Christmas Movies!
This 1990 holiday comedy features an 8-year-old accidentally left behind while his family travels to Paris.
What is Home Alone?
Despite popular belief, the Bible never specifies this detail about Jesus’s birth that later traditions confidently assign.
What is the exact date of Jesus’s birth?
This song, commonly sung in English, was originally written in German and debuted on Christmas Eve in 1818.
What is “Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht”)?
This shiny tree decoration was originally used to reflect candlelight and deter insects.
What is tinsel?
This red-and-white candy, often seen on trees, was originally designed as a priest’s staff.
What is a candy cane?
This 1994 remake starring Tim Allen turns a toy executive into Santa Claus after a rooftop accident.
What is The Santa Clause?
This popular Christmas tradition was not originally associated with Christmas at all, but with German pagan winter customs.
What is the Christmas tree?
Written in 1942, this song was first performed in the film Holiday Inn, but its release was timed to boost wartime morale rather than celebrate Christmas tradition.
What is “White Christmas”?
This plant is commonly used in Christmas décor, yet its white berries are actually toxic.
What is mistletoe?
Often served with ham or turkey, this sweet, tangy sauce comes from a fruit native to North America and has nothing to do with Europe’s original Christmas feasts.
What is cranberry sauce?
This 1951 film was the first Christmas movie to be released in color, though it’s most often seen in black and white.
What is a A Christmas Carol?
This song, often assumed to be an ancient Christmas carol, was actually written in the 19th century and had no original religious intent.
What is “Jingle Bells”?
This modern Christmas hit reached #1 decades after its original release due largely to digital streaming.
What is “All I Want for Christmas Is You”?
Before glass ornaments were popular, families decorated trees with these edible items.
What are apples and nuts?
This fruit, often included in holiday desserts, was historically considered a luxury in Europe during Christmas.
What is the orange?
This 1984 cult Christmas film warns viewers of three specific rules involving creatures that should never be broken.
What is Gremlins?
This ancient Roman festival, held in December, is often cited as influencing the timing and traditions of Christmas.
What is Saturnalia?
Often thought to be an ancient lullaby about the nativity, this song’s lyrics were actually written in the late 19th century for children.
What is “Away in a Manger”?
This outdoor decoration traces back to a medieval English custom meant to honor Christ as the “Light of the World.”
What are candles?
This festive beverage was first popularized in 17th-century England as a warm ale spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, and sugar, not the egg-based version we know today.
What is wassail?
This holiday film directed by John McTiernan is famously debated as a Christmas movie and takes place during a company Christmas party gone wrong.
What is Die Hard?
This pope formally established December 25 as the date of Christmas in the Roman calendar in the 4th century.
Who is Pope Julius I?
Written during the Great Depression, this song was first introduced in a Thanksgiving-themed radio program, not a Christmas special.
What is “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”?
This decorative tradition, often linked to Christmas, was originally a symbol of eternity in ancient cultures.
What is the wreath?
This Christmas food is often associated with a Scandinavian tradition and was originally prepared to honor the Yule festival, not Christmas.
What is gingerbread or spiced cookies?