Born this Month
Christmas Questions
Healthy Holiday Eating
12 Days of Christmas
Historic Gifts
100
This birthday boy is known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history.
Robert William "Bob" Barker, born December 12, 1923.
100
What are the THREE traditional colors of Christmas?
The traditional three colors of Christmas are green, red, and gold. Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth; red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as wealth and royalty.
100
Turkey, rich in an amino acid called tryptophan, causes post-meal drowsiness. True or False?
False. It's true that tryptophan in turkey (and chicken) is used to make serotonin, a brain chemical that facilitates sleep and improves mood. But to achieve its relaxing effects, tryptophan would have to be consumed alone and on an empty stomach.
100
"On the 3rd day of Christmas, what new item did my true love send me?" Geese French Hens Golden Rings Swans
3 French Hens
100
A gift to the United States from France in 1886, it is also called the "New Colossus” but we call her this.
The Statue of Liberty
200
A pioneering nurse who founded the American Red Cross. She was a hospital nurse in the American Civil War, a teacher, and patent clerk.
Clarissa "Clara" Harlowe Barton, December 25, 1821 – April 12, 1912
200
What is "figgy pudding" and what does it have to do with Christmas?
Recipes might include milk, bread crumbs, apples, and figs -- spiced with cinnamon, cloves, ginger and orange. Figgy Pudding's sweet ingredients were a luxury in centuries past.
200
Condiments add flavour to holiday meals. Which one is the best source of antioxidants? a) Grainy mustard b) Cranberry sauce c) Horseradish d) Applesauce
b. Cranberry sauce rules thanks to its impressive content of anthocyanins, potent antioxidants thought to guard against urinary tract infections, gum disease, ulcers and, possibly, heart disease.
200
"On the 5th day of Christmas, what new item did my true love send to me?" Partridge Maids Golden Rings Horses
5 Golden Rings
200
This a 69.42 carat pear-shaped diamond was a gift from Richard Burton for his then-wife in 1969. What was her name?
Elizabeth Taylor. When Taylor auctioned off the bauble in 1978, it sold for $5 million. She used the proceeds to buy a hospital in Botswana. “They need one badly and I certainly don’t need another ring,” Liz said.
300
He was an American statesman and academic who served as the 28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921.
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924)
300
What is the origin of the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe?
In pre-Christian Europe, mistletoe was thought to represent male essence -- and thus could bring romance, fertility, and vitality. Mistletoe was considered an aphrodisiac, and a useful treatment for barrenness in animals, as well as an antidote to poison.
300
Your holiday meal leftovers can be safely refrigerated for: a) 1 week b) 3 days c) 5 days d) 2 weeks
b) To ensure safeness and best quality, refrigerated leftovers such as turkey, potatoes, vegetables and stuffing should be consumed within three to four days. (Store gravy for one to two days.) Reheat leftover turkey to a temperature of at least 74°C (165°F) and gravy and soup to a rolling boil.
300
"On the 8th day of Christmas, what new item did my true love send to me?" Milking Maids Singing Sparrows Drummers Drumming Calling Birds
8 Maids a Milking
300
The first was created for Tsar Alexander III, who wanted to give his wife an extra-special Easter egg in 1885. The bauble was such a hit that the Tsar did it every year afterward.
Imperial Faberge egg. When Alexander III died, his son continued the tradition and commissioned the pricey trinkets for his mother and his wife.
400
He was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars. He died at his last stand in Montana in 1876.
George Armstrong Custer, December 5, 1839 – June 25, 1876
400
What is a sugar plum?
A sugar plum is not a plum. Instead, it is a piece of candy made from dry fruits and in a round or oval shape. In older times, "plum" referred to any kind of dried fruit (hence, Little Jack Horner stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum from his Christmas pie).
400
The average person gains five pounds during the holiday season? True or False?
False. In truth, holiday weight gain is minimal. Research has revealed that healthy-weight individuals gain only one pound over the holidays. People who are overweight, on the other hand, can gain five pounds or more.
400
"On the 11th day of Christmas, what new item did my true love send to me?" Jingle Bells Pipers Piping Red Bells Oyster Dressing
11 Pipes Piping
400
Some gifts seem like gifts, but are in fact, traps. That was the case during the Trojan War when the Greeks built a one of these and filled it with Greek warriors before putting it in front of the gates.
A Horse. It was customary in ancient times for a defeated general to surrender his horse, so the symbolic gift of the horse seemed to Trojans to be a notice of surrender from the Greeks. The trap worked and the Trojans were defeated because of one of the most cunning military ploys in history.
500
An American director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning more than four decades, his films have spanned many themes and genres, from Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to Schindler's List and Jurassic Park.
Steven Allan Spielberg, born December 18, 1946
500
What is a “Yule Log” and why are yule logs burned or eaten at Christmas time?
Burning the Yule Log was said to bring both prosperity and protection from evil. By keeping a remnant of the log to light the following year's log, the protection could last the entire year. The tradition of burning a Yule Log has died out in modern times as large fireplaces with open hearths became less common. However, the Yule Log itself has managed to survive into the 20th century and beyond, transmuted into a large rectangular yellow cake (Buche de Noel)
500
Which homemade potato dish is the healthiest choice. a. Mashed potatoes b. Mashed sweet potatoes c. Candied sweet potatoes
A. Homemade Mashed Potatoes, 110 calories Homemade Mashed Sweet Potatoes, 200 calories Candied Sweet Potatoes, 225 calories
500
About how much would it cost to send your true love these gifts on the 12 days of Christmas: a. $100-200 b. $300-400 c. $5,000-7,000 d. $30,000-40,000
The 2017 PNC Christmas Price Index, which measures the cost of purchasing all the gifts mentioned in the “12 Days of Christmas” song, says that the holiday extravaganza would cost $34,363 this year, an increase of just 0.7 percent from last year.
500
To Whom was this famous gift presented in 1864? "I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton.”
After General William T. Sherman captured Atlanta in September 1864, Sherman and some of his men disappeared for about six weeks; the White House received no communication from them and President Lincoln feared the worst. Then, on December 22, Sherman sent Lincoln a telegraph with the message.
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