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- Thanksgiving is not just an American holiday. Canada declared their Thanksgiving holiday in 1879. It is observed on the 2nd Monday in October.
- President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1863.
- Mexicans do their Christmas gift exchange on January 6 instead of the traditional date of December 25.
- Christmas (December 25) was declared a American national holiday in 1870 by President Ulysses S. Grant to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.
- President Franklin Pierce was the first President to decorate the White House Christmas tree.
- The word Christmas is derived from Middle English Christemasse and from Old English Cristes męsse. It is a contraction meaning "Christ's mass".
- Boxing Day (December 26) - In England it is customary to give gift "boxes" to mailmen and servants on this day. Today, in Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, it is a day of rest.
- National Arbor Day (April's last Friday) - When J. Sterling Morton moved to the Nebraska Territory in 1854, he planted many trees on the land. Many other people did too, and Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1872. Plant a tree!
- Handsel Monday (the first Monday of the year) - In Scotland in the 14th to 19th centuries, children and servants received a small gift, or Handsel.
- There are approximately 1,175 malls in the U.S., which had around $308 billion in annual sales in 2010; of which $10.7 billion is generated by Black Friday sales.
- Ranks of the Mafia: Capo Crimini: Super Boss; Capo di Tutti Capi: Boss of Bosses; Cupola: Commission; Don: Boss; Consigliere: Trusted Advisor; Counsellor; "In-house lawyer";
Sotto Capo/Capo Bastone: Underboss (number 2 in a family); Contabile: Financial Advisor; Capo/Capodecina/Caporegime: Captain of ten; Sgarrista: High Ranking Soldier; Picciotto: Low Ranking Soldier; "Button man";
Giovane D'Honore: Mafia Associates (non-made members).
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