In the cold and dark days as the year turned toward spring, a huge Yule log would burn throughout the twelve days of Christmas, from December 25th to January 5th. “Yule” is from the Norse word, hweol, meaning wheel. The Norse believed that the Yule log would usher in the sun, leading to warmth and longer days. 

Today, many only know a Yule log as a tasty holiday dessert. A Yule log cake is a chocolate sponge cake rolled with a cream filling. The cake is then covered with chocolate ganache to resemble an actual wood log. A delicious treat—without the splinters and fiber!

2 Milk and Cookies for Santa

Leaving milk and cookies for Santa is a large part of the United States holiday tradition, so it might be difficult to believe that it is quite a recent addition to Christmas.

In America, leaving snacks out for Santa seems to have started during the Great Depression. With so many people out of work, poverty was a real fear. No one could be certain they would have a job the following week; everyone knew someone who had fallen on hard times. 

In the households that were lucky enough to celebrate Christmas, some parents tried to teach their children the importance of giving and showing solidarity with those less fortunate than themselves. The leaving out of cookies and milk was symbolic, true, but an important lesson.

However, the tradition had long been popular in other parts of the world. Like several other holiday customs, it originated in northern Europe. The holiday tradition stems from the god Odin riding around the skies on his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. During the Yule season, children would leave out food for Sleipnir, hoping that a grateful Odin would bring them a present in return. Rudolph and Santa’s reindeer are an echo of Odin and Sleipnir

1 Salvation Army Bell Ringers

Salvation Army bell ringers are perhaps the holiday tradition most obviously connected to poverty and need. The holiday season sees bell-ringers in virtually every shopping area in the country; I can hear the bells, even now.

The Salvation Army began when William and Catherine Booth organized a mission on military principles to help the needy in London, England. The Salvation Army is now an international institution that offers help to all who need it, regardless of faith or circumstance. However, the tradition of Salvation Army bell ringers is purely American and began in San Francisco, CA, in 1891.

The United States had recently come out of a short but damaging recession. Many people had moved west in search of new opportunities, but not all were successful. Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee had the worthy but relatively modest aim to bring some cheer to the unfortunate.

That Christmas, Captain McFee decided that he would like to host a Christmas dinner for 1,000 of the city’s destitute and set out a red pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing with a sign that asked people to “Keep the Pot Boiling!” to draw attention to the event and raise the necessary funds. This was the origin of the red kettles that the Salvation Army still use, and bell-ringing advertises their presence.

In 2019, the Salvation Army raised $126 million through its bell-ringing campaign. Their presence on our streets during the holiday season is a reminder of the true spirit of Christmas.