Global Christmas Traditions
In this country, children leave their shoes out on December 5th for St. Nicholas Day.
What is the Netherlands?
This Charles Dickens novella helped reshape modern Christmas traditions.
What is A Christmas Carol?
This actor nearly turned down the role of Buddy the Elf.
Who is Will Ferrell?
This traditional carol was originally written in Latin.
What is “O Come, All Ye Faithful”?
Santa Claus is based on this 4th-century Christian bishop.
Who is Saint Nicholas?
This European country celebrates Christmas Eve with a traditional carp dinner.
What is the Czech Republic?
This 1822 poem helped popularize the modern image of Santa Claus.
What is “A Visit from St. Nicholas”?
Home Alone was largely filmed in this U.S. state.
What is Illinois?
This composer wrote *The Nutcracker*.
Who is Tchaikovsky?
This soda company popularized Santa’s red-and-white suit in the 1930s.
What is Coca-Cola?
In Catalonia, this unusual Christmas figure is known for “dropping gifts” rather than delivering them.
What is Caga Tió?
This Roman festival is often cited as influencing the timing of Christmas celebrations.
What is Saturnalia?
The leg lamp in *A Christmas Story* was modeled after this real-life object.
What is a 1940s novelty lamp?
“Carol of the Bells” is based on a Ukrainian folk song known as this.
What is “Shchedryk”?
This mountain range is traditionally said to house Santa’s workshop in some folklore.
What are the Korvatunturi Hills?
This Latin American country hosts Las Posadas, reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging.
What is Mexico?
This English king reportedly banned Christmas celebrations in the 1600s.
Who is Oliver Cromwell?
This animated holiday film was the first to be motion-captured entirely in CGI.
What is The Polar Express?
This holiday song introduced the phrase “rock around the Christmas tree.”
What is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”?
In Nordic folklore, this creature watches over farms during Christmas.
What is a Nisse (or Tomte)?
In this Scandinavian country, Christmas is commonly called “Jul,” a name rooted in ancient pagan festivals.
What is Sweden?
The earliest recorded Christmas celebration took place in this city in 336 AD.
What is Rome?
This Christmas movie features a character named Hans Gruber.
What is Die Hard?
This Christmas song was banned by the BBC for being “too morbid.”
What is “Fairytale of New York”?
This reindeer’s name was added to the original lineup in a 1939 storybook.
Who is Rudolph?