The definition of a white Christmas in the UK is for a single snow flake (perhaps amongst a shower of mixed rain and snow) to be observed falling in the 24 hours of December 25th.
32
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
74
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
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.
42


