Christmas Folklore
From Central European folklore this is a horned, half-goat, half-demon creature who punishes misbehaving children during the Christmas season, acting as the dark companion to St. Nicholas.
Who is Krampus?
The earliest version of this Christmas poem-turned-song is thought to have been published in Mirth With-out Mischief, a children’s book from 1780, with the modern version credited to English composer Frederic Austin who set the poem to music.
What is the 12 days of Christmas?
In 2019, if you added up all of the gifts given in this song, it would generate a bill totaling $38,993.59!!!
The main Christmas dish in this country is a leg of pork served with mashed potato traditionally baked slowly in birch-bark boxes in the oven with similarly cooked mashed swede. Casseroles containing different vegetables including, rutabaga, carrot and potato are also common. Cured salmon is very popular and some people also have turkey.
Where is Finland?
“The thing about trains... it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.”
What is The Polar Express?
The first artificial Christmas tree dated back to the early 1800's in Germany and was made with dyed feathers from this animal.
What is a goose?
With roots dating back to the 13th Century, this ogress lives in a cave in Iceland’s hinterlands, the matriarch of a family of strange creatures, launching attacks on nearby townships, snatching up misbehaving children, and turning them into delicious stew.
Who is Gryla?
German publisher Gerhard Lang started these in 1903 for children to count down, revealing Bible verses or small gifts daily.
What is an Advent Calendar?
A family barbeque featuring roast lamb on the beach is a popular Christmas dinner in this country.
Where is New Zealand?
“This is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back?"
What is Home Alone?
This is the best-selling Christmas song of all time and has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.
What is Bing Crosby's White Christmas?
The tale of Hansel and Gretel focuses on two abandoned children who face death at the evil hands of a cannibalistic witch, before eventually fooling her into climbing into her own oven. This popular Christmas decoration is said to stem from the fairytale.
What is a Gingerbread House?
Burning one of these was said to bring good fortune, ward off spirits, and welcome longer days.
What is a Yule Log?
On Christmas Eve, the 'Feast of the Seven Fishes' involves eating seven different types of seafood – perhaps a seafood linguine, roasted fish or sea bass one-pot in this country.
Where is Italy?
“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all really. Maybe it just needs a little love.”
What is a Charlie Brown Christmas?
Kanakaloka is better known as this worldwide figure in Hawaii.
Who is Santa?
Santa Claus is usually not seen in the bright red suit but instead wearing flowery Hawaiian clothes.
Now known as a much tamer version of this, the truly terrifying door-to-door celebrations of the 1700s came about when bands of young men went to lords' doors demanding their best food and drink by any means necessary, singing lyrics like "We've come here to claim our right / And if you don't open up your door / We'll lay it flat upon the floor...".
What is Christmas Caroling?
If there is one of these among your snowman, angel and reindeer ornaments, you’re likely taking part in the American tradition of hiding the green ornament on the tree, so that the first child to find it wins a gift, or gets to open the first present Christmas morning.
What is a pickle?
Contrary to what many Americans thought originated from German origins, it is likely this trend was a Woolworths marketing gimmick from the late 1800s, when the retailer received imported German ornaments shaped like a pickle and needed a sales pitch.
On this country's table, a smorgasbord of traditional dishes, including Christmas ham, gravadlax, meatballs, herring salad, liver pâté, rye bread and red cabbage, is typically eaten on the 24th of December.
Where is Sweden?
“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas ... perhaps ... means a little bit more!”
What is How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
This is the best selling Christmas toy in 1980.
What is the Rubik's cube?
Make sure to buy your family new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve to ward off this huge and vicious cat who lurks about the snowy countryside of Iceland looking to eat people.
What is the Yule Cat?
Dating back more than 300 years, they line sidewalks and churches in places such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico during Christmas time.
What are Luminarias?
In this country, a successful marketing campaign in the 1970s has meant that many families now enjoy a KFC Christmas bucket on the 25th of December. It's so popular, many families have to get their orders in weeks before Christmas to ensure they can take part in the famous tradition.
Where is Japan?
“Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas.”
What is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?
In 1836, this became the first state to recognize Christmas as a state holiday.
Where is Alabama?