If you had been alive, and perhaps growing up, in England during the 1650s you would probably not have celebrated Christmas: why?

The symbol of Christian faith can variously be a crucifix ('with a little man on it', as one rather insensitive souvenir shop-keeper allegedly once offered to a young pilgrim 'at the same price as the one without' ... ) or a plain 'empty' cross, which is simpler, more elegant ~ and expresses the belief that Jesus conquered death and left it behind, even after undergoing it in one of its most barbaric forms. Almost incredibly, there are some devotees (other than 'mere' Passion Play actors), almost 2,000 years on from the historic event on the hill outside Jerusalem, who put themselves through a form of crucifixion, usually also on Good Friday and clearly not right to the point of death. Who, and where, are the most well-known examples of these?

Why, and since when, has Santa Claus been established as wearing a red coat?

When a robed priest has performed and declared a marriage, it is customary for him or her to wrap a part of his/her vestments around the joined hands ~ and rings ~ of the new couple, before pronouncing, 'That which God has joined together, let no man put asunder' (or near equivalent words). What part of the priestly vestments is used for this purpose?

A group of people has assembled at a (probably fairly traditional) place of worship. A smart car arrives, and the one person they have been waiting for is brought into the church which has been tastefully decorated with flowers. The assembled people sing , and, later, (or, equally possibly, ). After the service the congregation re-emerges for a few photographs, watches the smart car depart again, and comments on what a lovely service it was. What form of service, probably, was it?

John Betjeman (him again! That astute observer of church matters, architecture, customs and attenders) wrote another shrewd and much-loved seasonal poem about how many people only come occasionally to worship. His (1954) laments: ' ( ... ) All the same, it's strange to me How very full the church can be With people I don't see at all Except at ... ' [Which annual church event?]

St Valentine's Day has been honoured for over 1500 years (since 496; so, pretty well the exact latter three-quarters of the Christian era) ~ on 14 February, which is the day when Valentine was martyred on the outskirts of Rome. What else is known about him?

What is the annual feast day at which the 'Galette des Rois' ('King-cake') is widely eaten in the French-speaking world and elsewhere?

Why is it considered a good omen if a baby responds, during its baptism ceremony, by making a lot of noise?

Apart from the obvious urge to share 'nice things' with people we love at an otherwise fairly miserable time of the year, why do we traditionally give Christmas presents?