The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.
42
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
251
The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
38
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273
In 1999, residents of the state of Maine in America built the world's biggest ever snowman. He stood at 113ft tall.
103
There are 13 Santas in Iceland, each leaving a gift for children. They come down from the mountain one by one, starting on December 12 and have names like Spoon Licker, Door Sniffer and Meat Hook.
191

