pop culture
What drink is served to the children on board the Polar Express?
hot chocolate
stemming from an old tradition- what did Christians/Catholics set in their window to signal to people passing by that the residents of the house were Christian?
candles.
During Christmastime, Irish Catholics would light a candle in the window and leave the door unlocked, allowing priests to slip into their home safely to say Mass. When the British questioned the Irish about the candles, they said that it was a way to welcome Joseph, Mary, and the Baby Jesus during Christmas time. Carrying on into colonial times the candle represented hospitality and safe passage from neighbor to neighbor
what was John the Baptist almost named?
Zechariah, after his father
which popular Grimms' fairytale inspired the creation of gingerbread houses as a Christmas tradition?
The tradition of decorated gingerbread houses began in Germany in the early 1800s, supposedly popularized after the not-so-Christmassy fairytale of Hansel and Gretel where the Witches house is described as " built of bread roofed with cakes and he window was of transparent sugar" German bakers were inspired to create houses from spiced honey biscuits.
name three qualifications for a mall santa
white beard, 200 plus pounds, booming voice, cheery disposition (good with kids), gentle eyes
What is the name of the book that “The Nutcracker” is based on?
A. March of the Wooden Soldiers
B. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
C. Drosselmeyer’s Gift
D. The Nutcracker and Clara
B. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
The modern santa clause is mainly a mix between what two figures
Saint Nicholas (Dutch) Father Christmas ( would also accept Odin)
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies 3 things, what three are there?
therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: the maiden is with child and she will bear a son, and will call his name Immanuel. By the time he learns to reject the bad and choose the good, he will be eating curds and honey.
Before becoming tied up with Christmas what was Yule?
A pagan midwinter festival
It was celebrated by Germanic peoples and was connected to Norse mythology. With Odin being the Yule Father who led the Wild Hunt across the sky. Yuletide is about two months long and falls roughly mid-November to early January. In the middle of Yuletide is Yule.
Bethel, Maine holds the record for tallest snowman (snowwoman) built in 2008. How tall was this snowwoman? You are allowed a 20 feet buffer on either side
122ft tall!
What was the first Christmas carol broadcast from space?
Jingle Bells” was played on December 16, 1965, during NASA’s Gemini 6A space flight. Astronauts played it on harmonica and backed by miniature sleigh bells. Those instruments are now on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
What two things made red and green popular Christmas colors?
Holly and Coca-Cola. While the tradition of red and green holly dates back to Roman winter solstice celebrations, the Coca-Cola company also played a role. The soda makers popularized the plump and jolly red-suit-wearing Santa in an ad in 1931, Arielle Eckstut, co-author of Secret Language of Color, told NPR.
Red is the blood of Jesus Christ, and green is the evergreen tree, representing eternal life as it stays this hue throughout the winter. These two colors also represent the leaves and holly berries embodying the crown of thorns on Jesus' head on the cross.
what month in the Hebrew calendar year did Gabriel appear to Mary
In the sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
what decade did Coca Cola start their ad campain featuring Santa as a jolly white bearded man in a red suit?
1920
Which southern state is the fastest to take down their Christmas tree at 2.1 weeks after Christmas, which is around January 8th.
North Carolinians
During the Christmas season, which popular toy brand sells 28 sets every second?
lego
The French word " Noel" is often used around Christmas, but what was its original meaning in Latin?
Birth
How many times does an angel of the Lord appear to deliver news/instruct in the Christmas story (Luke 1-2/Matthew 1-2)
5 times
angel of the lord to zecheriah
gabriel to mary
angel of lord to joseph
angel of the Lord telling them to flee
angel of the Lord telling them to return
which monarch popularized gingerbread men as gifts to suitors and guests for them to " eat their likeness"
queen Elizabeth
What country is the Poinsettia, with its red and green foliage, native to?
Mexico
It derives its English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US minister to Mexico. He introduced the plant to the US in 1825.
What's the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time?
In 2018, The Grinch overthrew Home Alone, grossing nearly $513 million.
What was Tinsel first made of?
In Germany back in 1610, and it was originally made from hammered silver.
Emmanuel means God with Us, name three other names of God and their meanings
which is the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday was in 1836.
Alabama
What animal parts to represent leaves were the first artificial Christmas trees made from?
Goose feathers painted green
These feather trees were first made in Germany during the 19th century. Another form of artificial Christmas trees were wooden pyramids painted green and lit by candles.