Around the World
Switzerland has participated in this number of World Wars
What is zero? Switzerland is the country with the oldest policy of neutrality in terms of armed global wars. They are not alone. Austria, Ireland, and Costa Rica have similar policies
These root vegetables are often confused with yams
What are sweet potatoes? Sweet potatoes are indigenous to North America, and yams come from Africa. Did you know that sweet potatoes were originally white or yellow on the inside? They have been hybridized to give them their orange color.
Winter begins in this month in the northern hemisphere.
What is December? In the northern hemisphere, the first day of winter is known as the winter solstice. It’s the shortest day of the year
The 2022 Winter Olympics are being held in this city.
What is Beijing? Did you know the Winter Olympics have never been held in the southern hemisphere?
This holiday falls on February 14
What is Valentine’s Day? Christmas is the most popular day for sending cards, with Valentine’s Day being the runner-up
The longest street in the world is claimed by this country that shares a border with the United States.
What is Canada? The street is Yonge Street, located in Toronto. It’s 1,178 miles long and runs from Lake Shore in Toronto to Rainy River, which is on the Ontario/Minnesota border
This bright orange root vegetable is said to be good for the eyes
What is carrot? It contains carotene and vitamins A and K
Winter ends in this month in the northern hemisphere.
What is March? After the first of the year, you’ll begin to notice the days grow longer as we head toward spring
The five rings on the Olympic flag represent this
What is participating continents? The intersecting circles represent friendship
February 1 honors this form of chocolate that is said to be the healthiest type of chocolate.
What is dark? Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and packed with nutrients.
) This continent in the southern hemisphere is the only continent in the world with no active volcanic activity
What is Australia? Even though Australia has roughly 150 volcanoes, they are all categorized as dormant or extinct. None have erupted in the last 4,000 to 5,000 years.
These starchy root vegetables can be fried, boiled, roasted, baked, and mashed
What are potatoes? Once cooked and cooled, potatoes are a resistant starch. They pass through the digestive tract without digesting, which feeds the gut with beneficial bacteria
This is the coldest state in the United States
What is Alaska? Parts of Alaska reside in the Arctic Circle. The gravel Dalton Highway, 80 miles northwest of Fairbanks, is Alaska’s only road into the Arctic Circle
This is the only country to have won a gold medal at every Winter Olympics
What is the United States? Great Britain has won only one gold medal at the Winter Games.
On this holiday, which takes place every year on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil makes an appearance.
What is Groundhog Day? If he sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of winter; so most everyone is rooting for a cloudy day
At its closest point, Alaska is just three miles from this country.
What is Russia? The Bering Strait separates two islands, one belonging to each country
Vidalia is one of the sweetest and mildest varieties of this root vegetable
What is onion? Many Vidalia onions are grown in Georgia and are low in sulfur
These are the three coldest months of the year in the southern hemisphere.
What are June, July, and August? Meteorologists often define those three months as winter.
This Scandinavian country has won the most gold medals during all the Winter Olympics
What is Norway? Before 2022’s Winter Games, it had won 329 medals, with the United States coming in second place with 282. The Norwegians have won 107 of the medals for cross-country skiing
Whether you prefer a thin crust or the deep-dish version of this dish, it gets a national holiday on February 9.
What is pizza? If you’re tired of the traditional tomato sauce and cheese pizza, you might try a barbecue chicken pizza or a pesto pizza.
New Zealanders have more of this pet per capita than any country in the world
What is cat? One village tried to ban cat ownership because they prey on indigenous wildlife.
These little, red-skinned, crunchy jewels are often sliced thin and added to salads
What are radishes? They contain fiber as well as vitamin C.
Couples are twice as likely to split up between the year-end holidays of Christmas and New Year’s and this romantic holiday in February
What is Valentine’s Day? It is believed the stress of the holidays and low energy during winter causes moodiness that leads to this tendency
These four-legged mammals aided humans in a demonstration sledding event at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York
What are dogs? The demonstration event was dog sledding. Canada took the gold medal in the event.
We honor these domesticated animals, which we often regard as family members, on February 20.
What are pets? It’s National Love a Pet Day, but you’re encouraged to love them the other 364 days of the year as well