Yuletide
Yule was originally a festival celebrating the winter solstice by Norsemen. Before they were converted to Christianity, how long was Yule celebrated for?
2 months (December-January)
King Hákon I of Norway (934-961) converted to Christianity and adjusted Yuletide to our current Christmas season of 12 days long beginning on December 25 and continuing through January 5.
Which Norse god was described as a wanderer with a long white beard and is considered the first Father Christmas?
The Norse god Odin
(He also kept two ravens that would listen at people's chimneys to find out who was good or bad which inspired some of todays beliefs on Santa)
Schedryk (The Little Swallow) is a old Slavic Pagan magical chant sung at New Years to bring prosperity for the coming year. It was copyrighted by christians and turned into which popular christmas carol?
Carol of the Bells
Children can write real letters to Santa. These letters have a postal code for what country?
Canada!
The Postal Code is H0H 0H0
(hohoho)
In 16th Century Europe, gifts were exchanged on what day? (hint: its not December 25th)
December 6th, the feast of St. Nicholas
What is "Bûche de Noël"?
Today in France the burning of the Yule log has been replaced by Bûche de Noël. It is a chocolate cake made to look like a log, decorated with branches, made like a Swiss roll.
Today Children sometimes leave carrots out for Santas raindeer. Originally what did viking Children leave out for Odin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir?
Their shoes filled with sugar and hay
Carols were originally paired with dances. What was the original purpose of dancing and singing carols?
Harvest rituals and to bring prosperity
St. Nicholas is the worlds more popular non-biblical saint. How many churches does he have dedicated to him in France and Germany alone?
2000!
While some believe the star atop the Christmas Tree is meant to represent the Star the three kings followed to Bethlehem, it is actually a Pentagram originally used by pagans and even by the catholic church. What does the Pentagram stand for?
(hint: its not the feared symbol of evil the satanic panic of the 80's claimed it to be)
Pagan: Each point stands for Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Spirit.
Catholic (200AD): Each point stands for the 5 wounds of Christ on the cross.
Advent marks the original day when you start decorating for yuletide (decorate the tree, hang the wreaths, etc.) What day does this fall on?
November 27th
In Welsh lore they believed in Mari Lwyd, a horse skeleton that visits your home during the 12 days of Christmas and sings rhymes outside your door. The person inside needs to sing back with rhyming excuses as to why Mari Lwyd can't come in. This goes back and forth until one gives up. If the person inside can't respond then Mari Lwyd can enter your home. What will Mari Lwyd do if she enters your home?
Drink all your beer!
(It's basically a rap battle with a horse skeleton to keep all your alcohol)
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" was originally written by Charles Wesley (1707–88). It was updated in 1840 to the version we sing today. The original first two lines are, “Hark how all the welkin rings, Glorious the king of kings.” What does welkin mean?
Even in the early 18th century, “welkin” was a rather old-fashioned way of saying heaven or sky.
True or False?
Besides the Virgin Mary, Santa is the most painted figure?
True
In the story, How the Grinch stole Christmas, the Grinch laments that he has had to put up with the Whos' celebration of Christmas for how many years?
53 years!
Fun Fact: Dr. Seuss was 53 when he wrote and published the book.
Traditionally letting a Yule Log burn out would mean what?
Bad Luck
Thunder-besom was a tradition in northern europe where a arrow was shot into a tree to knock down what?
Mistle toe
(you would receive good luck if you were able to catch it in your left hand)
In 1880 a Christmas carol was submitted to American magazines. It was submitted anonymously and claimed to be a 16th-century German lullaby. Experts are convinced this cannot be possible. So the true origin of this Christmas Carol remains a mystery. Which Christmas Carol is it?
"Away in a Manger"
The modern figure of Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas, a real person who lived during the fourth century in Patara, or what is now Turkey. After his passing, what happened to his body?
His remains were taken to Italy where looters stole half of his skeleton as well as other relics.
Today, instead of milk and cookies, what do some people leave out for Santa Clause?
Beer!
Before Santa Claus, pagans believed in a magical Yule goat that would visit them. The goat would wander around to ensure families were preparing for Yule and demand what?
In Germanic/Slavic Paganism Santa is seen as a yule deity. In this lore Santa has a brother, the diety of the yule underworld. People would prepare for him on December 5th by painting birch twigs gold and hanging it on their walls. He would visit before Santa and take naughty children to the underworld. He was also known for seducing women and was known as a incubus demon. What was his name?
Krampus!
Fun fact: During the 12th century, the Catholic Church tried to ban Krampus celebrations because of his resemblance to the devil. Most recently they tried again in 1934 but failed as he is a feared and beloved Christmas tradition.
John Francis Wade (1711-1786) took the 1640 Latin version of this carol and wrote the standard version that we still sing today. John Wade was a supporter of the exiled Stuart royal family; a known Jacobite. Many people have thought there’s a subversive, hidden message in the lyrics, rallying support for Bonnie Prince Charlie and his family. Which Carol is it?
‘O Come All Ye Faithful’
In the mid 1800s, poet Thomas Nash wrote a poem about Santa. What impact did his poem contribute to the Santa legend?
Thomas Nash's poem famously placed Santa's home in the North Pole, even though the original saint lived in Turkey. Nash most likely chose the North Pole because, at the time, there were several scientific explorations to the North Pole, a region seen as mysterious and just out of reach.
Its been predicted that in the future one company would replace Santa completely. Which company?
Amazon
It's been theorized that in the future, AI will use your budget and shopping patterns to purchase gifts and deliver them to your home for Christmas.