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
The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
273
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
100
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
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
The twelve days of Christmas are the days between Christmas Day and Epiphany (6th of January) and represent the length of time it took for the wise men from the East to visit the manger of Jesus after his birth.
36