Due to the time zones, Santa has 31 hours to deliver gifts? This means that he would have to visit 832 homes each second!

In 1937, the first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria.

For every real Christmas tree harvested, two to three seedlings are planted in its place. Each hectare provides the daily oxygen requirements of 45 people.

Poinsettias were dismissed by 19th Century botanists as weeds.

The Aztecs prized poinsettias for their medicinal, commercial and religious value.

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, thunder in December presages fine weather.

In ancient Rome, mistletoe was the peace plant under which enemies settled their differences.

The first Christmas tree lot was set up in 1851 by a farmer, Mark Carr, from the Catskill Mountains.

It is bad luck, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, to wash a Christmas present before it is given.

Refuse a Christmas plum pudding, says The Old Farmer’s Almanac, and you will lose a friend within the year

Wearing new shoes on Christmas brings bad luck, says The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

According to European legend, mistletoe is “the soul of the Oak.”

Mistletoe is traditionally hung in doorways and from ceilings during the holiday season, and anyone caught standing under a sprig of the green-leafed, white-berried plant can expect to receive a Christmas kiss from a member of the opposite sex.

President and Mrs Calvin Coolidge initiated the tradition of a National Christmas Tree erected on the Ellipse of the White House in 1923.

In Britain, Father Christmas uses a donkey or goat to get around.

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, vagabonds, students, children and thieves.

La Befana, believed by Italian children to be a Christmas witch, delivers the presents in some parts of Italy.

The reindeer names Donner and Blitzen mean “Thunder and Lightning.”

 In Armenia, Christmas is observed on January 19, because Armenians believe Christ’s birthday should be celebrated on the day of his baptism. (Present-day January 19 used to January 6 in the old Julian calendar.)

In France, Germany and Brazil, Santa Claus leaves presents for children in their shoes.

Solstice means “sun standing still.” Winter Solstice, the first day of winter, is the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Eastern churches began to celebrate Christmas after 375 AD. Ireland started in the 5th Century, the church in Jerusalem started in the 7th Century, Austria, England and Switzerland began observances in the 8th Century, and Slavic lands began in the 9th and 10th Centuries.

Armenians prepare for Christmas with a fast. They eat no animal food for a week and no food at all on the last day before Christmas. The fast is broken only after a Christmas Eve service, when they return home to a dinner of rice pilaf.

To get on the good side of St Nicholas, children in Belgium leave snacks of hay, water and carrots left for his horse or donkey.

Christmas Day in Belgium is reserved solely for religious celebrations and Nativity plays sponsored by churches.

On Christmas Eve in Brazil, the cena, or meal, is set out before the family goes to Midnight Mass so that the Holy Family can have some if they wish while everyone is out. A popular menu would include turkey, fish and champagne.

Christmas comes at the beginning of the summer season in Brazil and is therefore a time for boating, picnicking and other summer festivities. The red and green of Christmas decorations are provided by eucalyptus leaves and brilliant red flowers of many sorts.

Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, children in Brazil set out their shoes for Papa Noel.

Chile’s holiday gift-bringer is called Viejo Pascuero, or “Old Man Christmas.” He strongly resembles the American Santa Claus and likewise comes drawn by reindeer. However, as chimneys are less than roomy in this warm climate, he contents himself with climbing in a window.

The Christmas feast in Denmark is celebrated at midnight Christmas Eve. Everyone looks forward to dessert, when a special rice pudding is served in which a single almond is hidden. Whoever finds the almond will have good luck for the coming year.

The Santa Claus equivalent in Denmark is known as Julemanden and arrives in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, complete with a sack over his back. He is assisted with his Yuletide chores by elves called Juul Nisse, who are said to live in attics.

In England, children send their letters to Father Christmas by throwing them into the fireplace. It is believed that if they go up the chimney, their “Christmas wishes,” or requests for presents, will be granted; if not, one’s wish goes ungranted.

The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded, the French do make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called buche de Nol, which means “Christmas Log.”

In the Netherlands St Nicholas is known as Sinterklaas.

The popularity of the Nativity scene, one of the most beloved and enduring symbols of the holiday season, originated in Italy.

Christmas Day festivities in Lima are highlighted by a bullfight and a procession with the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Venezuelans attend a daily early morning church service between December 16 and 24 called Misa de Aguinaldo (“Early Morning Mass.”) In the capital city of Caracas, it is customary to roller-skate to this service and many neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 am.

Christmas Pudding originates from an old Celtic dish known as “frumenty.”

Kissing a desired one under the mistletoe is a popular part of Christmas celebrations. The ancient Romans, who believed mistletoe was a symbol of peace, initiated this custom.

Every year since 1947 the people in Oslo have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster. The gift is an expression of goodwill and gratitude for Britain’s help to Norway during the 1939 to 1945 war years.

The Italian word for Christmas is Il Natale.

Christmas hasn’t always been celebrated on December 25. It wasn’t until the 4th Century that Pope Julius decided on this date, as it coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. He intended to replace the pagan celebration with a Christian one.

Alabama became the first US State to declare Christmas a legal holiday, in 1836.

Artificial Christmas trees have consistently outsold real ones since 1991.

The most popular selling brands of Christmas trees are Scotch pine, Dutch fir, Noble fir, Fraser Pine, Virgin Pine, Balsam Pine and white fir.

St Nicholas Church in New York was the first place of religious worship built by the Dutch settlers. It was named in honor of the festive saint.

December 26 was traditionally known as St Stephen’s Day, but these days it is more commonly known as Boxing Day. The original name came about because money was collected in alms-boxes placed in churches during the festive season, and was then distributed to the poor and needy after Christmas.

The German word for Christmas is Weihnachten.

Boxing Day is also known as St Nicholas Day. The original St Nicholas was the bishop of Myra in Lycia (in modern Turkey) some time before 350 AD. Little is known of his life except that he was associated with kindness to children.