CHRISTMAS

'Elf,' the Christmas comedy starring Will Ferrell as a human raised at the North Pole, is a certified holiday classic. But is sweet, innocent Buddy the Elf hiding a dark side?

If the classic 1983 holiday movie 'A Christmas Story' taught us anything, it’s to be wary of BB guns, mall elves, and flagpoles. More specifically: sticking your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

Rudolph could have been Rollo or Reginald the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (Romeo and Rodney were also in the running.)

Sh*t happens when you party naked.

A spiked cup of hot cocoa may be your favorite indulgence, but don't let Fido or Fluffy give it a try.

It'll be paired with 'The Bells of Fraggle Rock.'

The Grinch, Dr. Seuss's bright green curmudgeon, has been getting us into the holiday spirit for more than 50 years.

It's normal to get annoyed when radio stations play Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Over a third of shoppers admit to having left a store to avoid holiday songs.

In 17th-century Boston, wishing a fellow colonist so much as a "Merry Christmas" meant shelling out five shillings for flaunting the Yuletide spirit.

In Gävle, Sweden, nothing says “Christmas” like the sight of a four-ton straw goat overlooking the town square. Too bad some jerk usually comes along and lights it on fire.

How the sleepy holiday footage became a ratings juggernaut.

Here's a look at some holiday characters who might not be familiar to Americans, but who play a big role in celebrations around the world.