The Christmas tree displayed in Trafalgar square in London is an annual gift to the UK from Norway since 1947. The Norwegian spruce given is a token of appreciation of British friendship during World War II from the Norwegian people.
35
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
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
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
One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
122
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
62
The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
82