Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".
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The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
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US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world's presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.
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Santa Claus has many different names around the world including Father Christmas in the UK, Pere Noel in France, Kriss Kringle in Germany, La Befana in Italy, Julinesse in Denmark, Dedushka Moroz (meaning Grandfather Frost) in Russia and the Three Kings i
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The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
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Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
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