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
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
122
The Christmas tree displayed in Trafalgar square in London is an annual gift to the UK from Norway since 1947. The Norwegian spruce given is a token of appreciation of British friendship during World War II from the Norwegian people.
35
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
6
7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
100
Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
10
US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world's presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.
415