Christmas Family Traditions

Christmas Calendar

1. 100 Which annual festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ? Response: Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas”
2. 200 On which date is Christmas mainly observed? Response: December 25 Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas”
3. 300 Christian preparation for Christmas begins with which season? Response: Advent A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Christmas preparation begins on the First Sunday of Advent. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas”
4. 400 What is the Western church's twelve-day Christmas season called? Response: Christmastide Advent is followed by Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas”
5. 500 On which night does the twelve-day Christmas season end? Response: Twelfth Night Advent is followed by Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas”

Advent Countdowns

1. 100 What countdown is used in anticipation of Christmas? Response: Advent calendar An Advent calendar, from the German word Adventskalender, is used to count the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Source: Wikipedia, “Advent calendar”
2. 200 The December door-a-day countdown takes its English name from which German word? Response: Adventskalender An Advent calendar, from the German word Adventskalender, is used to count the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Source: Wikipedia, “Advent calendar”
3. 300 Which movable Sunday makes the liturgical start date vary? Response: First Sunday of Advent Since the date of the First Sunday of Advent varies, falling between November 27 and December 3 inclusive, many reusable Advent calendars made of paper or wood begin on December 1. Source: Wikipedia, “Advent calendar”
4. 400 The First Sunday of Advent always falls between which two dates? Response: November 27 through December 3 Since the date of the First Sunday of Advent varies, falling between November 27 and December 3 inclusive, many reusable Advent calendars made of paper or wood begin on December 1. Source: Wikipedia, “Advent calendar”
5. 500 Because Advent's start date varies, many reusable Advent calendars start on which date? Response: December 1 Since the date of the First Sunday of Advent varies, falling between November 27 and December 3 inclusive, many reusable Advent calendars made of paper or wood begin on December 1. Source: Wikipedia, “Advent calendar”

Decorated Trees

1. 100 What decorated evergreen is associated with the celebration? Response: Christmas tree A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as a spruce, pine or fir, associated with the celebration of Christmas. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas tree”
2. 200 Christmas trees are usually evergreen conifers. Name one. Response: spruce, pine, or fir A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as a spruce, pine or fir, associated with the celebration of Christmas. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas tree”
3. 300 The decorated-tree custom developed in which two historical regions of Central Europe? Response: Germany and Livonia The custom was developed in Central Europe, particularly Germany and Livonia (now Estonia and Latvia), where Protestant Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas tree”
4. 400 How did Moravian tree lighting change after electrification? Response: candles were often replaced by Christmas lights Moravian Christians began to illuminate Christmas trees with candles, which were often replaced by Christmas lights after the advent of electrification. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas tree”
5. 500 An angel on top of the tree stands for which angel from the Nativity? Response: the angel Gabriel An angel or star might be placed at the top of the tree to represent the angel Gabriel or the Star of Bethlehem, respectively, from the Nativity. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas tree”

Poinsettias

1. 100 Which holiday display plant has the scientific name Euphorbia pulcherrima? Response: poinsettia The poinsettia (; Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Source: Wikipedia, “Poinsettia”
2. 200 To which spurge family does the poinsettia belong? Response: Euphorbiaceae The poinsettia (; Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Source: Wikipedia, “Poinsettia”
3. 300 The poinsettia is native to which two places? Response: Mexico and Central America Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. Source: Wikipedia, “Poinsettia”
4. 400 Which two leaf colors make the poinsettia a favorite in Christmas displays? Response: red and green It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. Source: Wikipedia, “Poinsettia”
5. 500 The poinsettia is named after which American diplomat, who brought it to the United States in the 1820s? Response: Joel Roberts Poinsett It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico, who is credited with introducing the plant to the US in the 1820s; however, there have been recent efforts to rename the flower to its Nahuatl name, "cuetlaxōchitl", due to Poinsett's involvement in slavery and the Trail of Tears. Source: Wikipedia, “Poinsettia”

Hearth-Log History

1. 100 What specially selected log is burned as a winter hearth tradition? Response: Yule log The Yule log is a specially selected log burnt on a hearth as a winter tradition in regions of Europe, and subsequently North America. Source: Wikipedia, “Yule log”
2. 200 The Yule log tradition comes from regions of which continent, and later spread to which other? Response: Europe and North America The Yule log is a specially selected log burnt on a hearth as a winter tradition in regions of Europe, and subsequently North America. Source: Wikipedia, “Yule log”
3. 300 The first solid evidence of the Yule log tradition dates from which year? Response: 1184 AD The first solid evidence for this tradition originates in 1184 AD as a Christmas eve tradition. Source: Wikipedia, “Yule log”
4. 400 Which older label preceded the late-17th-century use of Yule log? Response: Christmas log The practice was originally known as the "Christmas log" (and still is in languages other than English), with "Yule log" first used in the late 17th century. Source: Wikipedia, “Yule log”
5. 500 In the old Christmas custom, a piece of the hearth log burns each evening until which night? Response: Twelfth Night, January 6 The Christmas practice calls for burning a portion of the log each evening until Twelfth Night (January 6). Source: Wikipedia, “Yule log”

Final round: Family Traditions

This specially selected hearth log became a winter tradition in regions of Europe and later North America. Response: Yule log The Yule log is a specially selected log burnt on a hearth as a winter tradition in regions of Europe, and subsequently North America. Source: Wikipedia, “Yule log”