Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
Christmas trees become popular in the UK from 1841 when Prince Albert erected a tree in Windsor Castle following a German tradition. Fir trees have been decorated at Christmas time in Germany since the 8th century.
20
The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
38
Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
74
'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
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's Christmas promotion in 1938.
113
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
Many theologians estimate that Jesus wasn't born on December 25 but sometime in September between 6BC and 30AD.
42