Christmas
1. What is the name of the period leading up to Christmas in many Christian traditions?
A. Advent
B. Epiphany
C. Lent
D. Yuletide
A. Advent
This black-and-white bird from New Zealand is the only parrot known to be flightless.
What is the kiwi
This country’s flag features a red circle representing the rising sun on a white field.
What is Japan?
This bright orange root vegetable was originally purple before Dutch growers bred the modern color in the 17th century.
What is the carrot?
This Japanese dish of vinegared rice combined with seafood or vegetables gets its name from a word meaning “sour.”
What is sushi?
2. In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, what is given on the 5th day?
A. Five drumming drummers
B. Five calling birds
C. Five golden rings
D. Five geese a-laying
C. Five golden rings
The only mammal capable of sustained flight, this creature navigates using echolocation.
What is a bat?
This African nation’s flag has a golden star centered on red, yellow, and green stripes and is often associated with Pan-African symbolism.
What is Cameroon?
Often mistaken for a vegetable, this creamy-textured fruit is botanically a berry and grows on trees native to Mexico.
What is the avocado?
A staple of Middle Eastern cuisine, this dip is made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic.
What is hummus?
3. Which well-known reindeer is famous for having a red nose?
A. Donner
B. Blitz
C. Vixen
D. Rudolph
D. Rudolph
This African mammal has the largest land-animal brain and communicates partly through low-frequency rumbles humans can’t hear.
What is the elephant?
Often called the “Union Flag” when flown at sea, this flag combines the crosses of three patron saints.
What is the Union Jack (flag of the United Kingdom)?
This spiky tropical fruit contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein and can tenderize meat.
What is the pineapple?
This fiery Korean side dish is created through lactic fermentation, most commonly using napa cabbage and radish.
What is kimchi?
4. What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding in the UK?
A. A gold coin
B. A button
C. A bean
D. A silver coin
D. A silver coin
This deep-sea predator, known for its bioluminescent lure, inspired the design of horrifying creatures in many films.
What is the anglerfish?
This South American country’s flag includes an eight-rayed sun known as the “Sun of May,” symbolizing independence and freedom.
What is Uruguay?
This leafy green, a staple in Mediterranean cuisine, is one of the oldest known cultivated plants and was once used as a medicinal herb in ancient Greece.
What is spinach?
This Italian cheese, aged for at least 12 months, must be produced in specific provinces like Parma and Reggio Emilia to carry its protected name.
What is Parmigiano-Reggiano?
5. Where does the modern tradition of hanging stockings at Christmas originate from?
A. A medieval German folktale
B. A story about St. Nicholas helping a poor family
C. A Victorian-era English custom
D. A Scandinavian winter ritual
B. A story about St. Nicholas helping a poor family
This reptile can reproduce through parthenogenesis, allowing females to produce offspring without males—a rare ability among vertebrates.
What is the Komodo dragon?
This Asian country is the only one with a non-rectangular national flag, shaped as two stacked triangles.
What is Nepal?
Named for its resemblance to a medieval weapon, this Southeast Asian fruit is famous for its strong odor and spiky shell.
What is the durian?
This Vietnamese soup features rice noodles, herbs, and broth—often beef or chicken—and is considered a national dish.
What is pho?