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.
42
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
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
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
6
The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
18