Christmas Symbols
Originating with the Advent Feast, this decoration featuring candles and evergreen boughs was first used in 16th Century Germany.
The original term from which Christmas is derived.
What is Christes Maesse - Christ's Mass?
The names of the three Wise Men or Magi.
Who are Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar?
The 12 Days of Christmas symbolize many aspects of Christian belief for each day leading up to this feast celebration which ends the Christmas Holiday on January 6.
What is Epiphany?
Written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823, this poem gave life to the first full-bodied myth of Santa Claus.
What is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas?
Medieval Paradise Plays give us the first concept of green trees decorated with red apples to represent what from the story of Adam and Eve?
What is the Tree of Knowledge?
Advent celebrates the previous four weeks leading up to Christmas, lighting a candle on which day of each week?
What is Sunday?
Robert L May invented this character in a Christmas booklet for Montgomery Ward in 1939.
Who is Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer?
With lyrics by Joseph Mohr and music by Hans Xaver Gruber, Silent Night was composed in absence of organ music for what original musical arrangement?
What is guitar and 2 voices?
Written by Charles Dickens in 6 weeks before Christmas of 1843, this story revitalized the celebration of Christmas, taking it from a minor to a major cultural holiday.
What is A Christmas Carol?
The first species of "Christmas tree" decorated at Windsor castle.
What is a yew tree?
This feast, often celebrated on January 6th, celebrates the visit of the Magi and their gifts to Jesus.
What is Epiphany?
Popularized through advertising by Coca Cola in the 1930s, Thomas Nast first gave this character his signature look in illustrations for Harper's Weekly in the 1870s.
Who is Santa Claus?
What is I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day?
This story was written based on the author's own dislike for Christmas commercialism.
What is Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
Adorned with candles, fruits, nuts, and paper ornaments, these indoor decorations from 1500s Germany are the closest relative to modern Christmas trees.
What is a Tannenbaum?
Before turkey or goose, early Christians in Rome likely feasted on what meat for Christmas Day?
What is lamb?
The first to prophecy of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Who is Isaiah?
The oldest Christmas carol still sung today, this song was originally composed in the 8th - 9th century.
What is O Come O Come Emmanuel?
This cartoon published in 1965 revolutionized Christmas in America, bring us back to the humble, religious, and simpler celebration of the holiday.
What is A Charlie Brown Christmas?
The epitome of modern Christmas symbols, Santa Claus was brought to America by Dutch settlers in the 1700s. What historical figure is his legend based on?
Who is St Nicholas of Myra?
Free to celebrate holidays publicly due to the 313 AD Edict of Milan, the first recorded Christmas celebration took place in what year?
What is 336 AD?
This Angel appeared to Virgin Mary informing her of her motherhood to the Savior.
Who is Gabriel?
Originally written as music for an Easter celebration, this music is performed annually for Christmas worldwide.
What is Handel's Messiah?
There is a great debate over whether these movies should be considered Christmas movies or not.
What is The Nightmare Before Christmas and Die Hard?