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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Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
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Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
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Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
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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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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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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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