The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
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Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
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Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass." There is no set date for his birth in scripture and it wasn't celebrated on any particular day. However Christmas was first celebrated on the 25th of December in Rome in 336AD with an aim t
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English Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas between 1647 and 1660 because he believed such celebrations were immoral for the holiest day of the year.
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The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
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