Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
62
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
38
Louis Prang, a Bavarian-born lithographer who came to the USA from Germany in the 19th century, popularized the sending of printed Christmas cards. He invented a way of reproducing color oil paintings
, the "chromolithograph technique", and created a car
, the "chromolithograph technique", and created a car
1
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".
27
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
6