It's Christmas, no point in trying to deny it now. I know how busy everyone is – thank you for taking the time to join me for this year's final column.

And since it's Christmas I thought I'd share some of the various snippets of trivia that have burrowed their way into my brain in the past week or so.

Frankly, given how much Christmas-related info we're bombarded with each December I'm amazed that we all don't know every little thing about the holiday.

But this stuff was new to me and I offer it in case anyone requires a little extra small talk to get them through Sunday.

Here's something: in 1647, the English Parliament passed a law that made Christmas illegal.

The Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell, who considered feasting and fun to be immoral on a holy day, banned the Christmas festivities.

The ban lasted for 13 years and was only lifted when Cromwell was removed – making him a strong contender for title of Greatest Killjoy Ever.

America started in pretty much the same manner with the Puritans there banning Christmas carols. Much too jolly. But, as one would expect, Americans have since embraced the tradition vigorously, to the extent that they actually have an Official National Christmas Tree.

It's located in King's Canyon National Park in California, a giant sequoia called the General Grant Tree, and is over 90 metres high.

It was made the Official National Christmas Tree in 1925.
And, since this is a generally musical column, let's move on to the subject of Christmas songs.

The most popular Christmas song of all time is Bing Crosby's version of ‘White Christmas'.

It's still the biggest-selling single of all time (50 million and counting), but not many people know or sing the very first words:
The sun is shining, the grass is green,
The orange and palm trees sway.
There's never been such a day
In Beverly Hills, LA.

Here's another weird thing. The ‘12 Days of Christmas' is a traditional song. Almost. It might have come from France rather than England, but it has been around since certainly the mid-1800s – except one line.

The ‘Five Gold Rings' melody, which as we all know is the most fun to sing, was added in 1909 by English composer Frederick Austin.
It (that one line) is still under copyright, so anyone singing the song in public should be paying royalties. Who needs the internet for piracy?

The story of ‘Silent Night' – arguably the most recognizable Christmas hymn – is interesting.

It was written in 1818 by an Austrian pastor, Joseph Mohr, because on Christmas Eve that year the organ in his church was broken. He wrote it with his friend, Franz Gruber, and played at that night's service on his guitar.

Meanwhile ‘Jingle Bells' isn't a Christmas song at all.
It was written for a Thanksgiving celebration in 1857.
And if you're looking for something to toast around the dinner table, there are a raft of people who celebrate their birthdays on Christmas Day; Jimmy Buffet, Joe Louis Walker, Sissy Spacek, Annie Lennox, Robin Campbell (of UB40), Shane McGowan, Amy Grant, Dido – there are plenty to chose from.

Famous people have also died on Christmas day, including Charlie Chaplin and Dean Martin, but perhaps the most salutory cautionary tale is that of ‘50s singer Johnny Ace.

He was playing a gig on Christmas Day in Houston, 1954, with Big Mama Thornton and a blues revue. Though it was widely reported that Ace killed himself playing Russian roulette, Big Mama's bass player Curtis Tillman witnessed the event and tells the story: 'I will tell you exactly what happened! Johnny Ace had been drinking and he had this little pistol he was waving around the table and someone said ‘Be careful with that thing…' and he said ‘It's okay! Gun's not loaded…see?' and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face and ‘Bang!' – sad, sad thing. Big Mama ran outta that dressing room yelling ‘Johnny Ace just killed himself!'”

So, I finish by wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a rocking New Year.

And, if you have a moment, raise a glass to the late great Johnny Ace.