Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".
15
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
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
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
62
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273