Christmas
What is the name for the time prior to Christmas that begins 4 Sundays before Christmas?
Advent
This English neolithic monument is aligned to the winter solstice sunset.
Stonehenge
What is the term for the condition when body core temperature below 35.0 °C (95.0 °F)?
hypothermia
Which zodiac sign is in December up to the 21st?
Sagittarius
What is the capital city of Sri Lanka?
Columbo
The publishing of the novel A Christmas Carol in 1843 by this author sparked a major revival in the celebration of Christmas.
Charles Dickens
Astronomically speaking what is the significance of the winter solstice?
It is the time when the hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun. On this date the amount of daylight is the shortest and night the longest.
Different animal species cope with winter in different ways. Can you describe how the following species change in winter: rock ptarmigan, Arctic fox, weasel, white-tailed jackrabbit, and mountain hare?
The color of the fur or plumage changes to white to camouflage with snow.
What is the name of the annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1?
Kwanzaa
What is the most recent former name of Sri Lanka?
Ceylon
According to the Gospel of Luke, what caused Mary and Joseph to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem?
They went to be counted for a census.
In this ancient empire December 25 was celebrated as the winter solstice and rebirth of the sun as part of the festival Saturnalia which included parties and exchanges of gifts.
Roman Empire
Astronomically speaking why do we have seasons?
It is a result of the tilt of the earth's axis which results in the sun hitting the earth at different angles at different parts of the year.
In Canada, December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Why was this date selected?
It is the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre.
Which ethnic group forms the majority of the population?
Sinhalese
What two significant dates are connected by the 12 days of Christmas?
Christmas (December 25) and Epiphany (January 6)
In India, the festival Makara Sankranti in the Hindu calendar is observed in January, at the end of the month with the winter solstice, marking the day on which the sun transits into this astrology sign.
Capricorn
Plus or minus 5 degrees, what is the tilt of the Earth's axis?
23 degrees, so anything between 18 and 28 inclusive will be considered correct.
December's name derives from the Latin word decem, which means what?
It means 10 because it was originally the 10th month of the year in the calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, which began in March.
In what year did Sri Lanka gain its independence becoming a dominion?
1948
In this country in the 1600's the Presbyterian church discouraged the observance of Christmas as superstitious and this country's Parliament abolished the observance of Christmas in 1640.
Scotland
Blue Christmas refers to a Christian church service occurring near the winter solstice in which these people are honoured.
Lost love ones and those experiencing grief. In some places more recently it has evolved to service honouring police officers.
According to legend, who if the husband of Suzy Snowflake?
Jack Frost
What is December's birth flower?
narcissus
An explorer from which European country was the first to arrive in Sri Lanka in 1505?
Portugal