Yankee Swap
This classic 1950s toy oven let kids bake tiny treats using just a lightbulb, delighting generations of young chefs.
What is the Easy-Bake Oven?
In Germany, Advent calendars traditionally have 24 small doors, each hiding this type of treat.
What is chocolate / candy?
“This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special…”
What is Last Christmas?
In this Hanukkah movie, Adam Sandler’s character performs a comedic “Hanukkah Song” naming celebrities with Jewish heritage.
What is Eight Crazy Nights?
Though shaped like its name, this French holiday dessert is not made of wood but is a rolled sponge cake decorated to resemble a forest log.
What is a bûche de Noël (Yule log cake)?
First released in 1998, parents famously fought in stores over these chirping, blinking robotic pets who “learned” English over time.
What are Furbies?
In Sweden, children celebrate Saint Lucia’s Day on December 13th by dressing in white robes and wearing a crown of these.
What are candles?
“Later on, we’ll conspire, as we dream by the fire…”
What is Winter Wonderland?
This loveable snowman's first words when coming back to life were, Happy Birthday!
Who is Frosty the Snowman
Often eaten during Hanukkah, these crispy potato pancakes are fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the Temple menorah burning for eight nights.
What are latkes?
This 1983 doll line caused one of the earliest modern holiday shopping frenzies, with parents lining up for hours for their “adoption papers".
What are Cabbage Patch Kids?
During Hanukkah, it is customary to play with this four-sided spinning top, often with Hebrew letters on each side.
What is a dreidel?
“Where the treetops glisten, and children listen…”
What is White Christmas?
This 6'3" human raised by elves tries to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
Who is Buddy the Elf
This Italian Christmas cake, rising tall with dried fruits, originated in Milan and its name translates roughly to “big bread.”
What is panettone?
Released in 2016, these plastic creatures “hatched” from speckled eggs and were one of the decade’s toughest Christmas gifts to track down.
What are Hatchimals?
In Austria, the figure of Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas to do this to naughty children.
What is scare them / punish them?
"Put on your yarmulke, it's time for Chanukah,"
What is The Hanukkah Song?
In this 1946 film, a guardian angel shows a man what life in Bedford Falls would be like if he’d never been born.
What is It’s a Wonderful Life?
This slow-simmered Southern staple—made from black-eyed peas, rice, and smoked meat—is often served during Kwanzaa to symbolize prosperity for the coming year.
What is Hoppin’ John?
In the 1970s, this action figure line featuring cowboys, astronauts, and soldiers became a common holiday gift.
What are G.I. Joe action figures?
In Latvia, a winter solstice tradition involves staying awake all night to watch this astronomical event.
What is the sunrise / the winter solstice sunrise?
“Bells will be ringing the glad, glad news…”
What is Please Come Home for Christmas?
Which Pirates of the Caribbean cast members appear in Love, Actually?
Who are Keira Knightley and Bill Nighy
In Japan, it’s tradition to eat this American fast-food meal on Christmas Eve—a trend started by a 1970s marketing campaign.
What is KFC fried chicken?