At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath the mistletoe tree. In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe".
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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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The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
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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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Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
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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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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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