Christmas Trivia Quiz

Christmas Quiz

1. Which Christmas tree fact is NOT true?
A. Artificial Christmas trees have outsold real ones every year since 1991.
B. Nova Scotia leads the world in exporting Christmas trees.
c. Franklin Pierce was the first president to decorate an official White House Christmas tree.
D. The Christmas tree was chosen to represent this holy holiday because it's shape points the way to heaven.

1. Which Christmas tree fact is NOT true?
D. The Christmas tree was chosen to represent this holy holiday because it's shape points the way to heaven.
QQ: OK, so maybe it's true, but the QuizQueen can't prove that fact, as reasonable as it sounds, because it wasn't in any of the literature she dug up for this quiz.

2. Can you name the popular Christmas song that was actually written for Thanksgiving?
A. Jingle Bells
B. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
C. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
D. Away in the Manger

2. Can you name the popular Christmas song that was actually written for Thanksgiving?
A. Jingle Bells
QQ: The song was composed in 1857 by James Pierpont, and was originally called One Horse Open Sleigh.  When you think about the words make a lot more sense that way…

3. Electric Christmas tree lights were first used in what year?
A. 1865
B. 1895
C. 1905
D. 1932

B. 1895
QQ: American Ralph E. Morris had the bright idea that electric Christmas lights would be safer than using candles.

4. Good King Wenceslas was king of what country?
A. Bohemia
B. England
C. Germany
D. Morocco

4. A. Bohemia.
QQ: Who knows why those Bohemians always get such a bad rep? Although, history has it that Wenceslas, who lived in the 10th century, was only a Duke, not a King at all.

5. In 8971, the New York Sun newspaper wrote a famous response to a little girl's question: "Yes, _______, there is a Santa Claus."  Can you name that girl?
A. Mary
B. Charlotte
C. Vidalia
D. Virginia

5. In 8971, the New York Sun newspaper wrote a famous response to a little girl's question: "Yes, _______, there is a Santa Claus."  Can you name that girl?
D. Virginia
QQ: Virginia O'Hanlon to be exact! Shame on you, if you missed it.

6. Can you name Scrooge's dead business partner from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol?"
A. Jacob Marley
B. Tiny Tim
C. Bob Cratchett
D. Old William

6. Can you name Scrooge's dead business partner from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol?"
A. Jacob Marley
QQ: The first of four spirits to appear to Scrooge that fateful Christmas Eve was that of Jacob Marley, his old business partner.

7. One of the pagan traditions that Christians have incorporated into their Christmas celebration includes hanging mistletoe.  Which of these is NOT a former pagan belief?
A. Ancient Europeans believed that the mistletoe plant held magical powers to bestow life and fertility as well as protect against disease.
B. French girls used to slip branches of mistletoe beneath their pillows to dream of their future husbands.
C. The Celts believed mistetoe brought about peace and goodwill.
D. Northern Europeans associated mistletoe with the Norse goddess of love, Freya and developed the custom of kissing underneath mistletoe branches.

7. One of the pagan traditions that Christians have incorporated into their Christmas celebration includes hanging mistletoe.  Which of these is NOT a former pagan belief?
B. French girls used to slip branches of mistletoe beneath their pillows to dream of their future husbands.
QQ: That was a tough one, wasn't it?  The QuizQueen is soooo clever…

8. While today the Christmas tree is an enduring symbol of the season, it wasn't always a holiday tradition.  Which historical fact is NOT true?
A. According to legend, Martin Luther, the founder of German protestantism, while walking through the forest on Christmas Eve was so moved by the starlit fir trees he brought one indoors and decorated it with candles to remind his children of God's creation.
B. In 1841, Prince Albert of Germany gave his wife, Queen Victoria of England, a gift of a Christmas tree. This was reputedly the first Christmas tree in England, but the custom quickly spread.
C. German immigrants brought the Christmas tree to Europe, the United States and Canada, where it soon became a popular tradition.
D. On a bet, 11-year-old P.T. Barnum started hawking trees in Connecticut in 1821, telling his marks they were all the rage.  Soon the fashion spread throughout the country and it became tradition, thus establishing his maxim "There is a sucker born every minute."

