The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
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The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
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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.
5
'Klaxon' is a name that does not belong to one of Santa's reindeer. A klaxon is actually a powerful electric horn. Its name comes from a German word meaning "shriek".
3
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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