International Traditions
Which country did eggnog come from?
England
In what decade was the first Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center put up?
1930's (specifically 1933)
Where did the Grinch live?
Every Who Down in Whoville Liked Christmas a lot ...
But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, Did NOT!
...or Mount Crumpit
What color is Santa's belt and buckle?
Santa is traditionally depicted wearing a black belt with a gold buckle.
In 1953, this Christmas song was Eartha Kitt’s biggest hit of her career.
“Santa Baby”
In what country are Christmas trees decorated with spiders?
In traditional Ukrainian houses a Christmas tree will often be decorated with a spider and web for good luck.
What was the first company that used Santa Claus in advertising?
Coca-Cola
What is Ralphie’s little brother’s name in the movie A Christmas Story?
Randy
Santa Clause is believed to have come from which Saint?
Saint Nicholas
What popular Christmas song was actually written for Thanksgiving?
“Jingle Bells”
Written in 1857, Although originally intended for the Thanksgiving season and having no connection to Christmas, it became associated with Christmas music and the holiday season around 1890.
In Spain, it is a tradition to eat what at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve?
It is rare to find a Spaniard who will risk poisoning their fate for the coming year by skipping the New Year's Eve grapes, one for each stroke of midnight.
What store sold the first pre-lit Christmas trees?
In the early 1990s the world's largest artificial Christmas tree maker, Boto Company (bankrupted in January 2008) supplied the first pre-lit Christmas trees to Target stores.
What’s the name of the main villain in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Oogie Boogie
What is Santa Claus called in France?
Père Noël
What song does Lucy ask Schroeder to play on his piano in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”?
“Jingle Bells”
Which country follows the tradition to light candles on the graves of relatives on Christmas Eve?
Finland
In what decade did NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command, formerly CONAD) start tracking Santa on Christmas Eve?
The 1950’s (specifically 1955)
What is Mrs. Claus's first name?
Jessica
The movie, "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (1970)featured Miss Jessica, a lovely schoolteacher who falls in love with and marries Kris Kringle, eventually becoming the classic Mrs. Claus
The real St. Nicholas was born in what modern-day country?
It is believed that the real St. Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. According to legend, his extraordinary kindness led him to give away all of his inherited wealth as he traveled the countryside helping the sick and poverty-stricken.
In the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” underneath the mistletoe, where did mommy tickle Santa Claus?
“Underneath his beard so snowy white”
Gift wrap was invented in what country?
The use of wrapping paper is first documented in ancient China, where paper was invented in the 2nd century BC. In the Southern Song dynasty, monetary gifts were wrapped with paper, forming an envelope known as a chih pao. The wrapped gifts were distributed by the Chinese court to government officials.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created as a promotion for what department store?
Montgomery Ward hired a writer named Robert L. May in 1939 to write a Christmas story which could be given away to holiday shoppers. May's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, liked the story and decided to write a song to go with it. The resulting "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", eventually recorded in 1949 by Gene Autry, has become a Christmas classic.
What was the name of the magician with the magic hat in the 1969 TV special "Frosty the Snowman"?
A washed-up magician named Professor Hinkle wants desperately to get his discarded magic hat back after he realizes that it has brought Frosty to life.
Which U.S. state has a town called Santa Claus?
Indiana
The town was originally called Santa Fe. When its citizens asked for a post office in 1856, they were told that Indiana already had a Santa Fe post office, so they renamed their town Santa Claus!
What Christmas song has the line, “I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer?”
“Holly Jolly Christmas”