The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
18
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
251
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
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
122
The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".
15
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
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