It’s the most wonderful time of year…to watch all of your favorite Christmas movies! A Yuletide movie marathon isn’t complete without the 1983 comedy classic A Christmas Story, but what about the story behind the story? We’ve collected some fun facts about the making of the film you can use to impress your friends and family over popcorn this holiday season. Enjoy!

1. Although the film is supposed to take place in Indiana, it was actually filmed in Cleveland, Ohio and Toronto, Canada.
2. Despite the cold climate of both filming locations, all the snow in the film is fake! It was made out of soap and foam. (See our fun facts about It’s A Wonderful Life to find out how they used to make movie snow)
3. Speaking of soap, the Lifebuoy soap Ralphie has to keep in his mouth after swearing was actually a wax mold. The brand Lifebuoy was one of the most popular brands of soap in the U.S. from the 1920s into the 1950s, thus its appearance in the film, which takes place around that time period.
4. The scene when the character Flick is dared to sticks his tongue on a frozen flag pole was also fake – thankfully! The director actually used a suction device to keep the actor’s tongue to the pole. But if he had put his tongue on a cold pole, it really would have gotten stuck. Mythbusters dedicated an episode to proving it could happen!
5. Peter Billingsley, who plays the mischievous Ralphie, was the first actor to audition for the role – a big deal considering actors Wil Wheaton and Sean Astin also auditioned! Billingsley is still a working actor today. His technologist character in the Marvel Universe is not quite as villainous as Black Bart, but he’s not exactly a good guy either.
6. Being cast as Ralphie had some perks beyond the paycheck – Billingsley was able to bring home the pink bunny suit and Ralphie’s broken glasses. Best of all: he was given the famous Red Ryder BB gun as a keepsake!
7. Ralphie says he wants said Red Ryder BB gun 28 times total in the movie, but the configuration of the gun he wanted didn't actually exist. The props department had to place the compass and sundial in the stock!
8. “Fra-gee-lay.” The leg lamp was another iconic prop in the film. Its design was inspired by a Nehi Soda advertisement and described in a short story by the film’s writer, Jean Shepherd.
9. While there were three leg lamp props on set, all three were broken in the process of filming!
10. Jean Shepherd, who also narrates the film, based A Christmas Story on his own life, which he also chronicled in his 1966 book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. He also makes a cameo in the film. You can see him in the department store scene as Ralphie is waiting to see Santa.