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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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
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The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".
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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 abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
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The 26th of December is traditionally known as St Stephen's Day, but is more commonly known as Boxing Day. The reason it was called this is either alms boxes in church were opened and the money distributed to the poor, or alternatively it was named from t
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The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
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