From Christmas trees to Santa Claus, to carols, lights and decorations, have you ever wondered how all these much-loved customs came about? In this book we will explore all the traditions that we associate with and enjoy over the festive holiday period and uncover some fascinating facts about the history behind them from around the world. Deeply entrenched in Western culture, we often forget what this magical time was originally celebrated for – the birth of Jesus Christ. It represents a time of peace and goodwill to all, but in modern day life this often gets lost in the big commercial merry-go-round with parties and gifts galore that it has become. Interestingly, some of the traditions we know so well actually started over 2,000 years ago before Jesus was born. So, let’s walk through the mists of time and legends and explore all the captivating snippets of historical customs that have led us to where we are today.