Phrases and Names
This magical household figure moves from room to room, helping Santa by making sure children are being good.
What is the Elf on a Shelf?
Children who misbehave may find a lump of this black rock in their stockings on Christmas morning.
What is coal?
This dark fairy tale about a brother, a sister, and a witch they meet in the woods, was the inspiration for gingerbread houses.
What is Hansel and Gretel?
When the Grinch discovers the true meaning of Christmas, his heart grows this number of sizes.
What is three?
It takes this many years for a pine tree to grow to an acceptable Christmas tree height.
What is 15?
In Germany, this frightening anti-Santa Claus with goat’s hooves and horns punishes children who misbehave instead of bringing them gifts.
Who is Krampus?
In Mexico, children break open these hanging papier mache sculptures to release the gifts inside.
What are pinatas?
This familiar sleighing song was the first Earth tune played in outer space.
What is “Jingle Bells”?
These three words are what best describe the Grinch, “and I quote.”
What are stink, stank, and stunk?
In The Twelve Days of Christmas, lords a-leaping appear in this quantity.
What is ten?
The English also refer to Santa Claus by this proper-sounding name.
What is Father Christmas?
One in three men wait until this day to do their Christmas shopping.
What is Christmas Eve?
This tradition, now associated with Christmas, began in Ancient Greece as a blessing of fertility in wedding ceremonies.
What is kissing under the mistletoe?
This 2004 animated Christmas feature was an adaptation of an illustrated storybook by Chris Van Allsburg, the same author who created “Jumanji.”
What is “The Polar Express”?
This catch 1994 Christmas tune is the best-selling Christmas single ever recorded by a female artist, as well as being one of the highest-selling singles in music history.
What is “All I Want for Christmas is You”?
During the holidays, this famous New York City landmark features a colossal Christmas tree and a popular ice-skating rink.
What is Rockefeller Center?
Popping tubes used in the U.K. to hold gifts and small treats go by this explosive name.
What are Christmas crackers?
The wise men brought these three gifts for the baby Jesus, not the most useful items to give a newborn.
What are gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
In 1994’s “The Santa Clause,” Tim Allen’s character takes over as Santa after this accident kills the original Santa Clause.
What is falling off a roof?
This Christmas plant, popular for its bright red leaves, is native to Mexico and Central America.
What is a poinsettia?
This mythical winter sprite is nipping at your nose in “The Christmas Song.”
Who is Jack Frost?
This holiday, observed in the U.K. on the day after Christmas, originated as a way for the rich to give their servants boxes of items to share with their families.
What is Boxing Day?
This is the true number of Santa’s reindeer in the Christmas poem T’was the Night Before Christmas.
What is eight? (Rudolph isn’t mentioned.)
There is an ongoing debate online about whether this action flick starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman is actually a Christmas film.
What is “Die Hard”?
It is Hawaii’s way to say, “Merry Christmas to you.”
What is “Mele kalikimaka”?