Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
28
The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
82
Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
10
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273
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
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".
27