Mental Floss

CHRISTMAS

Krampus crashing a Christmas party.

It wasn’t always the most wonderful time of the year. In centuries past, Christmas was often violent, scary, and disgusting. So for all those Grinches who are skeptical of today’s Yuletide customs, be thankful you weren’t alive centuries ago.

A.J. Jacobs
















Charles Dickens wrote more merry tales than just 'A Christmas Carol.'

Such was the success of 'A Christmas Carol' that the four festive stories Dickens published after it—some overlooked classics, others critical flops and missteps—have since largely become eclipsed by their better-known predecessor.

Paul Anthony Jones