Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
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
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
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
Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
74
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.
5
