Frosty Festivals
What plant is associated with kissing during the Christmas season?
What is Mistletoe?
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe dates back to 18th-century England, where it was believed to bring good luck and romance. Mistletoe was used in ancient Greece during festival celebrations and as a cure for various ailments. In some cultures, mistletoe was hung over doorways to ward off evil spirits and protect the home.
What holiday, celebrated on March 17th, celebrates Irish heritage with parades, green attire, and festive foods?
What is Saint Patrick's Day?
Fun Facts About St. Patrick
What holiday is associated with retiring white clothing for the season? You may hear the phrase "We don't wear white after..."
What is Labor Day? The “no white after Labor Day” rule is a long-standing piece of American fashion folklore, but today it’s largely considered outdated. Celebrity stylists and fashion authorities consistently affirm that wearing white year‑round is perfectly acceptable. It was partially used as class signaling (late 1800s–early 1900s): Old-money elites used fashion rules—including retiring white after summer—to distinguish themselves from the newly wealthy
What are the two major shopping days that occur anually after Thanksgiving?
What are Black Friday & Cyber Monday? Many people treat Black Friday as the unofficial start of the winter holiday shopping season. While black Friday is not a federal holiday in the United States, several U.S. states give public employees the Friday after Thanksgiving off.
Which rock star makes a cameo in the movie The Polar Express?
What is Steven Tyler? the lead singer of Aerosmith, makes a cameo in The Polar Express as the “Elf Singer,” performing the song “Rockin’ on Top of the World.”
The candy cane's shape was originally designed to resemble what object carried by a shepherd or Saint Nicholas?
What is a Shepards Staff? Candy canes were originally plain white straight sticks made over 350 years ago in Europe, with the first curved "hook" shape appearing in the 1600s in Germany to resemble a shepherd’s staff, symbolizing the shepherds who visited baby Jesus. The white color traditionally represents purity, and the red stripes were added around 1900, possibly to symbolize the blood of Christ. Candy canes were first associated with Christmas in 1874 and began being hung on Christmas trees in 1882
What springtime holiday honors mothers and maternal figures with gifts and family gatherings?
What is mothers day? Mother’s Day in the United States began as a movement to honor mothers and improve social welfare. Ann Reeves Jarvis organized “Mother’s Work Clubs” in the mid-1800s to improve sanitation and help mothers during the Civil War, while her daughter, Anna M. Jarvis, established the first official Mother’s Day celebration in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia, after her mother’s death
What does Juneteenth celebrate?
Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Cities like Atlanta, Houston, Washington D.C., and New Orleans host parades, concerts, and community events
What holiday celebrated on October 31, blends ancient Celtic traditions, Christian influences, and modern pop culture into a spooky and festive holiday?
What is Halloween? Halloween traces its roots to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, over 2,000 years ago, marking the end of summer and the start of winter. Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest on this night, allowing spirits to roam freely, and they lit bonfires to ward off evil spirits. The word "Halloween" comes from All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day, which the Christian Church established to assimilate pagan traditions. Ireland is widely considered the birthplace of Halloween
What song is known as the best-selling Christmas single of all time?
What is White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby? Irving Berlin won the Oscar for “White Christmas” in Holiday Inn (1942) and, as the award presenter, read his own name aloud when announcing the win.
What event does Hannukkah commemorate?
What is the Maccabees’ victory over the Syrian-Greeks and the miracle of the Temple oil that lasted eight days? It begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which varies each year on the Gregorian calendar. The number eight symbolizes miracles and the transcendent, while the ninth candle, the shammash, is used to light the others.
In what country did the easter bunny tradition begin?
What is Germany? Known as the “Osterhase” (Easter Hare), this character came to Pennsylvania with German settlers in the 1700s. Originally, the hare acted like a springtime Santa Claus, judging whether children had been good or bad before rewarding them with colored eggs.
Observed on the last Monday in May, What holiday honors U.S. military members who died in service?
