Snow in Portland!?
Holiday Lore
Bad Habits
Music to My Ears
Winter Food and Drink
100
According to statistics kept for many years by government weather agency NOAA, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Portland received its second-snowiest day on record on February 22, 2023. How many inches of snow fell that day?
a. 6.5 inches
b. 10.8 inches
c. 4.2 inches
B! We got 10.8 inches of snow that day alone, in a multi-day storm that also brought significant icing and citywide chaos.
The snowiest day on record was on January 21, 1943, when 15.5 inches of the white stuff fell on the City of Roses!!!
100
Called a tannenbaum in German, arbol de Navidad in Spanish, and kurisumasutsuri in Japanese, your house will likely have one of these soon, if your family celebrates Christmas...
A Christmas tree! Quick survey, though: does your family put colored lights on the tree, or clear (white)?
100
This gross habit isn't just socially unacceptable, but it is also a great way to spread viruses and can lead to nasal infections, among other things! Some people call it "digging for gold," and I'm sure you've been caught __________ your _______ once or twice!
Picking your nose!
100
This yearly awards program celebrates "outstanding achievement in the music industry," and winners get a shiny, gold-plated statue with their name and achievement on it in the shape of an old-fashioned record player called a gramophone. Taylor Swift has won 14 of these awards in her career, but the record for most of these awards held by a single artist belongs to Beyonce, who has won a whopping 35 in her time!!! What awards recognize modern music artists?
The Grammy Awards! This year's will be held on February 1, 2026!
100
This thick, somewhat spiced drink is traditionally made with egg yolks, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream, milk, and a pinch of salt, and is enjoyed during the holidays
Egg Nog
200
If you had to guess, how much snow does the Portland metropolitan area receive each year on average?
(Closest guess)
If you said anywhere near 4.5 inches, you were right! Remember, that is an average of all of the snowfall amounts of each year since records started being kept in Portland in 1940 by the National Weather Service!
200
This multi-branched candle holder is a big part of Hanukkah, and holds nine special candles. One shamash, or helper candle, is used to light the other candles from left to right, one on the first night of Hanukkah, two on the second, and so on. What is the name of this traditional candle holder?
A Menorah!
The menorah is an important part of Hanukkah, and represents the endurance of the Jewish people, God's light in the world, and how everyone has something unique to give!
200
This harmful habit used to be so socially acceptable that people would do it out in the open in restaurants, on airplanes, and even at the doctor's office! That was until studies linked this habit to lung cancer and many other fatal conditions, and people began to change their feelings about it. It smells gross, makes you spend money on it because it's addicting, and the companies that make the things are dishonest about their effects. What habit is this???
Smoking cigarettes (and other tobacco)! YUCK
Don't do it, it's gross and stupid
200
This classic 1965 musical film, starring Julie Andrews (who also played Mary Poppins in the original) is about a nun who leaves the convent to go be a nanny for seven wealthy children. She finds that the children have lived a sad and restricted life after their mother passed away and do not even know what music is or how to sing, so she teaches them the love of music. All around them, World War Two is building in the European country of Austria, and they must find a way to safety by using their newfound talent of singing! What film is this???
The Sound of Music
200
These delicious savory treats are native to Mexico and Central and Southern America, and are served as a special treat for Christmas Eve dinner. They are usually made from soft corn masa on the outside and have meat, cheese, or veggies on the inside, and they take a long time to make! There are even some sweet varieties. What tasty holiday treats are these? Hint: They start with a 'T'
Tamales!!!
300
How many years did Portland not receive any snow whatsoever since records started being officially kept in 1940?
a. 15 years
b. 7 years
c. 24 years
A, 15 years! According to the National Weather Service, there were 15 years between 1940-2024 that Portland received no traceable amounts of snow! The most recent of these is the 2014-2015 winter season!
300
There are few holidays where the idea of staying up late is encouraged by parents, in fact, I wouldn't recommend staying up late on Christmas, it doesn't end well, hahaha. However, this wintry holiday is the exception, and it wouldn't be too weird to hear random singing, giant fireworks exploding, and people banging pots and pans together...what holiday is it?