8. While today the Christmas tree is an enduring symbol of the season, it wasn't always a holiday tradition.  Which historical fact is NOT true?
D. On a bet, 11-year-old P.T. Barnum started hawking trees in Connecticut in 1821, telling his marks they were all the rage.  Soon the fashion spread throughout the country and it became tradition, thus establishing his maxim "There is a sucker born every minute."
QQ: Good 'ole P.T. Barnum did try to sell just about everything, and may in fact have sold Christmas trees, but I doubt he sold them at that age!

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9. Many people are familiar with the term "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but not everyone knows where it originated. Can you pick out the right explanation?
A. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the number of days Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem.
B. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the length of time that the three wise men from the East traveled to reach Baby Jesus after his birth.
C. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the number of reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh.
D. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the length of time required to celebrate Good King Wenceslas' birthday.

9. Many people are familiar with the term "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but not everyone knows where it originated. Can you pick out the right explanation?
B. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the length of time that the three wise men from the East traveled to reach Baby Jesus after his birth.
QQ: And you thought you didn't learn anything practical in Sunday school?

10. Who hasn't wondered what "wassail" is and why people would request it at Christmas. Let's see if you can guess…
A. Wassail comes from the Old Norse "Ves Heill" and means "to be of good health," so when neighbors would visit on Christmas Eve they would drink to each other's health.
B. Wassail comes from the Old German "Ves Heill" and means "to avoid Hell," so loved ones would share this sentiment with each other on Christmas Eve in preparation for the birth of Christ.
C. Wassail comes from the Old Celtic "Ves Heill" and means "drink up" so is naturally associated with all party occasions.
D. Wassail comes from the Old English "Ves Heill" and means drink of the angels and eventually became associated with Christmas.

10. Who hasn't wondered what "wassail" is and why people would request it at Christmas. Let's see if you can guess…
A. Wassail comes from the Old Norse "Ves Heill" and means "to be of good health," so when neighbors would visit on Christmas Eve they would drink to each other's health.
QQ: Sometimes The QuizQueen can be very, very silly.

11. Everyone loves to receive them, but dreads performing the annual holiday ritual of sending Christmas cards. So who do we NOT have to thank/blame?
A. Medieval Europeans who exchanged wood prints of religious themes for Christmas.
B. English illustrator John Calcott Horsley who created the first modern Christmas card in 1843 that depicted a family celebration with the caption "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You."
C. German-American printer Louis Prang who made advances in color lithography allowing him to mass produce colorful Christmas cards in 1875.
D. Desmond Hallmark who had a surplus of cards left over from Arbor Day depicting a fir tree and decided to unload them by the box by simply printing Merry Christmas across the trees in red ink.

11. Everyone loves to receive them, but dreads performing the annual holiday ritual of sending Christmas cards. So who do we NOT have to thank/blame?
D. Desmond Hallmark who had a surplus of cards left over from Arbor Day depicting a fir tree and decided to unload them by the box by simply printing Merry Christmas across the trees in red ink.
QQ: While all except poor Desmond can be held responsible, The QuizQueen truly blames Louis!

12. Remember that fuscia sweater Aunt Edna knitted for your Christmas present last year? Don't blame Aunt Edna, she's not the one who started the Christmas gift giving tradition, so who is?
A. Those three wise men who visited the stable where Jesus was born.
B. The ancient Romans who exchanged gifts to bring good fortune for the new year.
C. Mark Antony who was always looking for new ways to please Cleopatra.
D. The ancient Greeks who sought to placate the gods on Mount Olympus.

12. Remember that fuscia sweater Aunt Edna knitted for your Christmas present last year? Don't blame Aunt Edna, she's not the one who started the Christmas gift giving tradition, so who is?
B. The ancient Romans who exchanged gifts to bring good fortune for the new year.
QQ: Of course, Aunt Edna is to blame for choosing that color. You can't blame the Romans for that.

