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
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Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
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Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
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The 26th of December is traditionally known as St Stephen's Day, but is more commonly known as Boxing Day. The reason it was called this is either alms boxes in church were opened and the money distributed to the poor, or alternatively it was named from t
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The first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria in 1937.
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Robins on cards were a joke 150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics and were named after them.
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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.
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Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
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