Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
Popular belief holds that 3 wise men visited Bethlehem from the east bearing gifts. However there is no mention in the bible about the number of wise men who visited. Three gifts were brought - gold, frankincense and myrrh, but names commonly attributed t
101
7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
100
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81