Santa Claus
A Bunch of Birds
Gifts
Tasty Inventions
December History
200
This German name for Santa is used in the movie “Miracle on 34th Street.”
What is Kris Kringle?
From the German “Christkindl”, German children believe that an angel like figure who embodies the spirit of Christmas delivers presents. The name has since stuck to Santa himself.
200
Term for multiple owls.
What is a Parliament of Owls?
200
This giggling red monster was the hit of the holidays as the best-selling Christmas toy of 1996.
What is Tickle Me Elmo?
200
This freeze-dried sweet treat was invented in the late 1970s, but despite its name, it has probably never been eaten in space.
What is astronaut ice cream?
Although it was claimed that astronauts aboard Apollo 7 snacked on the dessert, experts and astronauts both say it was never taken to space due to its crumbly nature.
200
This historic attack took place on December 7th, 1941.
What is Pearl Harbor?
400
The Christian Saint Nicholas originally hails from the 3rd century in this country.
What is Turkey?
According to legend, St. Nicholas saved three sisters from poverty by throwing them gifts of gold in sacks over their wall in secret. He went on to be considered the patron saint of children, sailors, brewers, and repentant thieves.
400
Term for multiple ravens.
What is a Conspiracy of Ravens?
400
Holiday gifts of books are very common on this Nordic island nation.
What is Iceland?
Jólabókaflóð (Jolabokaflod) – literally "the Christmas book flood" – is a popular tradition in which books are given as gifts on Christmas Eve. It’s reckoned that every Icelander receives at least one book for Christmas every year.
This enduring love of books is great news for Iceland’s 120 publishing houses who say that 80% of all book sales take place in the two months before Christmas. Iceland is said to produce more books per capita than any other nation in the world.
400
This Vermont-based ice creamery opened its doors in 1978 and has featured flavors like Mint Oreo and Heath Bar Crunch.
What is Ben & Jerry’s?
They opened the business in a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont, and quickly gained a following due to their unusual flavors.
400
These two US presidents died in December.
Who are George Washington and Harry S Truman?
December 14, 1799 at his home in Virginia, and December 26, 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri
600
Our vision of Santa Claus comes largely from this 1822 poem by Clement Clarke Moore.
What is “Twas the Night Before Christmas?”
This poem helped popularize now-familiar image of a Santa Claus who flew from house to house on Christmas Eve in “a miniature sleigh” led by eight flying reindeer to leave presents for deserving children. A cartoon created by Thomas Nast in 1881 was the first to show him in a red suit, white beard, and taking up residence in the North Pole.
600
Term for multiple crows.
What is a Murder of Crows?
600
One in three men wait until this day to do their Christmas shopping.
600
In 1970, this packaged food was invented and promised to help busy cooks turn a pound of ground beef into a hearty meal.
What is Hamburger Helper?
In 2013, the brand renamed itself Helper. It also offers chicken and tuna options.
600
On December 5th, 1933 FDR announced the Repeal of This: Cheers!
What is Prohibition?
800
Children stop “believing” in Santa at around this age on average.
What is the age of 8?
The early results in the survey of 1,200 reveal the average age children stop believing in Santa Claus is eight. A total of 72 per cent of parents are quite happy telling their children about Santa and playing along with the myth, with the rest choosing not to.
800
Term for multiple geese.
What is a Gaggle of Geese?
800
Popping tubes used in the U.K. to hold gifts and small treats go by this explosive name.
What are Christmas Crackers?
800
This slow cooker was invented in 1971 and marketed as a time-saving cooking device for busy working women.
What is the Crock-Pot?
The Crock-Pot’s design was based on Irving Naxon’s Beanery, a device he invented to slowly cook a bean stew.
800
Each December 17, celebrations in Ohio & North Carolina commemorate a 1903 accomplishment by this pair.
Who are the Wright Brothers?
1000
While we put out milk and cookies for Santa, people in Sweden put out this beverage instead.
What is coffee?
The idea is that it will help keep him awake for the night! Some Swedish children instead believe that gnomes deliver presents, so they leave out porridge with a large pat of butter in it. In Ireland, kids might leave out mince pies and pints of Guinness! English families leave out a glass of Sherry, and Australians also leave out a glass of beer!
1000
Term for multiple penguins?
What is a Huddle or Waddle of Penguins? (on land)
Or
What is a Raft of Penguins? (on water)
1000
In the popular Twelve Days of Christmas song, this many birds are given to the lucky (or unfortunate) lady.
What are 184?
Day 1 – a partridge in a pear tree (1 bird)
Day 2 – 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (3 birds)
Day 3 – 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (6 birds)
Day 4 – 4 colly (or calling birds), 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (10 birds)
Day 5 – 10 birds again
Day 6 – 6 geese-a-laying, 4 colly birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (16 birds)
Day 7 – 7 swans-a-swimming, 6 geese-a-laying, 4 colly birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (23 birds)
Day 8 – 23 birds
Day 9 – 23 birds
Day 10 – 23 birds
Day 11 – 23 birds
Day 12 – 23 birds
Add all the days together and you get 184 birds!
1000
Although it was invented in 1959, this powdered, fruit-flavored drink mix didn’t really take off until it was chosen to accompany John Glenn to space on his 1962 Mercury flight.
What is Tang?
Advertisements for Tang in the 1960s proudly declared it was “Chosen for the Gemini Astronauts.”
1000
In December 1776 Washington's surprise attack on this now-N.J. capital did not lose a single man & captured 900-plus Hessians and British.
What is Trenton?