16. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Frank Capra's Christmas classic debuted in 1946 with Jimmy Stewart playing George Bailey, a suicidal man who was shown what life would have been like if he had never been born. It wasn't nice. It was a flop at the box office when it premiered, but did get five Academy award nominations, but no wins.
It wasn't until the owner neglected to renew the copyright that statins started showing it and that's when it took off.
My 3rd favorite Christmas movie and favorite non-comedy one.
17. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Edward Hibbard Johnson, a friend of Thomas Edison, came up with the idea of stringing lights around a Christmas tree in New York in 1882. Now over 150 million sets are sold in the U.S. each year. (I still want to know why I usually have one half of the lights go out in a string and then can't get them relit.)
18. DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA
Dates back to 1890 when James Edgar of Brockton, Massachusetts, had a Santa suit made for himself at his dry goods store. Some say Macy's has had one since 1862. (Still my favorite department store Santa was the one at Higbee's.)
19. MAKING FUN OF FRUITCAKE
A favorite of the British (and me), but the subject of a long-running American joke. Manitou Springs in Colorado has an annual Fruitcake Toss Day.
20. COOKIE SWAPS
For over a hundred years in America. I don't exchange. I want them ALL!!!!
Ho, Ho, Ho!! --RoadDog
In 1985, Johnny Carson joked: "The worst Christmas gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world and people keep sending it to each other."
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