Food & Festivities
Panettone is a Christmas sweet bread from which country?
Italy
What does “Yuletide” originally refer to?
A midwinter festival/season in Norse/Germanic tradition; now used for the Christmas season.
What are the famous open-air December markets in Germany/Austria called?
Christmas markets (German: Weihnachtsmarkt/Christkindlmarkt).
The modern Christmas tree tradition spread from which country?
Germany
Who wrote “A Christmas Carol”?
Charles Dickens
Stollen is a fruit bread (often with marzipan) from where?
Germany
What was a traditional Yule log before it became a dessert?
A huge log burned through the winter holidays for warmth and good luck.
In the UK, people pull Christmas crackers. What two things come out?
A paper crown/hat and a small toy, and jokes.
Hanging stockings is linked to which saint secretly helping people with gold?
St Nicholas.
In “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” what are the “five …”?
Five gold rings
Traditionally, what lucky item is hidden inside a British Christmas pudding?
A coin (e.g. sixpence made of silver)
Around 25 December, before Christianity, Romans celebrated the birth of which god?
Sol Invictus (“the Unconquered Sun”).
In which country is KFC a popular Christmas meal?
Japan
Electric fairy lights on trees replaced what older, riskier decoration?
Real candles
Which Tchaikovsky ballet is set at Christmas?
The Nutcracker
What (in English)is the hot spiced drink, called Glühwein, in German-speaking countries?
mulled wine
Name one common Christmas decoration with pre-Christian roots.
Evergreen trees, wreaths, mistletoe, holly.
Name six European countries (not Czechia) where families often open gifts on 24 December.
Germany, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia, Switzerland
The Advent wreath with four candles began in which country and century?
Germany, 19th century (Johann Hinrich Wichern).
“Silent Night” was originally written in which language?
German (“Stille Nacht”).
On what date do many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas (from the older Julian calendar)?
7 January
In mainland China, what is the major winter holiday instead of Christmas, and roughly when is it?
Spring Festival / Lunar New Year, late Jan–mid Feb (based on the lunar calendar).
In Spain (and much of Latin America), many children get presents on which January date?
6 January — Three Kings’ Day/Epiphany.
Mistletoe kissing is often linked to which mythology, later popularised by Victorians?
Norse myth (Balder) → Victorian custom.
The best-selling Christmas-themed single of all time?
“White Christmas” (Bing Crosby).