Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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The "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations in many Italian households. The Urn of Fate is brought out on Christmas Eve. It holds a wrapped present for everyone. The mother tries her luck first, then the others in turn. If you get a present wi
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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.
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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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'Klaxon' is a name that does not belong to one of Santa's reindeer. A klaxon is actually a powerful electric horn. Its name comes from a German word meaning "shriek".
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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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