Holidays
An eight-day Jewish festival featuring the lighting of the menorah, special foods like latkes, and dreidel games
Hanukkah
This popular winter sport was originally called the "Snurfer" when it was invented in 1965 by joining two skis together
Snowboarding
This dense, heavily alcohol-soaked holiday cake filled with chopped nuts and candied cherries is notoriously long-lasting and often re-gifted
Fruit cake
In Germany and Austria, this terrifying, horned folkloric figure accompanies St. Nicholas to punish misbehaved children
Krampus
In the 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life, Zuzu Bailey famously notes that every time one of these musical items rings, an angel gets its wings
A bell
An ancient celebration of the shortest day of the year, marking the return of the sun with evergreens and fires
Yule / Winter Solstice
In figure skating, this iconic jump is named after the Norwegian skater who first landed it in 1882
Axel
Obtained from the inner bark of a tropical tree, this aromatic brown spice is the primary flavor in pumpkin spice and Snickerdoodle cookies
Cinnamon
In Ukraine, families traditionally decorate their Christmas trees with artificial versions of these webs for good luck, inspired by a folk tale about a poor widow
Spiderwebs
In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold describes his boss as a "headless British authorization" and a "squeegee sharpener" in a wild, unhinged rant about this missing workplace perk
A Christmas bonus
A week-long celebration from December 26 to January 1 honoring African-American heritage and community through seven core principles
Kwanzaa
This traditional, heavy, circular winter footwear allowed Indigenous peoples and early fur traders to walk across deep drifts without sinking
Snowshoeing
A traditional Southern favorite during the holidays, these small, deep-fried cornmeal balls are often served alongside fried fish or roast meats
Hushpuppies
In Greece, instead of or in addition to a tree, many seaside towns traditionally decorate illuminated models of these transit vessels to honor St. Nicholas
boats or ships
In the 1969 special Frosty the Snowman, this is the very first word Frosty exclaims the moment the magic hat is placed on his head
Happy birthday
A nine-day tradition from December 16 to 24 that reenacts Mary and Joseph's search for shelter, featuring songs, processions, and pinatas
Las Posadas (Mexico)
Harbin, home to the world's largest Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, is located in the northeastern region of this country
Derived from the dried, unexpanded flower buds of an evergreen tree, this intensely aromatic spice is frequently pressed into holiday hams
Cloves
In Ireland, it is a long-standing tradition to place one of these tall, burning objects in the front window on Christmas Eve to welcome travelers
a candle
In The Polar Express, the conductor tells a doubting boy, "The thing about trains... it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is...
Deciding to get on
A Punjabi winter harvest festival celebrated on January 13 with bonfires, dancing, and festive foods
Lohri (India)
This classic winter vehicle, propelled by tracks and steered by front skis, was originally patented by Carl Eliason in 1927
Snowmobile
In Italy and Italian-American households, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a grand feast honoring this specific number of seafood dishes
The feast of the seven fishes
In Greece, a traditional Epiphany custom involves a priest throwing a holy cross into a freezing body of water, prompting young swimmers to dive in and compete for this prize
A blessing or good luck for the year
In the 1988 classic Scrooged, Bill Murray's cynical TV executive Frank Cross pitches a terrifying promo for A Christmas Carol featuring acid rain, drug lords, and this specific international threat
terrorism or "terrorists hijacking your home"