Holiday Characters
This red-nosed reindeer became famous for guiding Santa’s sleigh through foggy weather.
Rudolph
What food and drink is left for Santa?
milk and cookies
These small digital pets, originally from Japan, required feeding, cleaning, and attention to “survive.”
a Tamagotchi
Written in 1949 by Johnny Marks, this song tells the story of a misfit reindeer who guides Santa’s sleigh through foggy weather.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
What is the eight-night Jewish holiday features the lighting of a menorah?
Hanukkah
This snowman comes to life when a magic hat is placed on his head.
Frosty the Snowman
This is the most commonly eaten food during Hanukkah.
potato pancakes
This line of dolls introduced in 2001 featured characters like Yasmin and Cloe, each with their own style and personality.
Bratz dolls
Written in 1942, this song’s famous opening line mentions “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”
The Christmas Song
What African American cultural celebration runs from December 26 to January 1?
Kwanza
This green character from Whoville tries to steal Christmas before having a change of heart.
the Grinch
What traditional holiday food is commonly made in Latinx households?
tamales
These colorful building sets, popular in the 2000s, were themed around movies, superheroes, and imaginative worlds.
LEGO sets
Released in 2000, this song remains one of the most popular modern Christmas songs, famous for its high notes.
All I Want for Christmas Is You
In China, this festival marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations with glowing lanterns?
Lantern Festival
In “The Nutcracker,” this brave girl travels to the Land of Sweets after her toy magically comes to life.
Clara
This fried Jewish holiday food, often served with applesauce or sour cream, is made from grated potatoes and onions.
latkes
These small plush characters, first released in the late 1990s but extremely popular in the 2000s, came in themed sets like “Valentine’s Day” or “Pets” and often had collectible numbers inside.
Beanie Babies
This 1945 song, famously performed by Vaughn Monroe and was written in the sunny state of California.
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
This festival marks the longest night of the year and is celebrated in many cultures, including some Indigenous groups in North America, with bonfires, feasts, and welcoming the return of the sun.
Winter Solstice
This figure from Icelandic folklore is a giant troll who is said to eat misbehaving children and is the mother of the Yule Lads.
Grýla
Gingerbread houses came from this country.
Germany
This small collectible toy line featured miniature animals with big eyes and came with accessories like houses, vehicles, and playsets, appealing especially to kids in the mid-2000s.
Littlest Pet Shop toys
In the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street, this cheerful song is sung by a department store crowd to celebrate the Christmas season.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
This ancient Persian festival celebrates the winter solstice with storytelling and nuts and pomegranates.
Yalda Night