So interesting you’ll want to tell someone! December Trivia & Fun Facts Special

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Did you know that many traditional year-end and New Year events hide fascinating origins and meanings? From the significance behind the number of times the New Year’s Eve temple bell is struck, to the purpose of the big year-end house cleaning, and even the meaning of Christmas colors—December is full of intriguing trivia.

By learning the background of the year-end customs we usually perform without much thought, you can discover deeper meaning and charm in them.

In this article, we share fun, general-interest trivia and tidbits about December that will enrich your holiday season.

Feel free to use them as conversation starters with family and friends!

Fun facts you’ll want to share! December trivia & tidbits (21–30)

In Australia, Santa’s partner is a kangaroo.

Because Christmas in Australia falls in the height of summer, reindeer—strongly associated with snowy imagery—don’t quite fit the hot climate, so kangaroos often take their place as Santa’s partners.

Santa is sometimes depicted delivering presents on sandy beaches, a hallmark of the Southern Hemisphere’s unique Christmas culture.

This custom shows how celebrations around the world adapt to local climates and traditions, and it offers a window into how Christmas is observed abroad.

It’s a fun bit of trivia that conjures the image of Santa alongside kangaroos.

Raise the rankinglower

mutō

Report a problem

The origin of the term “General Winter” comes from Napoleon.

In Japan, “General Winter” is used as a symbol of severe winter, and its origin dates back to the Napoleonic Wars.

When the French army suffered in the bitter cold during the Russian campaign, soldiers described the harsh winter as if a general of an army were attacking, calling it “General Winter.” The phrase then spread across Europe and took root in Japan as an expression symbolizing cold waves and the season of heavy snow.

It’s a fun bit of trivia linking history and meteorology, conveying both a sense of Japan and the chill of winter.

Raise the rankinglower

mutō

Report a problem

December 26 is Boxing Day.

December 26 is called “Boxing Day” and is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other countries.

It originated as the day when churches distributed alms boxes to the poor, observed on the day after Christmas as an expression of gratitude and sharing.

Today, it features major sales and sporting events and has become a holiday spent with family and friends.

Knowing this historical background makes it more than just a day off—you can feel the culture and tradition behind it, and it becomes a fun bit of trivia you’ll want to share as a year-end topic.

Raise the rankinglower

mutō

Report a problem

It’s considered bad luck to do mochi pounding on December 29.

In Japan, there is a custom of avoiding mochi pounding on December 29.

This is because the number 29 is associated with the word for “suffering” (ku), and is therefore considered inauspicious.

Mochi pounding is an important year-end event where families and communities gather, with prayers for a good harvest and good health in the coming year.

For this reason, it is often planned for the 28th or earlier, and care is taken not to overlap with year-end house cleaning and New Year preparations.

Depending on the region or household, some still do it on the 29th, but knowing the origin makes it a fun year-end tidbit you’ll want to share with others.

Raise the rankinglower

mutō

Report a problem