Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.

The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum

Ian Petrella played Ralphie's little brother, Randy. Petrella later became a puppeteer and an animator after his career as a child actor. He also served as a special tour guide for The Christmas Story House and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are close to 350 million Christmas trees currently growing on Christmas tree farms in the United States alone and about 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees sold every year.

CLARK: [Revealing his Christmas "bonus"] It's a one year membership to the Jelly of the Month Club.
EDDIE: Clark, that's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

Up on the housetop, click-click-click
Down to the chimney with the good St. Nick

An old Polish custom exists, observed to this day in small villages: a Christmas tree is turned upside down and hung from the ceiling to represent the holy trinity of the father, the son and the holy spirit.

First comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa will fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that can open and shut its eyes

After Kris Kringle gives him a toy train, the evil in Winter's heart melts away.

Look in the stocking of little Bill
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a little hammer and lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and whip that cracks