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100
In Caracas, Venezuela parishioners get to holiday mass by...
1. Walking 3. Bicycle
2. Donkey 4. Roller skates
What is Roller Skates
Why walk to mass when you can skate there? Residents in Caracas, Venezuela it is customary to roller-skate to this service and many neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 a.m. After Mass, everyone enjoys tostadas and coffee
100
Did you know Gingerbread has been around since 2400 BCE and from what region/country? The ruler of this country is credited with the idea of decorating it... where and who?
1. Roman Empire and Ceasar Augustus
2. Greece and Queen Elizabeth
3. Egypt and Tutankhamun
4. Russia and Catherine the Great
What is Greece and Queen Elizabeth I
The first-known recipe of the sweet treat is said to be from Greece in 2400 BCE. The formula was developed and remixed through several cultures and eventually made its way to England, where Queen Elizabeth I was credited with the idea of decorating the cookies. Eventually, gingerbread was consumed year-round, and the shapes changed with the seasons. The designs got so elaborate that they became a symbol of elegance, which is, perhaps, why we save them for a special time like the holidays.
100
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving where countries around the world officially kick off the holiday season...
True or False
What is False
No one does holiday shopping quite like the U.S. — literally. On the day after Thanksgiving, millions of people flood stores across the country trying to get the best bargains for Christmas gifts on Black Friday. Other countries criticize this American tradition because it over-commercializes a religious holiday, but they may just be jealous they didn’t get a big screen TV for half off.
100
Christmas string lights were invented in what year?
1. 1882 3. 1901
2. 1942 4. 1957
What is 1882...
Thomas Edison may be famous for the light bulb, but it was his partner and friend, Edward Hibberd Johnson, who had the bright idea of stringing bulbs around a Christmas tree in New York in 1882. By 1914, the lights were being mass produced and now some 150 million sets of lights are sold in the U.S. each year.
100
Is it Xmas instead of Christmas?
Which one is it?
What is Both
The first letter of “Christ” in Greek translates to “X,” as it also does in the Roman alphabet. While the abbreviation isn’t used in most Christmas-based advertising or scripture, the word “Xmas” dates all the way back to the 12th Century, when it was used in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The idea of keeping Christ in the word Christmas is both nonsensical and a-historical.
200
In this country Christmas Trees are often covered in Spider webs...
1. Translyvania 3. Portugal
2. Ukraine 4. Greenland
What is Ukraine.
Christmas tree's in Ukraine are often covered in spider webs. Folklore tells the story of a poor family who grew a Christmas tree from a pinecone. The children were excited about decorating their own Christmas tree, but the family was poor and they weren't able to decorate it for the holiday. When they woke up Christmas morning, they found spiders had spun webs around the tree's branches. Today, Ukrainians dress up their trees with spider webs to welcome good luck into the coming year.
200
Fruit cake can last as long as 25 years...
True or False
What is True...
ONLY if the fruit cake receipe contains the proper preservatives and is stored in an air tight container.
In 1983 a NY Times column entitled "Fruitcake is Forever" Russell Baker claimed to be in possession of a fruitcake that a long dead relative had baked in 1794 as a Christmas gift for President George Washington.
200
Amercian Christmas movies are very popular all over the world.
True or False
What is False...
Hollywood is the center for moviemaking, so it logically follows that many Christmas movies have a particular American twist to them. We see films like It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Elf as holiday classics, but these films don’t have a massive audience outside the U.S. And when people overseas do watch these movies, they get the idea that American Christmases are always snowy and filled with bizarre characters and drunken fights between family members. OK, maybe that last one is true.
200
What does it mean when a Christmas wreath is placed on door?
1. Signal for Santa to stop by
2. Strength and everlasting life
3. Christmas spirit
4. They celebrate Christmas
What is 2 & 3...
In Christianity, evergreen wreaths symbolize strength and everlasting life, with the presence of a wreath on a door serving as a sign of Christmas spirit.
The wreath dates back to ancient Rome and Greece, when rings made of twigs, fruit, flowers and leaves were worn on heads. (Think the Olympic laurels.)
200
Is Santa Claus, St. Nick and Kriss Kringle the same person?
