The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
38
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
Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
74
English Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas between 1647 and 1660 because he believed such celebrations were immoral for the holiest day of the year.
26
One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
122
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.
191
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