Got your Christmas rooster?

If you hear hacking and sneezing on your roof Thursday night, don’t worry. It’s just Rudolph’s cold. At least that’s what Norwegian scientists suggested: Any red-nosed reindeer must have a parasitic respiratory infection.

Ten more fun Christmas facts (or at least strong possibilities) from various sources collected by RandomHistory.com:

1. Dyed goose feathers comprised the first German artificial tree.

2. Christmas trees were sold in the U.S. as early as 1850. They take about 15 years to grow to full height.

3. Add up the Twelve Days of Christmas gifts for a total of 364.

4. Europeans of old believed spirits, both good and evil, were active during the Twelve Days of Christmas. These spirits evolved into Santa’s elves.

5. Speaking of the carol, the “true love” part isn’t romantic, but was church lingo for God. The partridge meant Christ and turtledoves, the Old and New Testament.

6. Christmas colors are also symbolic: Green means life and rebirth; red, the blood of Christ; and gold, wealth and royalty.

7. Male reindeer shed antlers in winter, so Blitzen and Comet and so on had to be girls.

8. More on girls and boys: Couples are least likely to break up on Christmas Day, but a popular breakup time of year is two weeks before. All that emotion can erupt into tension, as every newsroom knows too well.

9. Speaking of feelings, an estimated 20,000 “rent-a-Santas” across the U.S. undergo training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under public pressure. Training commonly includes practical advice, such as not taking parents’ money where kids can see it, and avoiding garlic, onions, and beans for lunch.

10. Finally, cock-a-doodle Christmas to you. Bolivians celebrate Misa del Gallo (mass of the rooster) on Christmas Eve. Some bring roosters to midnight mass, symbolizing a belief that a rooster was the first animal to announce the birth of Jesus. Rather loudly, I imagine.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network who wants to know if snakes lived in Bethlehem, so she can justify a Santa hat on hers. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.