What is Memorial Day? Memorial Day began as “Decoration Day” in 1868, founded by Gen. John A. Logan, and was later moved to the last Monday in May in 1971. It also marks the unofficial start of summer, with many Americans enjoying beaches, cookouts, and outdoor events.
When was Indigenous People's Day first celebrated?
What is 1992? The first official celebration took place in Berkeley, California, in 1992, marking the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival. South Dakota was the first state to recognize it officially in 1990 as Native American Day. Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, offering fascinating insights into their resilience and traditions
Which classic holiday song was originally performed at a Thanksgiving service, creating the common misconception it was written as a Thanksgiving tune?
What is Jingle Bells? James Lord Pierpont wrote the song in 1857 under the title “The One Horse Open Sleigh. ”Historians agree Pierpont did not intend it as a holiday song at all; it was simply a winter sleigh‑riding tune, part of a popular trend of sleigh songs in the 1850s
How long are celebrations for Kwanzaa?
What is Seven Days?
Kwanzaa lasts seven days, from December 26 to January 1, with each day dedicated to one of the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles:
What Jewish holiday commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt?
What is Passover? It begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, usually in March or April. Families gather for Seder meals, storytelling, and symbolic foods to honor freedom and perseverance
True or False: The Liberty Bell rang on July 4th, 1776.
What is False? The Liberty Bell did not ring on July 4, 1776; the famous story is a myth, as the bell was cracked at the time. Nowadays, July 4th is a major summer holiday featuring fireworks, barbecues, concerts, and patriotic celebrations across the country, with large events in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston
What holiday celebrated every fall was originally called Armistice Day?
What is Veterans Day? marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, at the 11th hour, symbolizing the armistice with Germany. It became a national holiday in 1938, and in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed it Veterans Day to honor all veterans, not just those from World War I. Interestingly, the holiday was briefly moved to the fourth Monday of October in 1968 but returned to November 11 in 1975 due to its historical significance.
Which famous crooner recorded “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”?
What is Perry Como? Perry Como was a legendary American singer and entertainer known for his smooth voice, relaxed style, and charming personality, with a career spanning over six decades.
In which century did Valentine’s Day become linked to romance?
What is the 14th century, popularized by Geoffrey Chaucer.
“It is generally accepted that the date of February 14 first became associated with romantic love and various celebrations of love within the literary circle of Geoffrey Chaucer,” said Theodore Leinbaugh, associate professor of English and Comparative Literature. “Chaucer’s “Parliament of Fowls” is one of the earliest known Valentine poems. “Parliament of Fowls”, a 699-line poem about birds choosing their mates, might seem like an unlikely source for what is now a $20 billion holiday industry. But the poem may have originally been written to honor a grand occasion: the marriage of King Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia after five years of negotiations
What Hindu holiday known as the Festival of Colors, celebrates the arrival of spring, the victory of good over evil, and is marked by vibrant colors, playful water fights, and joyful traditions?
What is Holi? Holi is rooted in Hindu mythology, particularly the story of Prahlad and Holika, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, was saved from a fire while the evil Holika perished, which is commemorated through Holika Dahan, a bonfire lit the night before Holi. Another legend celebrates the playful love of Radha and Krishna, inspiring the tradition of smearing colors on loved ones
Did Benjamin Franklin prefer the bald eagle or the turkey?
What is the turkey? Benjamin Franklin preferred the turkey over the bald eagle as America’s national bird, calling the eagle a “bird of bad moral character”
Where did the first Thanksgiving take place?
What is Plymouth Massachusetts? The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, when Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people shared a three-day feast to celebrate a successful harvest, symbolizing cooperation and gratitude between cultures
What song does Lucy ask Schroeder to play on the piano in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
What is Jingle Bells? Originally, A Charlie Brown Christmas was going to have a laugh track — the standard for TV comedies in the 1960s — but Schulz refused, walking out of the room when the idea was raised, insisting the show be taken seriously. The project also began as a Coca‑Cola–sponsored idea, with the company paying only $76,000 to produce it, yet syndication royalties later netted over $5 million