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
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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
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The definition of a white Christmas in the UK is for a single snow flake (perhaps amongst a shower of mixed rain and snow) to be observed falling in the 24 hours of December 25th.
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Robins on cards were a joke 150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics and were named after them.
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One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
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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.
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