In traditional Ukrainian houses a Christmas tree will often be decorated with a spider and web for good luck.

For centuries, families throughout much of central Europe have relied on one simple main course for Christmas Eve dinner: the common carp. Traditionally kept in the bathtub, the fish can become a sort of family pet for a day or two, before becoming dinner.

Dutch children have long cheered the annual coming of Sinterklaas--or Saint Nicholas--who arrives on a steamboat filled with presents in mid-November.

The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myyrh.

Every Who Down in Whoville Liked Christmas a lot ...
But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, Did NOT!

Winter's last magical tool, his Magic Feed Corn, allows Santa's reindeer friends to fly.

Roast turkey did not appear consistently on royal Christmas Day menus until 1851 when it replaced roast swan.

The 1944 Christmas tune "Baby, It's Cold Outside" was banned by radio stations across the country -- and even in Canada -- for its lyrics that some said were inappropriate in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was the culmination of more than two years of peace activism undertaken by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that began with the bed-ins they convened in March and May 1969, the first of which took place during their honeymoon.

Santa is traditionally depicted wearing a black belt with a gold buckle.