The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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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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Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
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Frumenty was a spiced porridge, enjoyed by both rich and poor. It was a forerunner of modern Christmas puddings. It is linked in legend to the Celtic god Dagda, who stirred a porridge made up of all the good things of the earth.
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7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
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