Christmas Around the World

Christmas in the Birthplaces of Traditions -- Bethlehem, Germany and England

        Christmas as celebrated today is a culmination of centuries of  traditions that are religious and secular and which came from different  countries around the world. It is interesting therefore to look at some of the  general ways in which Christmas is celebrated in these countries. The traditions
examined for each country will be examples of some of the things that are unique  to that country and which are done today, or which were once done by people in  those countries.

       To begin, it is symbolic to look at the town of Bethlehem, which is  believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity is located in  Bethlehem and at Christmas it is decorated with a lot of flags and other  Christmas decorations. A very large crowd usually gathers at The Church of the
Nativity on Christmas Eve to see a dramatic parade procession of horsemen, led  by police who are mounted on Arabian horses. Following the police in the  procession is a lone horseman who carries a cross, followed by churchmen and  government officials. Members of the procession solemnly enter the doors of The  Church of the Nativity and place an ancient effigy of Jesus in the church. A  silver star located deep in an underground cave-like section of the church marks  the site where Jesus was born. A star is also set atop a pole in the town's  square. In Bethlehem, homes of Christians usually have a cross over the door and  a manger scene is usually set up inside the house.   

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        In Germany, home of the Christmas tree tradition, the Christmas tree  is not seen until Christmas Eve. The tree is usually kept in a special room, or  elsewhere, and decorated in secret with lights, ornaments, tinsels, angels,  candies, nuts and cookies. It is then lighted, the presents placed underneath  and then shown to the delight of Children on Christmas Eve. In Germany, Dec. 6
is known as St. Nicholas Day when Santa visits the homes of boys and girls. On  the day before, Dec. 5, children leave a shoe or boot outside or by the  fireplace for Santa Claus. If they were good, he places gifts and candies inside  the shoe. But if they were naughty, children will find twigs or a rod in their  shoe. Dinner on Christmas Day includes roast goose, long loaves of bread filled  with raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Other sweet delicacies are also enjoyed. Many traditions in England are similar to those in the United States because  such traditions originated in England and were brought to the United States by  immigrants. The tradition of sending Christmas greeting cards started in England
and is still popular at Christmas, as well as the tradition of neighborhood  caroling on Christmas Eve. Children also hang stockings on Christmas Eve in  anticipation of Santa Claus filling them with Christmas gifts or treats. The  holly, ivy and mistletoe are also used a lot in Christmas decorations. In
England, the traditional Christmas Dinner is roast turkey, goose or chicken with  stuffing, vegetables and roast potatoes. Dessert consists of the British or  Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. A rich, fruit-filled Christmas cake may  also be enjoyed later in the day.  A tradition of pulling Christmas crackers  also goes with the serving of food on Christmas Day. A cracker is a paper tube  that contains a party hat, riddle, toy or trinket, and is brightly colored and  twisted at both ends. It gives out a crack as the contents pop out when it is  pulled at each end. Also on Christmas afternoon, the Queen broadcasts a  Christmas message to the nation, which is heard on radio and television. The day
after Christmas is also a holiday that is known as Boxing Day.

Asides - Interesting Facts/ Notes About Christmas

It is an accepted fact that the Christmas tree tradition is one that was  brought to the shores of America by German immigrants who continued a practice  that was popular in their former homeland. Today, a Christmas tree, even a  miniature one, is present in just about every home at Christmas. It is therefore  interesting to note some little-know facts about the Christmas Tree and other  traditions related to Christmas.

 The first interesting fact is the source of real Christmas Trees for some  Americans. These can be bought at a Christmas Tree Farm or at many local stores  and other places of business in just about every town and city across the  country around Christmas time. But according to the National Christmas Tree  Association, Americans buy about 330,000 Christmas trees that are real through
e-commerce or from a catalogue and have them shipped by mail-order.  The scent of real Christmas trees is the reason they are so popular. But as they  stand silently in their decorative wonder, they also are providing another  benefit. The Christmas Tree Association says the amount of oxygen produced on a  daily basis by one acre of Christmas tree is enough to provide enough oxygen for  18 people. And during the first week, a Christmas Tree at home will use up to  one quart of water each day to help retain its longevity for the many days of  Christmas.

