Holiday History
What country was the real St. Nicholas born in?
(modern day name)
Turkey
How many gifts does the narrator's true love receive in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?
(They receive each day's previous gifts on each successive day)
364- one for each day of the year, except for your birthday
Tim Burton's classic stop motion film tells the story of a skeletal monarch who tries to take over Christmas from Santa Claus:
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This greedy miser was the partner of Ebenezer Scrooge until his death seven years prior to the events of "A Christmas Carol":
Jacob Marley
Where does the word "snickerdoodle" come from?
(What did it mean in German)
Schnecke Knödel, "snail dumpling"
The celebration of a winter holiday featuring feasting, gift-giving and wreaths dates back to what ancient festival?
Saturnalia (Ancient Rome)
Name all nine of Santa's reindeer:
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph
This holiday horror film sees the Engel family tormented one Christmas night by the movie's titular monster:
Krampus
In the 1990 Christmas comedy "Home Alone", who were the two criminals attacking the McCallister home?
Harry Lyme and Marv Murchins, the "Wet Bandits"
Kwanzaa
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the reclamation and rededication of the Jewish temple at the start of what historical event?
The Maccabean Revolt
What is the most published Christmas hymn in history?
"Joy to the World"
In this 1947 comedy, Kris Kringle takes up employment at a Macy's in New York and works to restore Christmas spirit to the store's customers:
Miracle on 34th Street
This supernatural figure convinces George Bailey not to take his own life in "It's A Wonderful Life":
Clarence Oddbody, guardian angel second class
How many films, including the original, are in the Home Alone franchise?
Six
Christmas was accepted into Christian liturgy in what century?
9th century
What does the Spanish portion of the chorus of "Feliz Navidad" mean, in English?
“Feliz Navidad / Próspero año y felicidad”
“Merry Christmas/ a prosperous year and happiness.”
This 90s superhero film takes place entirely during the Christmas season; it's cast includes Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Gough:
Batman Returns (1992)
What is the name of the ill-tempered ruler of Sombertown who outlaws toys in Rankin/Bass's 1970 stop motion film "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town"?
Burgermeister Meisterburger
What were the three food items stolen by the Grinch?
Who-Pudding
Roast Beast
Who-Hash
The practice of decorating fir trees for Christmas was first documented when?
(To the nearest century, i.e. 1600s, 1700s, etc.)
1605
How much money, in millions, does Mariah Carey make from 'All I Want for Christmas is You' every year?
$3,000,000
[DAILY DOUBLE]
This 1944 musical drama relates the story of the Smith Family, and debuted the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas":
Meet Me in St. Louis
Name one of the three Magi (double points if you can name all three):
Caspar
Melchior
Balthasar
Christmas was first (erroneously) identified as the date of Jesus of Nazareth's birth by whom?
Sextus Julius Africanus, Libyan historian