Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.

We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night--but did you know... $23,439.38  How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person.  Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …

• Photos (2)

O’Fallon’s 2012 Christmas/New Year's Schedule

Check out holiday hours for the Renaud Spirit Center and the schedule for city trash and recycling.

Christmas TV Special Schedule 2012

Check out this round up of holiday TV specials.

Dec. 25 ABC (Channel 30) NBC (Channel 5) What movies does your family watch on Christmas? 

• Photos (1)

Holiday Eating: Use Smaller Portion Sizes

Our dietician says to enjoy the tastes of the season - just do it in moderation.

Holiday eating is often a time of lots of cookies and candy and a lot of eating on the run, two behaviors that can pose a challenge to a goal of healthy eating. Have no fear you can enjoy your holiday treats and still keep a healthy eating plan.  If you’re spending the next two weeks baking for holiday parties you know that cookies, cakes, bars and candy are plentiful not only in your house but also at work – after all that’s where we take those “too many to keep” items. Manage your sweet eating by trying these tips: When it comes to grabbing meals on the run, studies show that we make poorer food choices and we eat more when we aren’t focused on what we are eating. If your day is packed with work, decorating, baking and shopping make sure…

• Photos (1)

Want To Track Santa? NORAD Will Let You Do It In 3D

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has several ways kids can track Santa and his reindeer for Christmas 2012.

For 364 days out of the year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spends its time tracking airplanes, missiles, space ships—anything flying near the United States and Canada. But on Christmas Eve, a team of volunteers spends the night tracking a very special pilot: Santa Claus. "We are the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications and the people to do it," NORAD said on its website. "NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house." Santa usually starts at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west, NORAD noticed, meaning he moves from the South Pacific to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe …

• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Gingerbread Recipes To Savor, or Use As Building Materials

Whether your gingerbread house is a mansion or of more modest dimensions, or you just want to enjoy a piece of gingerbread to eat, here are some recipes to get you started.