What is NO
St. Nicholas was a fourth-century Turkish bishop who spent his life giving money to the poor, often by secretly leaving money in people's stockings overnight. He died on December 6, and was later proclaimed a saint - making December 6 St. Nicholas Day.
Around the 15th century in England, the burgeoning Protestant population transformed St. Nicholas into the drunken gift-giver Father Christmas, who, in turn, was renamed Kriss Kringle in the U.S. (Kringle being a popular Danish pastry often eaten around the Christmas holiday.)
American cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the modern iteration of Santa Claus as a jolly bearded man living at the North Pole, and L. Frank Baum’s 1902 book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus forever etched it into the collective consciousness. But this version of Santa is only about a century old.
300
Not all bad children get coal for Christmas some get a visit from Krampus a beast like creature as punishment for their behaviour... where would you find Krampus?
1. Italy, Spain, Portugal
2. Denmark, Finland, Norway
3. Austria, Germany, Hungary
4. Great Britian, Ireland, Scotland
What is Austria, Germany, Hungary
Bad children in the U.S get coal, but other bad children around the world get a visit from Krampus. The beast-like creature shows up in order to punish the ill-behaved. If he discovers a particularly bad child, he bundles him into a sack and carts him away, presumably for a midnight snack!
300
Most popular holiday beverage consumed by many European countries..
1. Egg nog 4. Mulled wine
2. Champagne 5. Hot Toddy
3. Apple Cider 6. Posset
What is Apple Cider...
It’s said that Julius Caesar and friends found the British drinking cider in 55 BCE. Europeans brought the tradition to the New World, where cider was such an important beverage that the trees Johnny Appleseed was planting were actually for cider making.
300
Known as the Missouri Rockets, this iconic dance troupe has been kicking up its heels since 1925, who are they?
Who are The Rockettes
Officially becoming the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes in 1934. From performing at movie openings to entertaining troops to making TV appearances, they’re perhaps best-known for their annual Christmas Spectacular.
300
Dreidels have how many sides to them?
What is Four...
Spinning tops in Yiddish are "dreidels" and the popular Hanukkah custom stemmed from the gambling game that dates back to 1500. The four Hebrew letters on each side of the dreidel—shin, hey, gimel and nun—form an acronym for "a great miracle happened here."
300
Are there 12 Days of Christmas?
Yes or No
BONUS...
When are they?
What is Yes...
The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days that sit between Christmas Day on December 25th and Epiphany on January 6th. Christmas Day is the first of the twelve days of Christmas, and Epiphany Eve on January 5th is the twelfth day of Christmas. Like many Christian traditions around Christmas, the twelve days of Christmas originated from older traditions, such as the Norse or Germanic traditions around Yule and the twelve days of Yule. Each of the days between Christmas and Epiphany were supposed to correspond with the upcoming year. A person could watch for omens or signs to help them divine what the new year would bring. Each day spoke to a different month.
The Yule log would be lit on Christmas Eve, and then its fire would burn every night until January 6th, when it would be extinguished. A rich Twelfth Night cake, made of eggs, butter, raisins, fruit, nuts, and spices, would be eaten on the first night. Inside the cake was a dried pea or bean and the person who found it would be Lord or Lady of Misrule. This person led the celebrations. The closest thing to this cake today is Italian Panettone. On the Twelfth Night there was often caroling and partying that happened. During the parties that occurred, roles were reversed: the servants were served by the wealthy and the rich cared for their servants. Epiphany Eve culminated with folks leaving out images of the three wise men, or leaving out shoes or other containers that the wise men could leave gifts in.
400
In this Wales dead horses are used to go Christmas Caroling...
True or False
What is true BUT...
From Christmas time to late January, the celebration of Mari Lwyd is supposed to bring good luck. One person will dress as a horse with an actual horse skull and is usually accompanied by a group of people. The group will go to homes singing carols in exchange for food and drinks. The tradition is thought to stem from ancient Celtic rites.
400
Sasumuneash (Wild Cranberries) are a holiday tradition in the United States foraged by Native Americans, The Wampanoag of southeastern Massachusetts. How long ago were these famous red berries discovered?
