Christmas traditions are far from purely Christian - a lot of what Brits do in the festive season can be traced back to paganism, folklore and commercialism.
These 11 answers to Christmas questions reveal the unexpected, ancient and sometimes downright bizarre history behind turkey, crackers, Christmas trees and all the rest of it.
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Christmas explained
Why do people have Christmas trees?(01 of11)
Fir trees have been used to celebrate winter festivals since pre-Christian pagan times in Britain. Evergreen branches were used to decorate homes for the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year - to remind people that she sun god would return.
The first formally documented tree was a new year tree, in a market square in Latvia in 1510. Not much is known about it except that it was burned after festivities. Trees were later brought inside and decorated with candles in Victorian times, a tradition still practiced in many countries. (credit:Rebecca Handler via Getty Images)
The first formally documented tree was a new year tree, in a market square in Latvia in 1510. Not much is known about it except that it was burned after festivities. Trees were later brought inside and decorated with candles in Victorian times, a tradition still practiced in many countries. (credit:Rebecca Handler via Getty Images)
Why is turkey eaten at Christmas?(02 of11)
Turkeys are relatively new to the UK - six of them were imported from the USA in 1526. Before that, British people often ate geese for Christmas, but turkey was seen as a good substitute as the hefty bird could feed a large family, and was cheaper than chicken.
Henry VIII was reputed to be one of the first people to eat turkey on Christmas Day, but it was not until the mid twentieth century that turkey overtook the goose as the top Christmas Day feast - this year, around three quarters of Brits will eat it on the 25th December. (credit:Sam Edwards via Getty Images)
Henry VIII was reputed to be one of the first people to eat turkey on Christmas Day, but it was not until the mid twentieth century that turkey overtook the goose as the top Christmas Day feast - this year, around three quarters of Brits will eat it on the 25th December. (credit:Sam Edwards via Getty Images)
Did Coca-Cola really invent Santa's red suit?(03 of11)
There's a persistent myth that Santa wears red because Coca-Cola chose the colour when they used him in their advertising in the 1930s.
But Coca-Cola itself denies this, pointing out that Saint Nicolas had been illustrated wearing a scarlett coat long before Coke started depicting him. But the drinks brand does admit some part in creating the Santa we know today. Pre-Coke, he had appeared before as tall and thin, short and elfin or sometimes downright scary. But Coke's artist Haddon Sundblom painted Santa as a jolly, cuddly character with rosy cheeks and a snowy beard for the first time, and the image stuck. (credit:Coca-Cola)
But Coca-Cola itself denies this, pointing out that Saint Nicolas had been illustrated wearing a scarlett coat long before Coke started depicting him. But the drinks brand does admit some part in creating the Santa we know today. Pre-Coke, he had appeared before as tall and thin, short and elfin or sometimes downright scary. But Coke's artist Haddon Sundblom painted Santa as a jolly, cuddly character with rosy cheeks and a snowy beard for the first time, and the image stuck. (credit:Coca-Cola)
Why is Boxing Day called Boxing Day?(04 of11)
It's nothing to do with fighting. In Europe, people traditionally gave servants and tradespeople presents in "present boxes" on the day after Christmas, in a custom dating back since the middle ages - but the name could also refer to metal boxes in churches in the early Christian era, which were used to collect offerings for Saint Stephen's Day, also on the 26th December in the West.
Another possible origin of the name is from 'alms boxes' in Churches, which are still used today collect donations for those in need. (credit:Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images)
Another possible origin of the name is from 'alms boxes' in Churches, which are still used today collect donations for those in need. (credit:Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images)
Who invented crackers?(05 of11)
Christmas crackers - which no-one has heard of outside Commonwealth countries - are thought to have been invented by the ingenious Brit Thomas Smith, who visited Paris in the 1800s and noticed the popularity of bon-bons - sugared almonds wrapped in paper with a twist at either side. He sold them in England, and noticed they were mainly popular at Christmas.
Smith added a piece of paper with a motto, and later the strip which makes a cracker go 'bang'. The sweet was replaced with a toy, as he changed his creation to stand out from the many imitations which sprang up. (credit:Daily Herald Archive/SSPL via Getty Images)
Smith added a piece of paper with a motto, and later the strip which makes a cracker go 'bang'. The sweet was replaced with a toy, as he changed his creation to stand out from the many imitations which sprang up. (credit:Daily Herald Archive/SSPL via Getty Images)
Why do people kiss under mistletoe?(06 of11)
The white berries are steeped in romantic symbolism. Celtic druids were probably the first to associate it with sex and love, as they saw that it still blossomed in the winter. They took this as a sign of virility and prescribed mistletoe to improve fertility.
