Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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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".
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7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
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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 first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
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