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
The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
82
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
At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath the mistletoe tree. In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe".
27
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
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
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
251
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
