Carols & Carolers
In her hit, this diva sings, "I don't want a lot for Christmas, I won't even wish for snow."
Who is: Mariah Carey
A central part of this eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights entails the lighting of a menorah each night.
What is: Hanukkah
An estimated 46 million are purchased annually for the Thanksgiving holiday.
What are: Turkeys
This 1997 fad allows kids to be parents to a digital pet. You can still find these in stores today!
What are: Tamagotchis
These animals are known as caribou in North America.
What are: Reindeer
"You will get that sentimental feeling when you hear," Brenda Lee singing this holiday classic featured in the movie, Home Alone.
What is: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
The shortest day of the year, Scandinavians were the first to celebrate the returning of the light with fires, food, and offerings to nature.
What is: The Winter Solstice
The earliest recipe for this UK tradition comes from ancient Rome and lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins, mixed into barley mash. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added.
What is: fruit cake
Arguably the most parodied of the toy fads, this battery-operated craze of 1996 is responsible for saving a near-bankrupt Children's Television Workshop.
What is: Tickle Me Elmo
In Gretchen Wilson's carol, she instructs Santa on how to get the enormous animal in the house: "He won't have to use, A dirty chimney flue, Just bring him through the front door, That's the easy thing to do."
What is: A hippopotamus
"Tis the season to be jolly" and sing this holiday classic, "Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!"
What is: Deck the Halls
The country where Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th. She is the patron saint of this country.
What is: Mexico
This iconic holiday treat was first created in Germany in 1670. First editions were straight, but once candy makers added a crook to the top of each stick, the design stuck.
What are: Candy Canes
This revolutionary gaming device was gifted to many lucky kids in 1989, including Sarah! Top games included Pokémon, Tetris, and Super Mario.
What is: Nintendo Game Boy
In Australia, these powerful animals, not reindeer, pull Santa's sleigh. With the ability to hit 35 mph and leap 25 feet in the air, they would get the job done well.
What are: Kangaroos
Traditionally sticking to themes of surfing and girls, this iconic band dropped Little Saint Nick in 1963, topping out at number 3 on the Billboard charts.
Who were: The Beach Boys
This week-long holiday was created in 1966 to honor African-American heritage. Its name comes from a Swahili phrase meaning to “first fruits.”
What is: Kwanzaa
These come from deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus Castanea, in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Traditional recipes call for roasting first.
What are: Chestnuts
What are: Fidget Spinners
In the movie Elf, Buddy get attacked by this animal prompting the memorable line, "I just wanted a hug!"
What is: A racoon
Santa's reindeer cannot contend with the hills of Italy and requires help from this alternative, the topic of a 1960 Lou Monte carol.
Who was: Dominick the Donkey
This day after Christmas tradition dates back to the rule of Queen Victoria and was created to give servants and workers a day off, and a gift.
What is: Boxing Day
Also known as potato pancakes, this traditional Hanukkah food is often served alongside applesauce or sour cream.
What are: Latkes
This famous doll created pandemonium in 1983, including riots that led to many hospitalizations across the country.
What are: Cabbage Patch Kids
These birds form a strongly bonded pair, known for their life-long relationships to each other, and making them perfect for 'the second day of Christmas.'
What are: Turtle Doves