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".
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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.
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Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
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Frumenty was a spiced porridge, enjoyed by both rich and poor. It was a forerunner of modern Christmas puddings. It is linked in legend to the Celtic god Dagda, who stirred a porridge made up of all the good things of the earth.
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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
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The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
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