Traditions
The process of placing items onto a tree.
What is decorating a Christmas tree?
This 1823 poem by Clement Clarke Moore gave us the modern imagery of Santa's sleigh, his eight reindeer, and his descent down the chimney.
What is "A Visit from St. Nicholas"
Released in 1994, this Mariah Carey smash hit is officially the best-selling modern Christmas song of all time.
What is "All I Want for Christmas Is You"?
This 2003 comedy features Will Ferrell as a human raised by Santa's helpers who travels to New York City to find his biological father.
What is "Elf"?
This spiced, molasses-sweetened cookie is frequently shaped into little people and extensively decorated with icing.
What is a gingerbread man?
A song about Christmas
What is a Christmas carol?
In 1659, this Massachusetts city enacted a law imposing a five-shilling fine on anyone caught celebrating Christmas, viewing it as a rowdy, sinful practice.
What is Boston?
Originally written in German as "Stille Nacht," this peaceful 1818 carol is one of the most translated songs in history.
What is "Silent Night"?
Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, a boy who must defend his suburban home from two bumbling burglars after his family accidentally leaves him behind.
What is "Home Alone"?
This red, circular candy features a peppermint flavor and a distinct hook shape designed for hanging on tree branches.
What is a candy cane?
So that we can find smaller items in them on Christmas day.
Why do we hang stockings?
During medieval Christmastime, a peasant was often elected to this chaotic, mock-royal title to preside over drinking, gambling, and societal role-reversal.
What is the Lord of Misrule?
This 1984 synth-pop track by Wham! describes a protagonist who gave away his heart, only for it to be returned the very next day.
What is "Last Christmas"?
Jim Carrey dons green makeup and a prosthetic sneer in this 2000 live-action adaptation of a classic Dr. Seuss book.
What is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"?
This chocolate sponge cake is rolled, frosted, and decorated to look exactly like a wooden log ready for the fireplace.
What is a yule log?
For the surprise; there's no better feeling than getting a gift every day of December.
Why do we open advent calendars?
Held in mid-December, this ancient Roman agricultural festival featured intense feasting, gift-giving, and the co-opting of its dates by the early Christian Church.
What is Saturnalia?
Thurl Ravenscroft provided the booming, uncredited bass vocals for this track from a 1966 animated Dr. Seuss TV special.
What is "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"?
Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who inadvertently causes Santa Claus to fall from his roof and finds himself legally bound to take his place.
What is "The Santa Clause"?
This Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration features a feast consisting entirely of various seafood dishes, typically totaling this specific lucky number.
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
It brings us comfort at an affordable price.
Why do we bake cookies?
In December 1826, future Confederate President Jefferson Davis was involved in a massive, alcohol-fueled riot at this military academy over a batch of illicit holiday eggnog.
What is West Point?
This 1977 televised duet paired an aging Bing Crosby with a glam-rock icon to mash up a traditional carol with "The Little Drummer Boy."
What is "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" (by Bing Crosby and David Bowie)?
This 1992 musical adaptation of a Charles Dickens classic stars Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge alongside Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
What is The Muppet Christmas Carol?
This Puerto Rican holiday beverage is similar to eggnog but is distinctively made with cream of coconut, condensed milk, and white rum.
What is Coquito?