Winter Idioms
Take a rain check
"The baseball game was rained out so we will use our ticket for a later game."
What is: doing a planned activity later
In Romania, carolers dress in bear costumes and dance on New Year’s Eve in order to drive away evil spirits and help enrich the soil for the new year. Even though the bear costumes look scary and sinister, it’s actually a time of joyful celebration and a rich tradition passed down through the generations. What is this tradition called?
What is:
Ursul, The Bear Dance
These cookies are shaped like little people.
What are: gingerbread men?
In Finland, you can stay in glass igloos during winter to watch the _____ Lights
What are: Northern
This is Elsa's favorite synonym for feeling really cold.
What is: frozen
Out of here
"One more class and I am out of here for Winter Break"
What is: to leave, to be finished with something.
In Norway, people hide their ________ on Christmas Eve before going to bed. It was believed that witches and other mischievous spirits stole these from households to ride on Christmas Eve.
What is: a broom
This drink name may remind some of chickens.
What is: Eggnog
There's an annual International Hair Freezing Contest in Canada every ______ (which month?)
What is: February
Another word for Winter "Vacation"
What is: "Break"
Cost an arm and a leg
"My new computer cost an arm and a leg."
What is: to be expensive
The names of Santa's reindeer.
What are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen. And Rudolph!
This Thanksgiving meat may be served again at Christmas.
What is: Turkey
Shovel racing started in New Mexico in which decade?
What is: the 1970s
The word 'winter' comes from an old germanic word 'wintar'. What does it mean?
What is: "Time of water".
Hit the sack
"It's late so I need to hit the sack because I am so tired."
What is: to go sleep, go to bed
The present-day custom of lighting a Yule log at Christmas is believed to have originated from the _____. This was a Winter Solstice festival observed in Scandinavia when fires were lit to symbolize the heat and light of the life-giving Sun. A Yule or “Juul” log was burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god, Thor. The log was never allowed to burn completely and was kept as a token of good luck, then used as kindling to start the following year’s log. In other European countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing but ashes remained, which were collected and spread into the fields as fertilizer every night until Twelfth Night, or worn around the neck as a charm.
What is The Feast of Juul
Not really a food but... Snow rollers are______
self-forming snowballs.
According to National Geographic, are "the cold weather equivalent of tumbleweeds." Apparently, "wind pushes snow across the ground, gathering it into a hollow cylinder" and creating these self-forming snowballs.
On Christmas Day, Czech women throw a ____ at their house to determine if they’ll get married in the new year.
What is: A Shoe.
On Christmas Day, Czech women throw a shoe at their house to determine if they’ll get married in the new year.
A personification of winter
Who is: Jack Frost
Under the weather
"My dad is feeling under the weather."
What is: to be sick
Clement Moore wrote this poem that describes Santa Claus and his nighttime visit, to entertain his children in 1823. It is still read every year on December 24th by many parents.
What is: Twas the Night Before Christmas (A visit from St. Nicholas)
Some cities use beet juice, or pickle brine on icy winter roads instead of ______.
What is: Salt
What is a Chinese festival that celebrates the arrival of the Winter Solstice, and is related to the philosophy of Yin and Yang. According to the Chinese, Yang symbolizes the positive, and Yin is negative. The positive things will become stronger after the Solstice — longer daylight hours and an increase in positive energy flowing in. Families celebrate by gathering together and enjoying a large meal which includes dumplings, in part because of this ancient legend: a sympathetic physician fed the poor homeless people of his town dumplings to keep their ears from getting frostbite. Because of this, some of the dumplings served during the festival are shaped like ears.
What is: Dongzhi Festival
What is the fear of snow called?
What is: Chionophobia.