Thomas Nast drew a picture of Santa Claus for the January 1, 1881 issue of Harper's Weekly and the rest of the media ran with it. It became the visual prototype of the Santa Claus we all know and love.

Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the deity Saturn. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving. As the Roman Empire came under Christian rule, many of its customs were recast into or at least influenced the seasonal celebrations surrounding Christmas.

About a third of Christmas Island's total population of 1,600 lives in Flying Fish Cove, which lies near the north-eastern tip of the island.

The first Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London on 1 May 1843. Two batches totaling 2,050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each.

In Scotland, Christmas Day became a public holiday in 1958. Before that, people worked on Christmas Day, although they still gave presents to their children.

Babbo Natale, Italy's version of Santa Claus, is becoming more popular and gift giving on Christmas day is becoming more common, but La Befana, the old woman who delivers gifts on Epiphany (January 6) is still the more popular Italian Christmas figure.

Harry also got a lumpy looking jumper from Mrs. Weasley, but the invisibility cloak he received from Dumbledore was much more useful.

Sir Isaac Newton was born according to the Julian calendar (in use in England at the time) on Christmas Day, December 25, 1642.

Rudolph's father, Santa's lead reindeer Donner, feels ashamed after Santa Claus tells him that he won't allow Rudolph to be in the sleigh team with his nose ("Jingle Jingle Jingle"). Donner uses a special cover to hide Rudolph's nose so he can send Rudolph to the Reindeer Games.

The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th of December.