Many theologians estimate that Jesus wasn't born on December 25 but sometime in September between 6BC and 30AD.
42
Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
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 world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
82
In Sweden, a common Christmas decoration is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat. It is usually made of straw. Scandinavian Christmas festivities feature a variety of straw decorations in the form of stars, angels, hearts and other shapes, as well as t
2
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
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
The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
38