North American Neighbors (USA & Canada)
In the U.S., the "holiday shopping season" typically begins as early as this month.
What is November?
American children traditionally leave these two items out for Santa Claus.
What are milk and cookies?
Because it is in the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa celebrates Christmas during this season.
What is Summer?
In Japan, Christmas is treated less like a religious holiday and more like this romantic Western holiday.
What is Valentine's Day?
This term refers to the delay or "lag" in data transfer.
What is Latency?
Language & Tradition
The name of the Canadian feast "Réveillon" comes from the French word réveil, which translates to this action—fitting for a meal that happens after midnight.
What is "Waking up" (or Awakening)?
This Canadian province is known for a massive feast called Réveillon.
What is Quebec?
Thanks to a 1970s marketing campaign, this fast-food brand is the traditional Christmas dinner in Japan.
What is KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)?
Instead of snow, South Africans are likely to celebrate Christmas day at this sandy location.
What is the beach?
Because the holiday is for couples, people often go out to view these light displays.
What are illuminations?
This word describes the spread of people from their original homeland.
What is Diaspora?
In Newfoundland, this tradition involves neighbors dressing in disguises and playing music.
What is Mummering?
This traditional meat pie is the centerpiece of the Quebec Réveillon feast.
What is Tourtière?
Alongside fir trees, South African homes are decorated with these.
What are blooming native flowers?
Ordering a "Party Barrel" from KFC often requires doing this weeks in advance.
What is making a reservation?
This tech term is a digital ledger often associated with cryptocurrency.
What is Blockchain?
While regional variations exist, this specific "weather type" remains the idealized standard in the U.S.
What is a White Christmas?
To combat the heat, South Africans often serve this dessert alongside their roast beef.
What is Malva pudding (or Trifle)?
This musical event often happens by candlelight leading up to the holiday.
What is Caroling?
Christmas in Japan is largely considered this type of holiday, meaning "not religious."
What is secular?
This is the process by which a minority group comes to resemble the dominant group's culture.
What is Assimilation?
Canadian culture blends traditions from Indigenous peoples and these two European nations.
What are France and Britain?
South Africans often swap the traditional roast for a "braai," which is another word for this.
What is a barbecue?
South African decorations are described as blending the solemnity of the occasion with the warmth of this time of day.
What is evening?
This demographic (group of people) is relatively small in Japan, which influences how the holiday is celebrated.
Who are Christians?
This holiday vocabulary word refers to the shortest or longest days of the year.
What is Solstice?