Bites & Spirits
This red-and-white candy is shaped like a shepherd’s staff and commonly hung on Christmas trees.
What is a candy cane?
In the U.S., Santa Claus is said to live at this icy location.
What is the North Pole?
This Dr. Seuss character is green, grumpy, and tries to steal Christmas from the Whos.
Who is The Grinch?
This decorative accessory is often tied around a gift to hold wrapping paper in place.
What is a ribbon?
According to the Gospels, Jesus was born in this town.
What is Bethlehem?
This warm, spiced drink is traditionally served in a punch bowl at many U.S. holiday parties.
What is eggnog?
In Mexico, children celebrate Christmas by breaking these brightly colored, candy-filled containers.
What is a piñata?
This classic poem begins with “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house…”
What is A Visit from St. Nicholas?
This gift-giving tradition involves exchanging presents with randomly assigned recipients, often at work or parties.
What is Secret Santa?
These visitors followed a star to find the newborn Jesus.
Who are the Magi (or Wise Men)?
This sweet bread, often filled with dried fruit and nuts, is a traditional German Christmas treat.
What is Stollen?
In Germany, children place this outside the door on December 6th for St. Nicholas to fill with treats.
What is a boot?
In Charles Dickens’ classic story, this miserly man is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve.
Who is Ebenezer Scrooge?
In Victorian England, gifts were sometimes wrapped in this reusable material instead of paper.
What is cloth?
The angel who announces Jesus’ birth to Mary is named this.
Who is Gabriel?
In Italy, the Christmas dessert panettone is often flavored with these two dried fruits.
What are raisins and candied citrus peel?
In Sweden, December 13 is celebrated with a festival in honor of this “light-bringer.”
Who is St. Lucia?
This 19th-century author wrote the semi-autobiographical stories that inspired A Christmas Story.
Who is Jean Shepherd?
This tradition involves giving a small present to someone every day leading up to Christmas.
What is an Advent calendar?
The Nativity story appears in only two of the four Gospels. One is Luke; the other is this Gospel.
What is Matthew?
This Scandinavian baked good, a sweet cardamom-flavored roll, is traditionally served during Christmas.
What is a lussekatt (or St. Lucia bun)?
In Norway, this traditional Christmas spirit is said to live in barns and protects livestock during the holiday season.
What is the nisse (or tomte)?
This French author wrote The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the story that inspired the famous ballet.
Who is E.T.A. Hoffmann?
In Victorian England, this fruit was sometimes wrapped individually and given as a symbol of wealth.
What is a lemon?
This word means “God with us” and is used in the Gospel of Matthew to describe Jesus.
What is Emmanuel?