Films
While rushing to catch their flight in Home Alone, the McCallister family flies on this real-life airline, which is heavily featured throughout the airport scenes.
What is American Airlines?
This 1944 song by Judy Garland from Meet Me in St. Louis was rewritten with happier lyrics because the original was too depressing.
What is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"?
This country is home to the tradition of hiding brooms on Christmas Eve to prevent witches from stealing them.
What is Norway?
In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this is the name of Ebenezer Scrooge’s first boss.
Who is Mr. Fezziwig?
This 4th-century Greek bishop is the primary historical inspiration for the modern Santa Claus.
Who is Saint Nicholas?
In the 1947 classic Miracle on 34th Street, this is the real-life department store Kris Kringle is hired to work for.
What is Macy's?
In the carol "Winter Wonderland," the snowman we build in the meadow is given this specific clerical name.
Who is Parson Brown?
In Iceland, these 13 mischievous brothers visit children on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas.
Who are the Yule Lads?
In the original poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, these are the two reindeer whose names mean "Thunder" and "Lightning."
Who are Donder (Donner) and Blitzen?
In 1659, this American colony officially banned the celebration of Christmas, a law that stayed in place for over 20 years.
What is the Massachusetts Bay Colony (or Boston)?
In Home Alone, Kevin finds a photo of this person in Buzz's private trunk, leading to the famous "Woof!" line.
Who is Buzz's Girlfriend
This holiday classic was the first song ever broadcast from space by astronauts in 1965.
What is Jingle Bells?
This Spanish region has a tradition of the "Tió de Nadal," a log that "poops" presents when beaten with sticks.
What is Catalonia?
This character in Dickens' A Christmas Carol was originally going to be named "Little Fred."
Who is Tiny Tim?
This plant, often hung during the holidays, is technically a parasite that grows on other trees.
What is Mistletoe?
This is the name of the mountain the Grinch lives on, located 3,000 feet north of Whoville.
What is Mt. Crumpit?
If you received all the gifts mentioned in "The Twelve Days of Christmas," you would have this many gifts in total.
What is 364?
Since the 1970s, it has become a major tradition to eat a Christmas dinner from this American fast-food chain in Japan.
What is KFC?
This species of Fijian snail is named after Scrooge’s famous two-word catchphrase.
What is Ba Humbugi?
This department store created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1939 as part of a Christmas coloring book promotion.
What is Montgomery Ward?
In The Polar Express, the conductor punches this specific four-letter word into the "Hero Girl's" ticket at the end of the trip.
What is LEAD?
This famous composer created the melody for "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," which was later adapted for the carol.
Who is Felix Mendelssohn?
In the Czech Republic, unmarried women do this with a shoe on Christmas to predict if they will marry in the coming year.
What is throw it over their shoulder (pointing toward the door)?
This famous author wrote a series of letters to his children from "Father Christmas" for over 20 years.
Who is J.R.R. Tolkien?
This famous physicist and mathematician was born on Christmas Day in 1642.
Who is Issac Newton?