The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.
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Popular belief holds that 3 wise men visited Bethlehem from the east bearing gifts. However there is no mention in the bible about the number of wise men who visited. Three gifts were brought - gold, frankincense and myrrh, but names commonly attributed t
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One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho.
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The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
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The "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations in many Italian households. The Urn of Fate is brought out on Christmas Eve. It holds a wrapped present for everyone. The mother tries her luck first, then the others in turn. If you get a present wi
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
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The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
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