Winter Season
This day is the shortest one of the year, occurring on December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere.
What is the Winter Solstice?
This snow sport has both downhill and cross-country variants.
What is skiing?
These crisp fried potato pancakes, traditionally eaten by Ashkenazi Jews during Hanukkah, were originally made from cheese.
What are latkes?
The Christian holiday of Christmas celebrates this event in the life of Jesus Christ.
What is his birth?
This song by Mariah Carey is widely considered to be one of the most well-known Christmas songs worldwide.
What is 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'?
This atmospheric phenomenon has been responsible for extreme cold temperatures in North America during the winter, after the destabilization of the Jet Stream due to global climate change.
What is the Polar Vortex?
"Rosebud" from Citizen Kane is an example of this iconic piece of snow sports equipment.
What is a sled?
This sweet rice confection is traditionally made and enjoyed for New Year's in the Shinto religion.
What is mochi?
Who are the Maccabees?
This traditional holiday song is believed to have originally been considered a Thanksgiving song, rather than a Christmas song.
What is 'Jingle Bells'?
Wintertime "Ice Fairs" were held on the frozen River Thames during this geological time period.
What is the Little Ice Age?
The tradition of eating this kind of meat for Christmas arguably dates back to the Roman Empire.
What is pork?
Father Christmas and Santa Claus are considered by some to be Christianized versions of this pagan god, who was worshiped at Yule.
Who is Odin?
One of the more recognizable songs about Hanukkah was written by this well-known Jewish comedian.
Who is Adam Sandler?
One winter month is named for this two-faced Roman god, who was said to preside over gateways and times of transition.
Who is Janus?
Otzi the Iceman was found wearing a pair of this snow-traversing footwear, made over 5,000 years ago.
This candy paste is used to make molded sweets traditionally eaten around Christmas, such as mushrooms on a French "buche de Noel" or miniature fruits eaten in Italy.
What is marzipan?
This type of construction is part of many religions' midwinter celebrations, including Sadeh in Zoroastrianism and Yule in Norse paganism.
What is a bonfire?
This traditional New Year's song has lyrics based on a Scots-language poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns.
What is 'Auld Lang Syne'?
This length of time is how long the poles experience total darkness during their respective winter seasons.
What is 11 weeks?
This valuable material was used by Arctic peoples to make sled runners in the absence of metal.
What is walrus ivory?
These summertime fruits are saved until December to eat during Yalda Night, the traditional Zoroastrian observance of the winter solstice.
What are watermelon and pomegranate?
This ancient Roman winter holiday was celebrated by widespread public drunkenness and gambling.
What is Saturnalia?
The Christmas song 'Good King Wenceslaus' is set on this day of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which celebrates this saint. For bonus points: Name the gift(s) that your true love gave you on this day in the song, 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'.
What is the second day of Christmas, the Feast of Stephen? (Bonus: Two French hens and a partridge in a pear tree)