      Since Christmas celebrations gained popularity in America, the Christmas Tree  has always been a big tradition. During the 1950s however, artificial Christmas  trees were not always green. It was very popular during those times to have  artificial trees with other colors such as silver, pink and aqua. The appeal in  having these colored Christmas trees may have been due to the fact that they
looked shiny and bright and appeared like tinsel instead of green foliage. An important ceremony related to the Christmas tree that gains national  attention during the Christmas season is the lighting of the National Christmas  Tree at the White House. This tradition can be credited to President Calvin
Coolidge who lit the first decorated Christmas tree outside at the White House  in 1923.
    
     The lighting of the National Christmas Tree has also been used to convey some  symbolic meaning not related to Christmas. It was not lighted until Dec. 22 in  1963 because of a national mourning period of 30 days for the assassination of  President Kennedy. And while Teddy Roosevelt was President he gave an order that  banned the Christmas tree from the White House, not for the assassination of  President McKinley in 1901, which caused him to become president, but for
reasons related to the environment.   Also of note is that when the National Christmas Tree was lighted on Dec. 13 in  1984, temperatures were in the 70s during an unusually warm December.
Christmas has been celebrated in the United States since the 1600s although it  wasn't always very popular. It took more than two centuries into the mid-late  1860s for Christmas to become a popular holiday season all across America. So  maybe the rest of the country owes the holiday of Christmas Day to the state of  Alabama, which in 1836 became the first state to declare Dec. 25 a legal
holiday.

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     It is interesting to note that on Christmas Day of 1789 Congress was in session.  And to show how far ahead of the game Alabama was, it wasn't until June 26, 1870  that the federal government declared Christmas as a federal holiday.  Although Christmas is based on the Christian religion, not all Christian groups  celebrate the season. Among the Christian groups who do not celebrate Christmas  and related traditions such as sending greeting cards are Jehovah Witnesses.  Jehovah Witnesses and other non-participating Christian groups say Christmas  isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible as a time or reason to celebrate and  since they strictly adhere to the word of the Bible, they refuse to celebrate  Christmas.

Ancient Celebrations Of The Christmas Holiday

Christmas may very well be the oldest holiday that is shared across the many cultures of the world; it is traditionally celebrated during the winter season (or even the warm summer season if you count Australia, where Christmas is celebrated as an official holiday).

Before Christmas was celebrated, people were finding time to celebrate in Europe during the winter holiday before the birth of Jesus Christ ever even occurred!


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The Winter Solstice has always been a time to celebrate and rejoice; it is celebrated on December 21 in the northern hemisphere and it was after the Winter Solstice that the worst part of the year was behind them. It was at that point during the year that the days began to get longer, giving the people more time to spend outside on their crops and tending to their animals.

In Scandinavia during the Winter Solstice, men and their sons used to go in to the woods to cut a tree down. After the tree had been felled, a nicely sized log was cut out of it, and the men would carry the log back to the home. This log was dubbed a Yule Log, and the Yule log was burned in the fireplace. The entire time the Yule log burned, the family would feast. Often times the Yule log might burn for a whole twelve days! Of course, as the Yule log burned it sent sparks out of the hearth and as the sparks flew out of the fire place, the family would count the sparks and each spark stood for a farm animal (a cow, a goat, a pig, etc) that would be born on their property that year. It is important to note that farm animals were signs of wealth back then.

Saturnalia is a celebration of the Winter Solstice that occurred in ancient pagan Rome. Saturnalia was celebrated in honor of the god of agriculture, who was named Saturn. During the time of Saturnalia, the entire Roman empire is in a state of social disarray. Servants and peasants spend time with and celebrate the holiday with people of higher classes, which was a rarity back then.

