Christmas trees become popular in the UK from 1841 when Prince Albert erected a tree in Windsor Castle following a German tradition. Fir trees have been decorated at Christmas time in Germany since the 8th century.
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The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
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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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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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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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The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
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7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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