1. 300 years 3. 12,000 years
2. 653 years 4. 1122 years
What is 12,000 years
Cranberries or “BITTER BERRIES” are indigenous to North America and have long been foraged by NATIVE AMERICANS, who discovered many uses for the vibrant, red fruit. The Wampanoag people of southeastern Massachusetts have a rich, 12,000 year long relationship with sasumuneash (wild cranberries). Sasumuneash were used as a source of food and nourishment, taken as holistic medicine to fight fever, swelling, and seasickness, and used to dye clothes, blankets and rugs. To this day, the Wampanoag people gather every October in order to give thanks for the sasumuneash harvest; CRANBERRY DAY remains the most important and meaningful holiday of the year for their tribe.
400
Would it be considered greedy when opening gifts in front of the Giver in other countries?
True or False
What is True...
Of course, you open a Christmas gift in front of the loved one who gave it to you! How else would they know whether or not you liked it? But actually, opening a gift right away or opening it in front of the giver is seen as greedy in many other places.
400
What do Poinsettia's come from?
1. California 4. Florida
2. Africa 5. Central America
5. Brazil
What is Central America
Native to Central America and favored by the Aztecs, these pretty red plants were brought to America by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, in the 1820s. Their bright red flowers and winter blooming season have made them synonymous with Christmas.
400
Who created the tradition of gift giving during the holidays?
1. English 4. French
2. Romans 5. Americans
3. Germans 6. Greeks
What is The Romans...
Gift-giving during holidays is of Roman origin. It was part of a celebration offered to the Roman god Saturn who was viewed to be the god of agriculture who gave vegetation and fruitfulness all year round.
500
Whamagedon is an annual holiday tradition of watching TV Station WHAM in this country...
True or False
What ia False.
“Whamagedon.” Each year starting on Dec 1, participants attempt to avoid listening to the popular 80s Christmas song, Last Christmas by Wham. even going so far as to wear headphones and earplugs when going out in public. These days it’s frustratingly impossible to avoid since radio stations, as well as department and convenience stores, keep this song on heavy rotation throughout the holiday
500
Which food would you find on the dinner table Donuts on Chanukah...
1. Crab cakes 2. Liver & Onions
3. Donuts 4. Spiral Ham
What is Donuts...
The two foods commonly consumed on Chanukah, doughnuts and potato latkes (pancakes), are both fried in oil, reminding us of the miracle of Chanukah, which featured oil burning for 8 days instead of one.
Many Ashkenazi Jews believe that latkes must be the original custom since that is what their bubby made, while doughnuts are a Johnny-come-lately iteration
500
Did Coca Cola invent the most popular image of Santa to sell their product in the 1930's?
True or False
What is False...
As previously mentioned, the pop culture version of the modern Santa emerged as an amalgam of various traditions, and this amalgam included the red-and-white garb that has come to define the jolly figure. Coca-Cola jumped on this image as it became more and more popular. In the 1930s, with the Depression slowing their sales, the company unveiled an ad campaign featuring Santa Claus guzzling down not a glass of milk, but an ice cold Coke between present deliveries. His red-and-white attire fit well into Coke’s corporate branding.
However, this image was already in the popular consciousness, as seen in books and cartoons of the times. In this era before national television ads, many more people saw the Coca-Cola Santa than these others, but he didn’t come first – and he certainly wasn’t invented by the soft drink company.
500
Where and when was the first Christmas tree lot opened in the United States?
1. California in 1918
2. New York 1851
3. Chicago 1895
4. Boston 1902
What is New York
Decorated trees date back to Germany in the Middle Ages, with German and other European settlers popularizing Christmas trees in America by the early 19th century. A New York woodsman named Mark Carr is credited with opening the first U.S. Christmas tree lot in 1851.
500
Was Christmas once banned in America...
True or False
What is True.
The celebration of Christmas was, at one time, banned in part of the United States of America. But it wasn’t San Francisco liberals or a knuckling-under city council behind the ban, but the state of Massachusetts – in 1659. The Puritans who settled in New England wanted nothing to do with Church of England holiday celebrations, and this included a holiday that had less to do with Christ and more to do with drunkenness and frivolity.
The Puritan government responded to British authorities attempting to ride herd on them by banning the holiday, and the ban was in place for 22 years. It wasn’t until well into the 1800s that Christmas was a holiday celebrated in large numbers in Boston.