Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
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 abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
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Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
100
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
'Klaxon' is a name that does not belong to one of Santa's reindeer. A klaxon is actually a powerful electric horn. Its name comes from a German word meaning "shriek".
3
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
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