In 1999, residents of the state of Maine in America built the world's biggest ever snowman. He stood at 113ft tall.
103
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
22
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
62
Frumenty was a spiced porridge, enjoyed by both rich and poor. It was a forerunner of modern Christmas puddings. It is linked in legend to the Celtic god Dagda, who stirred a porridge made up of all the good things of the earth.
5
The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
28
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
6
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196