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.
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The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.
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Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
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Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
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Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
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One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
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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.
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