The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273
The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass." There is no set date for his birth in scripture and it wasn't celebrated on any particular day. However Christmas was first celebrated on the 25th of December in Rome in 336AD with an aim t
16
Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
74
The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.
42
7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
100
In Sweden, a common Christmas decoration is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat. It is usually made of straw. Scandinavian Christmas festivities feature a variety of straw decorations in the form of stars, angels, hearts and other shapes, as well as t
2
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81