From the Dec. 18th Chicago Tribune by Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer, Looker-Uppers Par Supremo.
1. POINSETTIA-- The Aztecs knew it as cuetlaxochitl. It's current name comes from the first US envoy to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett, who liked it and sent a few north to the US in the 1820s.
I have to have my poinsettia for Christmas. I kept my one from three years ago and it bloomed last year!! never had that happen before.
2. HANUKKAH-- based on the Jewish calendar and is a wandering holiday. This year, it started at sunset Dec. 20th. In 2016, it begins on Christmas Eve. In 2013, it's Thanksgiving Eve.
3. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER-- Was born in 1939 when Montgomery Ward department store (remember Monkey Wards?) assigned copywriter Robert May to compose a Christmas poem to distribute to customers worldwide. He wrote "Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer" but execs didn't like it. Considered Reginald, too, before settling on Rudolph.
"Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer Had a Very Shiny Nose." --DaCoot
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