Silver Bells,
Silver Screen
Silver Screen
What Else is Going on?
Historic Holidays
Sounds of the Season
Hot Damn, it's Christmas!
100
This prolific director released several iconic seasonal films set in Chicagoland such as Home Alone, Home Alone 2, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
Who is John Hughes?
100
Occurring over the course of a week every year in December, the title of this Jewish holiday roughly translates to "festival of lights."
What is Hanukkah?
100
This holy figure from modern day Turkey is considered by Catholics to be the patron saint of the falsely accused, broadcasters, sailors, pawnbrokers, and repentant thieves.
Who is St. Nicholas?
100
In recent years, modern audiences have had a cold reception to this 1949 classic holiday standard due to doubts about the track's lyrical wholesomeness.
What is Baby, it's Cold Outside?
100
In December of 2015, 320 surfers broke the world record for the largest surf session off the coast of this country down under the equator.
What is Australia?
200
In the 2003 release Elf, Santa's sleigh is stuck in Central Park on Christmas Eve due to a lack of this intangible resource.
What is Christmas Spirit?
200
Originating in California in the 1960s, this weeklong holiday tradition in December celebrates the heritage, lived experiences, and unity of the African diaspora.
What is Kwanzaa?
200
Austrians celebrate this half-demon figure with a festival every year. Embodying their role as Santa's antithesis, festival goers dress up as the beast and roam the streets, searching for misbehaving children to punish.
Who is Krampus?
200
You know the most famous of all the reindeer, but his eight coworkers are often overlooked.
Who are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen?
200
This country on the African continent celebrates Christmas with a mid-day braai, or a barbeque consisting of boerewors and lamb.
What is South Africa?
300
In the 1964 release Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph meets an unlikely friend named Hermey, one of Santa's elves that aspires to take up this profession instead of making toys.
What is a dentist?
300
Muslims in the Northern Hemisphere don't complain when this holy month falls in December. Traditions include fasting while the sun is up, charity, and study of scripture.
What is Ramadan?
300
This reformer famously decorated an indoor evergreen tree with candles after being inspired by stars shining through the forest.
Who is Martin Luther?
300
In the 1966 track You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, the Grinch is described to have a head full of spiders and a soul that contains this pungent item.
What is garlic?
300
Instead of eggnog to chill out, this Latin country on the Pacific Coast chooses to prepare cola de mono, consiting of milk, coffee, spices, and most importantly, alcohol.
What is Chile?
400
Thanks to Gus Polinski and this traveling polka band, Kevin's mother hitches a ride to Chicago in a rental truck and arrives home to Kevin on Christmas day in the 1990 release Home Alone.
Who are the Kenosha Kickers?
400
Instead of Santa, Latin American boys and girls that have been good await these nobles to place toys and treats in their shoes every year on the eve of January 6th.
Who are Los Reyes Magos (the Three Wise Men)?
400
This 17th century English leader enforced bans on public Christmas and Easter celebrations, causing riots in Kent, Britain.
Who is Oliver Cromwell?
400
This mid-century jazz musician, a native of San Francisco, had his music broadcast to millions of homes when his tracks were featured in the Peanuts 1965 special A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Who is Vince Guaraldi?
400
This December-flowering pohutukawa is largely considered the national symbol of the Christmas season in this island nation in the Pacific Ocean.
What is New Zealand?
500
In the 1983 release A Christmas Story, Ralphie unwraps a hideous bunny costume on Christmas morning from this well-intentioned relative.
Who is Aunt Clara?
500
In Japan, families celebrate Christmas by bringing home a meal from this fast food restaurant. Reservations are so competitive, people order months in advance.
What is Kentucky Fried Chicken?
500
This fruit, once considered a luxurious gift in Victorian England, has become a traditional American stocking stuffer.
What is an orange?
500
When counting cumulatively, the singer received this many gifts from their "true love" in the seasonal standard "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
What is 364?
500
This South American country's Christmas Dinner plans include cold salads, ham, and a "chester": a chicken with particularly large breasts and thighs. Fala serio, that sounds good!
What is Brazil?