In Greek legend, malicious creatures called Kallikantzaroi sometimes play troublesome pranks at Christmas time. In order to get rid of them, salt or an old shoe is burnt. The pungent burning stench drives off, or at least helps discourage, the Kallikantza
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The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
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The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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The definition of a white Christmas in the UK is for a single snow flake (perhaps amongst a shower of mixed rain and snow) to be observed falling in the 24 hours of December 25th.
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Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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