Holiday Traditions
These decorative items are traditionally hung by a fireplace and filled rather than worn.
What are stockings?
This 1990 holiday film centers on a child accidentally separated from his family.
What is Home Alone?
This form of frozen precipitation falls as crystals rather than pellets.
What is snow?
This carol was originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh.”
What is “Jingle Bells”?
This Jewish winter holiday commemorates a miracle involving oil.
What is Hanukkah?
This Christmas plant is both an evergreen and a parasite.
What is mistletoe?
This actor portrays multiple roles in the animated film The Polar Express.
Who is Tom Hanks?
This winter hazard occurs when liquid precipitation freezes on contact.
What is freezing rain?
This song opens with a reference to chestnuts and an open fire.
What is “The Christmas Song”?
This holiday created in the 1960s celebrates African heritage and unity.
What is Kwanzaa?
In Germany, a December 6 tradition features this saint who rewards good children, separate from Christmas Day.
Who is St. Nicholas (Nikolaustag)?
This classic film follows George Bailey as he’s shown an alternate reality.
What is It’s a Wonderful Life?
This type of frozen precipitation is made of small ice pellets.
What is sleet?
This Mariah Carey hit has become one of the most-played holiday songs of all time.
What is “All I Want for Christmas Is You”?
Southerners traditionally eat these legumes on New Year’s Day for luck, often served with greens and cornbread.
What are black-eyed peas?
This candle on a Hanukkah menorah is used to light the others.
What is the shamash?
In A Christmas Story, Ralphie desperately wants this specific toy.
What is a Red Ryder BB gun?
This winter storm is defined by strong winds and very low visibility.
What is a blizzard?
This ballet by Tchaikovsky is strongly associated with the holiday season.
What is The Nutcracker?
In Spain, people traditionally eat twelve of these—one for each stroke of midnight—on New Year’s Eve.
What are grapes?
This December celebration honoring a Roman god influenced modern traditions such as feasting, gift-giving, and role reversals.
What is Saturnalia?
This Rankin/Bass special features a dentist elf and a prospector, and is narrated by a snowman.
What is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
This astronomical event marks the shortest day of the year.
What is the winter solstice?
This holiday song was banned by the BBC in 1952 due to its supposed commercialism.
What is “White Christmas”?
This Central European festival features Krampus, a horned figure who punishes misbehaving children.
What is Krampusnacht?