More than 160 countries around the world celebrate Christmas through unique traditions and customs. With this amount of diversity, there are numerous facts and stories that remain unknown to the public. Here are some very merry facts about Christmas.

1. “X” is a Greek abbreviation for Christ, hence the term Xmas.
2. Many parts of the Christmas tree can be eaten; the needles are a good source of Vitamin C.
3. “Jingle Bells” was the first song broadcast from space. Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang this song on December 16, 1965.
4. “Jingle Bells” was originally supposed to be a Thanksgiving song. Originally called “The One Horse Open Sleigh,” James Lord Pierpont composed the song in 1850 for his Thanksgiving Sunday school class, and the “jingle bells” referred to New England sleigh races.
5. In Germany, Poland and Ukraine, finding a spider or a spider’s web on a Christmas tree is believed to be a harbinger of good luck.
6. Hanging stockings originates from the Dutch custom of leaving shoes packed with food for St. Nicholas’s donkeys. In exchange, he leaves behind small gifts.
7. Some people celebrate Christmas with upside-down artificial trees to allow more gifts to be piled under.
8. People of the Czech Republic enjoy fish soup, eggs and carp for dinner on Christmas. The number of people at the table must be even; otherwise, legend has it that the person without a partner will die in the coming year.
9. People in Japan spend their Christmas Eve eating at KFC. This tradition is so common that customers often book their seats two months in advance.
10. Apples are the earliest known Christmas tree decorations. People eventually transitioned to electric lights in 1895.
11. The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is donated to the people of London every year by the people of Oslo, Norway in thanks for their assistance during World War II.
12. The most expensively dressed Christmas tree–valued at $11,026,900–was displayed in December 2010  at the Emirates Palace Hotel in the United Arab Emirates
13. Almost 28 LEGO sets are sold every second during Christmas season.
14. Santa has a real Canadian postal zip code: H0H 0H0. Every year, millions of letters are addressed to Santa Claus from children all around the world. The postal workers at the Canadian Post Office take the time to answer some of these letters.
15. Santa Claus also has a phone number: (605) 313-4000. “Santa’s Hotline” asks callers to leave their Christmas wish lists, making the overall experience fun and exciting.  The hotline is sponsored by FreeConferenceCall.com, which launched it back in 2009.