In Norse mythology, the plant is also a symbol of love as the god Baldur was killed with an arrow made of mistletoe but then rose from the dead. Servants in England started kissing under mistletoe from the 18th century - the saying was that refusing a kiss offered under the plant was bad luck. (credit:David Woolley via Getty Images)
In Norse mythology, the plant is also a symbol of love as the god Baldur was killed with an arrow made of mistletoe but then rose from the dead. Servants in England started kissing under mistletoe from the 18th century - the saying was that refusing a kiss offered under the plant was bad luck. (credit:David Woolley via Getty Images)
Why is Rudolph's nose red?(07 of11)
In the very catchy song, Rudolph's nose shines so red that it can light the way through the snow for the rest of Santa's flying reindeer. Scientists have suggested (impressively, considering he's a fictional character) that it glows thanks to bioluminescence, a mixing of chemical compounds similar to what we see in fireflies.
But why red? Perhaps he was cold. The only person who may know is American retailer Robert L May who created Rudolph in a children's book in 1939. The story is now owned by its own company - The Rudolph Company - and has been adapted countless times. (credit:Daniel MacDonald / www.dmacphoto.com via Getty Images)
But why red? Perhaps he was cold. The only person who may know is American retailer Robert L May who created Rudolph in a children's book in 1939. The story is now owned by its own company - The Rudolph Company - and has been adapted countless times. (credit:Daniel MacDonald / www.dmacphoto.com via Getty Images)
Why is Christmas celebrated on 25 December?(08 of11)
Though the Christian festival of Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus - a real historical figure according to most academics, whatever your beliefs - we don't know what day he actually came into the world.
Roman Christians were the first to celebrate Christmas on the 25th December, a date which church leaders probably chose because it was the same as the pagan festival of the winter solstice. Choosing the same date could have made Christianity more palatable to converts, who wouldn't have to give up their existing rituals. (credit:Fuse via Getty Images)
Roman Christians were the first to celebrate Christmas on the 25th December, a date which church leaders probably chose because it was the same as the pagan festival of the winter solstice. Choosing the same date could have made Christianity more palatable to converts, who wouldn't have to give up their existing rituals. (credit:Fuse via Getty Images)
Why do we have Christmas stockings?(09 of11)
Many stories could explain why children leave stockings out for Santa to fill with toys and food. It's a European tradition that began with children hanging out everyday socks - a practical container that they had to hand - to hold presents.
In one Nordic story, Saint Nicholas threw bags of gold through a window to help a poor family who had rejected charity, when one of them landed in a stocking, leading to the tradition. (credit:Fuse via Getty Images)
In one Nordic story, Saint Nicholas threw bags of gold through a window to help a poor family who had rejected charity, when one of them landed in a stocking, leading to the tradition. (credit:Fuse via Getty Images)
Why do people put a sixpence in a Christmas pudding?(10 of11)
An early relation of the Christmas pudding was the Twelfth Night Cake, eaten on the twelfth night after Christmas. In a habit dating back at least to the 1300s in Britain, a dried pea or bean would be placed. Whoever found it in their portion would be the 'king' or 'queen' for the day.
If you were lucky, the bean was substituted with a silver ring or small coin, which eventually became a sixpence by the 20th century - the closet equivalent today is a 5p piece. (credit:elena moiseeva via Getty Images)
If you were lucky, the bean was substituted with a silver ring or small coin, which eventually became a sixpence by the 20th century - the closet equivalent today is a 5p piece. (credit:elena moiseeva via Getty Images)
Why does Santa come down the chimney?(11 of11)
Saint Nicholas would traditionally throw coins through windows, but if he found a window locked, he might reasonably chuck money down the chimney.
A 17th century Dutch painting called “The Feast of St. Nicholas” played a key part in cementing the myth of Santa's unusual access method. It shows a family opening presents while staring up the chimney in amazement, suggestion Saint Nick - or at least the presents - had arrived via the fireplace. (credit:CSA Images via Getty Images)
A 17th century Dutch painting called “The Feast of St. Nicholas” played a key part in cementing the myth of Santa's unusual access method. It shows a family opening presents while staring up the chimney in amazement, suggestion Saint Nick - or at least the presents - had arrived via the fireplace. (credit:CSA Images via Getty Images)