People
The King of Judea at the time of Christ's birth, who ordered the slaughter of newborns in an attempt to kill Jesus.
Who is King Herod?
The town where Jesus was born.
What is Bethlehem?
The date of Christ's birth.
What is December 25?
The appearance of this celestial sign helped the wise men in locate Jesus.
What is the Star of Bethlehem?
The common Orthodox response to the Christmas greeting of "Christ is Born!"
What is "Glorify Him!"
This saint was the steward and caretaker of the Virgin Mary, and is often called "the Betrothed".
Who is St. Joseph?
The wise men came to Jesus from this direction.
What is the East?
The date that St. Nicholas, the real Santa Claus, is commemorated in the Orthodox Church.
What is December 6?
Called the Ευαγγελισμός (Good News) in Greek, this is the feast day commemorating the Panagia receiving the good news that she would bear the Son of God.
What is the Annunciation?
Egg-shaped Greek Christmas cookies, which are usually drizzled with or dipped in honey.
What are melomakarona?
Also known as "the Forerunner", this saint was born 6 months before Christ, and warned people of the Messiah's imminent coming.
Who is St. John the Baptist?
The Virgin Mary had to give birth in a cave, because there was no room at this building.
What is the inn?
The number of "days of Christmas", which stretch from Christ's Nativity to His Baptism?
What is 12?
This event happened shortly after the Nativity, and gave us the first group of martyrs, commemorated on December 29.
What is the slaughter of the innocent boys (the Holy Innocents) by King Herod?
The meaning of “Emmanuel”, one of the prophecied names for Jesus Christ.
What is "God is with us"?
The archangel who appeared to the Virgin Mary, telling her that she would bear a son.
Who is the Angel Gabriel?
A long, open box which is usually used to feed animals, but was instead used as a crib for Jesus Christ.
What is a manger?
The first day of the Nativity Fast.
What is November 15?
We usually celebrate the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, but on the Eve of the Nativity, this Liturgy is celebrated.
What is the Liturgy of St. Basil?
Though they were not "present" at the birth of Jesus they have become a "decorated" tradition in all homes.
What is the Christmas tree?
This Roman emperor, who was the great-nephew of Julius Caesar, ordered a census at the time of Jesus's birth.
Who is Caesar Augustus (Octavian)?
The region Jesus, Mary, and Joseph fled to escape King Herod.
What is Egypt?
The name given to the Sunday before Christmas in the Orthodox church, where we read about the ancestors of Christ.
What is Genealogy Sunday?
This Jewish holy day, celebrated in September or October, is the root of how we date Christmas, because it is the day Zachariah was praying in the temple the night before St. John's conception.
What is Yom Kippur?
The currency of Rome at the time of Christ's birth.
What is the denarius?