The Saturnalia festival in itself can last as long as an entire week in Rome. During that time, people rejoiced all over the country of Rome. The phrase ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ was played out to its fullest. Shops and businesses are closed during the Festival of Saturnalia. Following the first week of Saturnalia, the festival itself usually ends, but the Saturnalia period itself does not end.

In addition to Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture, the Romans also worshipped an infant type god named Methra, who was carved out of a rock. On Mithra’s birthday, people also rejoiced, just as they did during Saturnalia. The day of this rock god’s birthday was one of the most sacred days of the year for the Roman people. It was a time for celebration and togetherness, and for family.

Alone for the Holidays?

Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you. Holidays are a time to share love, and many people end up feeling depressed when they do not have people around with whom to share love. If you are in this situation, what can you do to make the holidays joyous rather than depressing?

The key phrase here is SHARE LOVE. Too often people think in terms of getting love rather than giving and sharing their love. They don’t realize that it is the act of giving their love that is so very fulfilling.

Gail had grown up very lonely in an emotionally distant family, with parents who did not freely give their love and relatives who were also cold and distant. She had married an emotionally distant man, and after 7 years of more loneliness, had decided to leave him. This was her first holiday season alone.

Gail decided that she was not going to be alone and lonely again this holiday season. She did some research on service agencies that needed volunteers and discovered a women’s shelter in her area for women and their children who were hiding from physically abusive husbands. The shelter was badly in need of funds for food, which Gail didn’t have. What she did have was the time to help gather food. Each day, after her job as a secretary, Gail went around to the markets in her area until she found some willing to donate Thanksgiving dinners for the mothers and their children. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, she spent her time at the shelter cooking, decorating, serving, and having Thanksgiving dinner with these brave women who had left their abusive husbands to save themselves and their children. It was the best Thanksgiving she ever had! By choosing to share her love with people who needed her, she felt filled with love.

Gail had such a fulfilling experience that she found a small part-time job in addition to her regular job so that she could afford to buy presents for the children at the shelter for Christmas. She had such fun buying presents for the children and watching their joyous little faces as they opened them on Christmas day! Gail felt anything but alone and lonely.

Gary was in a similar situation to Gail. He was single, had been an only child to parents who were no longer alive, and had no close relatives. His janitorial business did not give him much opportunity to make friends. Gary had spent many lonely holidays feeling isolated and depressed, and decided a few years ago to do something about it.

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Gary loved animals. As a child, his dog had been his main connection with love. After some research, Gary discovered that there was a wonderful animal shelter within a half-hour of his home – a shelter that loved and cared for animals and didn’t euthanize them. Gary started to volunteer one day a week on the weekends – cleaning, feeding, playing with puppies and kittens, helping to interview people who wanted to adopt a pet, and getting to know the other volunteers. He found that he really connected with the people who volunteered there. Many of them were loving people who were deeply devoted to caring for animals. As his friendships developed, he found he had a new sense of family centered around the shelter. Thanksgiving and Christmas were now sometimes spent with the other volunteers who did not have families, and sometimes with the families of some of the volunteers. Gary’s life had become full and fulfilling. The last I heard, he was dating a woman who also volunteered at the animal shelter.

No matter what your life situation is, you can always share your love with others. Instead of feeling alone and lonely this holiday season, open your heart to giving. There are many people and animals out there who would welcome your love.

All I Want For Christmas ... Is Time To Myself

Get the turkey; check the Black Friday ads; make the Christmas card list; start shopping; put up the decorations; attend school concerts; make cookies; make fudge; make school party goody bags; get a gift to pass; send out the cards; pick out the tree; replace the bulbs; hang the outside lights; go to the office party; more shopping; assemble presents; wrap presents ….

Busy moms far and wide will tell you it's the same each year. Every year you decide that next year won't be as hectic – yet somehow it always is. This year vow to find some time for yourself during the busy and stressful holiday season.

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We've all heard it before: if you keep doing what you've been doing, you will keep getting what you have been getting. You can look to find that time all month long. However you will not find some time for yourself unless you make some time for yourself.

