Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
Frumenty was a spiced porridge, enjoyed by both rich and poor. It was a forerunner of modern Christmas puddings. It is linked in legend to the Celtic god Dagda, who stirred a porridge made up of all the good things of the earth.
5
US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world's presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.
415
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
251
The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
82
One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
122
Popular belief holds that 3 wise men visited Bethlehem from the east bearing gifts. However there is no mention in the bible about the number of wise men who visited. Three gifts were brought - gold, frankincense and myrrh, but names commonly attributed t
101
Christmas trees become popular in the UK from 1841 when Prince Albert erected a tree in Windsor Castle following a German tradition. Fir trees have been decorated at Christmas time in Germany since the 8th century.
20