Robins on cards were a joke 150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics and were named after them.
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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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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.
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In many households, part of the fun of eating Christmas pudding is finding a trinket that predicts your fortune for the coming year. For instance, finding a coin means you will become wealthy. A ring means you will get married; while a button predicts bac
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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
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Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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