The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
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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 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.
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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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Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
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The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
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The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
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