Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
28
There are 13 Santas in Iceland, each leaving a gift for children. They come down from the mountain one by one, starting on December 12 and have names like Spoon Licker, Door Sniffer and Meat Hook.
191
Robins on cards were a joke 150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics and were named after them.
20
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
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.
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