1. Christmas trees were first lighted with actual candles, which presented a fire hazard. As a result containers filled with water had to be kept near the Christmas tree.
2. Workers in the construction industry are responsible for the tradition of having a Christmas tree on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. They are credited with placing an undecorated tree at the site in the early 1930s.
3. Since the mid-1960s, The National Christmas Tree Association has maintained a presence in the White House at Christmas by donating a Christmas tree to the First Family.
4. The former Woolworth department store first sold manufactured Christmas tree ornaments in 1880.
5. Plastic became the primary material used to make tinsel after their use for decorative purposes was at one time prohibited because lead was used in the manufacturing process.
6. The idea of Christmas greeting cards started in Britain in the late 1830s when John Calcott Horsley started to produce small cards that had festive scenes and a holiday greeting written inside. Similar cards were also being made in the United States at about the same time by R.H. Pease, in Albany, New York, and Louis Prang, who was a German immigrant. The idea of
sending the greeting cards during Christmas gained popularity in both countries about 10 years later when new postal delivery services started.
7. The shortened form Xmas for Christmas has been popular in Europe since the 1500s. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word 'Xristos' which means Christ.
8. According to the National Confectioners Association, for 200 years candy canes were only made in the color of white and it wasn't until in the 1950s that a machine was invented that could automate the production of candy canes.
Anonymous
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy Machines
My 10 year old grandson enjoys this CD very much. I would buy from you again
Anonymous
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for all ages
This game works just fine on Vista and OSX.5
It is fun and engaging.
I’ve played this with kids as young as 6 and up, and they are mesmerized.
Philippa
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!
Purchased for my grandchildren. Had to try it myself first and found it to be a real brain cell builder. The children (ages 8-10) loved it and quickly became addicted to it.
Gisela
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:13 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
good for kids and adults, make them use common sense
let your kids play this game all they want, brain needs to exercise and analyse real physical situations, it’s fun and cero violence.
just get it! it’s good
Paco
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
nice calm thinking game for kids and up
I agree documentation is limited but my boys 7 and 10, who aren’t sophisticated gamers like it. I love it because of the calming music and requirement for thoughtful play.
Anonymous
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:03 pm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as engaging as expected
I had higher expectations from this product after having read many of the other reviews. My 10 year old son and I lost interest after playing the first few puzzles.
Philip
August 24th, 2009 at 12:28 am
2.0 out of 5 stars
Fun at First, but Later Tiresome
I enjoyed the uniqueness of this game for a short while, but then it became tiresome. I can see how some people would enjoy it endlessly, but just not my thing.
Deo
August 24th, 2009 at 5:46 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
My kids thoroughly enjoyed the puzzles
My kids loved this game. The game requires you to solve puzzles with crazy mechanical annimations that are funny, challenging and enjoyable.
Rylee
August 24th, 2009 at 11:01 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent game
Learning about gears, steam engines, power generators, and robots through a chain of events format could not be more fun for kids of any age.
Yana
August 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy Machines
Hours of fun for my grandson(age 6). His mom enjoys playing it too (even without him). Highly recommended.