New Year's (Eve)...either is correct
We have some strange ways of celebrating holidays! Giant descending crystal balls, drunk people all over, explosions for entertainment, banging cookware together...I mean, come on
300
This habit is really hard to break, is bad for both your teeth and your fingers, and is very common. According to Psychology Today, about 20-30% of the population ______ their _________
Bite their Nails!
300
This stringed instrument is hourglass-shaped, small, made of wood, and is hollow-bodied. It has four strings, is played with a bow, has a high-pitched sound when played, and is part of an orchestra. What is it?
Violin
300
I'm thinking that you better watch out that you leave these two things out for the Old Fat Guy that brings presents, because if you don't, are you sure he'll leave you anything??? Do you want to take that chance? Better make sure you have ______ and _______!
Cookies and milk!
(Also tbh don't forget about the reindeer, leave a carrot too)
400
What do the experts think: will we see measurable snow this season???
Yes OR No
According to NOAA, or our friends at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Pacific Northwest, including Portland, is likely to see greater chances of colder weather and above-average chances for precipitation this winter due to the effects of La Nina, or colder than normal water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. They say that we could easily see at least one larger snow and/or ice event this winter, so those who said yes get the points!
400
This winter holiday decoration got its start in the ancient celebration of Yule, a Scandinavian holiday focusing on the winter solstice. Its circular design represented the promise of spring's return and the changing of the seasons, while its use of evergreen branches represents the idea that some things stay green, even throughout the long winter. Christians adopted this decoration sometime during the 16th century, and today, many people have theirs on the door. What is this mystery decoration???
A wreath!
400
This bad habit is something a lot of people with devices do and is part of social media consumption. It is the act of watching short video content for long periods of time that is either news-related or user-generated, and tends to have a negative tone, but we call it ______ scrolling!
Doom scrolling! According to studies done by Harvard Health, "constantly consuming distressing news can take a toll on our health" and accounts for a feeling of "worse mental well-being and life satisfaction!" Try to avoid this one, put your device down!!!
400
This kind of music is defined as "a dramatic art form where a story is told entirely through singing, combining music, theater, and other visual arts like costumes and scenery." Its name is an Italian word that means "work." What genre of music is like a play told entirely through singing???
Opera!
400
If you ask Sage Cochran about this special Hanukkah (and Passover) meat, she will tell you how much she loves this tasty beefy treat! It falls apart on your plate, and it's usually served with a gravy or sauce and vegetables like carrots and onions. Hint: It starts with a 'B'
Brisket!!!
MMMMMMMMMMMM
500
Which month of the winter season has the greatest chances for significant snowfall in Portland?
a. December
b. January
c. February
According to data crunched by KGW meteorologist Rod Hill, Portland has its greatest chances for large snow events happening in the month of February, so those who said C got it right!
500
In this classic 1965 animated short film, a beloved character gets the role of director in his school Christmas play. He must gets his friends to stop dancing long enough to memorize their lines for the play and find the perfect tree for the decorations, but he gets frustrated at how commercial Christmas has become. Helped by his faithful dog and a cast of friends, he comes to realize the true meaning of Christmas. What classic Christmas movie is this???
A Charlie Brown Christmas!
500
This bad habit is a product of the typical American diet, but can lead to diabetes and all sorts of health problems. By eating and drinking things that are high in this, also called sucrose, you are putting your body's ability to process its insulin at risk!
Eating too much sugar! According to the American Academy for Pediatrics, people ages 2-18 should only have a maximum of 25 grams of sugar a day (the average soda has an average of 39 grams in it)!!! Take care of yourself and watch your sugar intake people!!!
500
This is a large group of people singing all at the same time, and can be found in churches, schools, all throughout Portland, and even sometimes spontaneously in crazy places "out in the wild," like shopping malls!
A Choir!
Check this out, it's cool! Imagine chilling in a random square in Paris, and:
500
Made from peppermint extract, corn syrup, sugar, water, and often red food coloring, these pretty favorites have come to be associated with the winter holidays. They are so popular that they are sold in boxes of 12 and more, there are mini ones, people decorate their trees with them, decorations are made in their shape to look like them, and hot chocolate often has one hanging inside the cup! What are they???
Candy Canes!
