1. Largest Christmas Tree in the United States

If you are headed to Idaho, you can stop by the town of Coeur D’Alene and check out the world’s largest Christmas tree.  Standing at 161 feet, the tree is nearly twice the size of the Rockefeller Center tree in New York City.  A tree this size is covered with over 30,000 lights!  The town of Coeur D’Alene has embraced the spirit of the holidays and transformed their town into a winter wonderland, including a North Pole Village that sits in the center of a lake.

2. The Largest Santa Claus

Up in the northern city of Harbin, China, you can find a 525 foot tall Santa Claus staring down at you.  The massive ice sculpture features the face of “Father Christmas” including his flowing beard.  The city plays host to a world-renowned ice festival despite winter temperatures dipping as low as -31 degrees Fahrenheit.  The snow feature has attracted thousands of visitors who are looking to get in the holiday spirit.

3. Best Eggnog Recipe

If you are looking for a great Eggnog recipe this year, then try this one.

For the eggnog:

• 12 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 quart (4 cups) whole milk
• 1 liter (about 4 cups) bourbon, such as Jim Beam
• 1/2 cup Myers’s dark rum
• 1/2 to 1 cup good Cognac or other brandy
• Pinch kosher salt
• 1 whole nutmeg

1. Separate egg yolks and whites. Combine yolks and sugar in a large mixing bowl and whisk until well blended and creamy.
2. Add cream, milk, bourbon, rum, Cognac (use the good stuff), and salt, then stir.
3. Bottle it right away and refrigerate it until it’s ready. (An old liquor bottle works great, as do 22-ounce bail-top bottles, available in brewing supply stores. My grandfather keeps the eggnog in the garage for 3 weeks, stirring occasionally, then bottles it—but aging in the garage is not recommended because the temperature can fluctuate.)
4. It’s traditional to wrap the bottle in aluminum foil, shiny side out, together with a fresh nut of nutmeg tucked into the foil for grating later. Keep refrigerated for at least 3 weeks, or up to a year if you can.

4. Most Popular Holiday Movie

The feel good film about a boy and his quest for getting the perfect gift from Santa, A Christmas Story, has become a popular holiday movie.  Many children wish that Santa will bring them the presents they want most.  A Christmas Story depicts the story of young Ralphie Parker and his childhood Christmas during the 1940’s.

It’s a Wonderful Life also sits high up on the popularity list.  The features the story of a compassionate businessman in despair as an angel shows him what life would be like if he never existed.

5. Coldest Christmas Eve

For most people, Christmas Eve means snow and cold weather, but for the residents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Christmas Eve wasn’t just cold, it was frigid.  Temperatures dipped to a breath stealing minus 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Largest Box Office Release on Christmas Day

Christmas Day, for some, can be a day to take in a movie or two and relax with the busiest time of year winding down.  For the movie “Ali” it was a great day taking in over $10 million in ticket sales, making it the largest Christmas Day box office release to date.  The film, starring Will Smith as the famed boxing legend, definitely scored with a first round knock out.

7. Heaviest Snow Fall on Christmas Day

There residents of Denver, Colorado woke up on Christmas Day 2007 to a thick blanket of record breaking snowfall.  The city was covered in 7.8 inches of fluffy white snow which broke the previous record from 1894 which totaled 6.2 inches.

8. Best Selling Christmas Single

Can you guess what the number one selling Christmas Song of all time is?  If you said, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” then you are correct.  Berlin first performed the song in 1941 on his radio show called The Kraft Music Hall.  His version of the song has gone on to sell over 50 million copies, the most of any release.

9. Largest Group of Carolers

519 Christmas Carolers gathered on the steps of Manhattan’s General Post Office, braving the New York cold to shatter the previous record of 517 carolers.  The group sung their way into the Guinness World Record Book while caroling across from Madison Square Garden.

10. Largest Christmas Store

Looking to do some Christmas Shopping? Well Frankenmuth, Michigan has a great place to check out.  Stop by Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, otherwise know as the “World’s Largest Christmas Store.”  The store holds more than 50,000 presents and gifts while filling the size of five and a half football fields.