The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".
15
7.6 million Christmas trees are sold each year.
100
Louis Prang, a Bavarian-born lithographer who came to the USA from Germany in the 19th century, popularized the sending of printed Christmas cards. He invented a way of reproducing color oil paintings
, the "chromolithograph technique", and created a car
, the "chromolithograph technique", and created a car
1
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
Many theologians estimate that Jesus wasn't born on December 25 but sometime in September between 6BC and 30AD.
42
There are 13 Santas in Iceland, each leaving a gift for children. They come down from the mountain one by one, starting on December 12 and have names like Spoon Licker, Door Sniffer and Meat Hook.
191
US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world's presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.
415
The sun sets on 24 December at 3.55pm in the UK, and rises the following morning at 8.05am.
81