Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
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The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
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There are 13 Santas in Iceland, each leaving a gift for children. They come down from the mountain one by one, starting on December 12 and have names like Spoon Licker, Door Sniffer and Meat Hook.
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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
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The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
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The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
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The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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