Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
10
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
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
The "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations in many Italian households. The Urn of Fate is brought out on Christmas Eve. It holds a wrapped present for everyone. The mother tries her luck first, then the others in turn. If you get a present wi
-19
At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath the mistletoe tree. In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe".
27
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33