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.
5
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
In 1999, residents of the state of Maine in America built the world's biggest ever snowman. He stood at 113ft tall.
103
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
101
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
251
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81
Black Friday in the UK is the Friday before Christmas. Instead of shopping, many people get very drunk!
10
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.
42