Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
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
Many theologians estimate that Jesus wasn't born on December 25 but sometime in September between 6BC and 30AD.
42
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
US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world's presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.
415
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273
The typical image we have of Santa Claus dressed in red clothes with white fur trim, is an amalgamation of cultural input over many years. Some people claim the image of Santa we know today is from Coca-cola advertising, but this simply isn't true. The st
33
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
251