Our Christmas quiz comes but once a year. See how much you know about this the holiday. The answers appear below.
1. What much-maligned traditional Christmas bread was placed in the great pyramids and later carried by Roman soldiers for nourishment?
2. In what country did Parliament make Christmas celebrations illegal from 1647 to 1660?
3. What Christmas drink began as a posset, a drink made in 14th century England, with hot milk that was curdled with ale or wine?
4. What plant has been associated with love and kisses ever since it was used in Greek and Roman marriage ceremonies?
5. What musical tradition, originally known as wassailing, was strongly influenced by St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century?
6. In the 15th century Netherlands, what would poor children place by the fireplace or outside the door so that the Sinterklass would fill them?
7. The song “Silent Night” was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 in Oberndorf, a village in the Black Forest of what country?
8. What minister’s 1822 Christmas poem was used by political cartoonist Thomas Nast to produce the first modern image of Santa Claus?
9. The tradition of lighting a colossal Christmas tree in this New York City location dates back to 1931 when workers pooled their money to buy a 20-foot balsam fir?
10. What ninth reindeer was added to the original eight when a 1939 Robert May story was set to music and recorded by Gene Autry?
11. In the UK, what name is given to the day after Christmas when the money was traditionally distributed to the poor?
12. People from what country line up to purchase Kentucky Fried Chicken for their Christmas celebrations?
ANSWERS:
1. Fruitcake
2. England
3. Eggnog
4. Mistletoe
5. Christmas caroling
6. Wooden shoes
7. Germany
8. Clement Moore
9. Rockefeller Center
10. Rudolph
11. Boxing Day
12. Japan