Make is an action verb meaning to cause to happen to or be experienced by someone. If you are just going about the necessities of the holiday season aimlessly hoping for a few spare moments of solitude, you will not find that time.

Right now, before the weeks close in on the blessed event, turn a new leaf. You have to consciously decide upon and then commit to following your action plan. Start with your calendar. If you're a mom, you have a calendar of some form. Decide now if you want 15 minutes daily of nothing or one whole afternoon weekly of nothing.


It's not a new idea to schedule some time to yourself. What may be new is that you are actually going to write – in pen – the word "Nothing" each week (or day) on your calendar. You must agree to treat that time as if it was an orthodontist appointment. You will not schedule anything else in that time frame.

Mom's taxi service generally puts on a few miles. Vow to turn off your cell phone while you are traveling in the car. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, in case the children need to reach you then vow not to answer it. And that means do not make phone calls either.

"But… but… I'm so busy. I have to make those calls!" Did you know that studies have been conducted by zoologists regarding animals and downtime? If the animals are left out in the public eye for more than six days they become agitated. Each week, zookeepers pull the animals inside for a day of rest and relaxation.

If the lions, tigers and bears need some downtime without stimulation, doesn't it stand to reason that Homo sapiens do too? Do you find yourself getting a little agitated if you are left out in the public eye too long to deal with all the demands placed on a busy mom?

Your body was created to need downtime. Still not convinced? Consider the workplace production studies. Some employees are pushing for four 10-hour days instead of five eight hour days. However the studies show that productivity declines significantly after eight hours of working. They may be present for ten hours but only fully productive for eight. All your madness isn't really giving you productivity.

Perhaps you're hoping for some magical tips on how to find more time for yourself. You want someone to tell you that if you follow steps 1, 2 and 3 this holiday season will be so much more relaxed than you were last year.

All you really need is step one – make a conscious effort that you will make time and that you will not allow outside influences to interfere with your very much needed time to yourself.

You are only as busy and harried as you allow yourself to be. It is within your span of control to enjoy the busy weeks of the holiday season.

Dr. Paul Pearsall said it best in his book, Toxic Success: How to Stop Striving and Start Thriving, "The work will wait while you watch the rainbow. The rainbow won't wait while you work.”

A Christmas History Lesson

The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of the most famous Christmas carols ever written.  It has been sung for a great many years, and is known the world over.  To most it is a delightful hymn, but it was originally created with a very serious intent.  In England between the years of 1558 and 1829, it was illegal to practice Catholicism in public or private.  It was essentially a crime to be Catholic in England during those years.

The Twelve Days of Christmas was written to help preserve the traditions of the Catholic faith during the years that Catholicism was banned in England.  The song is steeped in symbolism, and the fact that it is so well known throughout the world is a testament to the faith of the followers of the Catholic doctrine.  The symbols contained in the song are as follows:

1st verse – "True Love" refers to God.
2nd verse – "2 Turtle Doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd verse – "3 French Hens" refers to Faith, Hope, and Charity.
4th verse – "4 Calling Birds" refers to the Four Gospels or the Four Evangelists.
5th verse – "5 Golden Rings" refers to the first five Books of the Old Testament.
6th verse – "6 Geese-a-laying" refers to the six days of creation.
7th verse – "7 Swans-a-swimming" refers to the seven sacraments.
8th verse – "8 Maids-a-milking" refers to the eight beatitudes.
9th verse – "9 Ladies dancing" refers to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10th verse – "10 Lords-a-leaping" refers to the Ten Commandments.
11th verse – "11 Pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th verse – "12 Drummers drumming" refers to the twelve points of the Apostle’s creed.

I love this song.  It is, by far, my favorite Christmas carol.  I had no idea about the symbols contained in the song, until I googled the song lyrics one afternoon.  I find it very interesting that a song we all know so well could contain so many hidden meanings.  I would never have guessed that it was anything more than lovely Christmas carol.  It’s always nice to learn something new, especially about the wonderful celebration of Christmas.  I hope you learned something, too.  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!