How well do you know your Christmas Traditions?

I started this quiz as part of my research for a game I am making for a Christmas party tonight. I was amazed at how much of the Christmas traditions are actually fairly 'new' and how so many have their origins in either pagan rituals or the Victorian period.

So how much do YOU know? Do you know where Rudolph came from? Do you know the origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? or why people decorate with greenery? Test your knowledge and see if you are a Christmas trivia buff!

Created by: ginny hrushka of Facebook
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What is your age?
Under 18 Years Old
18 to 24 Years Old
25 to 30 Years Old
31 to 40 Years Old
41 to 50 Years Old
51 to 60 Years Old
Over 60 Years Old
What is your gender?
Male
Female
1. Despite its pagan origin, Christmas was celebrated by most Puritans
True
False
huh?
2. Which Victorian author wrote “A Christmas Carol”?
Charles Dickens
Virginia Woolf
Thomas More
William Thackeray
3. Modern depictions of Santa Claus as a jolly, fat elf clothed in red and white with rosy cheeks and a twinkle in his eye owe their inspiration to:
Coca-Cola advertisements in the 1930’s
The beloved children's poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas"
The drawings of 19th-century cartoonist Thomas Nast
All of the above
4. True or False? All of Santa’s reindeer are male.
True
False
huh?
5. True or False? The famous Christmas song Silver Bells was written about the Salvation Army bell ringers.
True
False
huh?
6. True of False? The character "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was originally created as a holiday promotional gimmick for the Montgomery Ward department store chain.
True
False
huh?
7. True or False? The Song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” focused on the Feast of Epiphany; the season between December 25th and January 6th.
True
False
huh?
8. What was the origin of the abbreviation “Xmas”?
it was created by secular humanists in an attempt to dilute the Christian aspect of the holiday
It was simply a side effect for the need for brevity in commercial advertising
In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the name Christ begins with the letter Chi (x), which has been used for many centuries as an abbreviation for Christ.
None of the above.
9. The tradition of hanging stockings by the chimney for Christmas was inspired by:
The legend of St. Nicholas, who is said to have provided dowries for three poverty-stricken sisters by dropping gold coins down their chimney and into the stockings they had left out to dry.
The belief that stockings symbolize, in miniature, Santa's bag of gifts
The story of baby Jesus, who had no stockings to wear
None of the above
10. According to tradition, the first historical personage to decorate a fir tree with lights (actually candles, in those days) to celebrate Christmas was:
Augustine
Queen Elizabeth I
Martin Luther
None of the above.
11. True or False? Pets and small children should not eat poinsettias, because they are poisonous and can cause death.
True
False
huh? What's a poinsettia?
12. The tradition of "decking the halls" with boughs of holly and other greenery originated from:
Propaganda disseminated by the horticulture industry
The need to preserve plant life from harsh weather by keeping it indoors during freezing temperatures
The sup---atural belief that bringing greenery in the house in midwinter would ensure its return in the spring
To add a bit of color to the typically dull medieval decor
13. What year did the song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” become popular?
1928
1931
1942
1976
14. What year was the first commercially-made Christmas card sold?
1501
1760
1843
1941
15. True or False? Historians have been able to confirm the belief that Jesus was born on December 25th.
True
False
huh?
16. Why did Ginny make this quiz?
She was bored.
She made it as part of her church's christmas party.
Her new job pays her to make quizzes.
Who is Ginny?

What is your age?

Under 18 Years Old

18 to 24 Years Old

25 to 30 Years Old

31 to 40 Years Old

41 to 50 Years Old

51 to 60 Years Old

Over 60 Years Old

What is your gender?

Male

Female

1. Despite its pagan origin, Christmas was celebrated by most Puritans

True

False

huh?

2. Which Victorian author wrote “A Christmas Carol”?

Charles Dickens

Virginia Woolf

Thomas More

William Thackeray

3. Modern depictions of Santa Claus as a jolly, fat elf clothed in red and white with rosy cheeks and a twinkle in his eye owe their inspiration to:

Coca-Cola advertisements in the 1930’s

The beloved children's poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas"

The drawings of 19th-century cartoonist Thomas Nast

All of the above

4. True or False? All of Santa’s reindeer are male.

True

False

huh?

5. True or False? The famous Christmas song Silver Bells was written about the Salvation Army bell ringers.

True

False

huh?

6. True of False? The character "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was originally created as a holiday promotional gimmick for the Montgomery Ward department store chain.

True

False

huh?

7. True or False? The Song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” focused on the Feast of Epiphany; the season between December 25th and January 6th.

True

False

huh?

8. What was the origin of the abbreviation “Xmas”?

it was created by secular humanists in an attempt to dilute the Christian aspect of the holiday

It was simply a side effect for the need for brevity in commercial advertising

In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the name Christ begins with the letter Chi (x), which has been used for many centuries as an abbreviation for Christ.

None of the above.

9. The tradition of hanging stockings by the chimney for Christmas was inspired by:

The legend of St. Nicholas, who is said to have provided dowries for three poverty-stricken sisters by dropping gold coins down their chimney and into the stockings they had left out to dry.

The belief that stockings symbolize, in miniature, Santa's bag of gifts

The story of baby Jesus, who had no stockings to wear

None of the above

10. According to tradition, the first historical personage to decorate a fir tree with lights (actually candles, in those days) to celebrate Christmas was:

Augustine

Queen Elizabeth I

Martin Luther

None of the above.

11. True or False? Pets and small children should not eat poinsettias, because they are poisonous and can cause death.

True

False

huh? What's a poinsettia?

12. The tradition of "decking the halls" with boughs of holly and other greenery originated from:

Propaganda disseminated by the horticulture industry

The need to preserve plant life from harsh weather by keeping it indoors during freezing temperatures

The sup---atural belief that bringing greenery in the house in midwinter would ensure its return in the spring

To add a bit of color to the typically dull medieval decor

13. What year did the song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” become popular?

1928

1931

1942

1976

14. What year was the first commercially-made Christmas card sold?

1501

1760

1843

1941

15. True or False? Historians have been able to confirm the belief that Jesus was born on December 25th.

True

False

huh?

16. Why did Ginny make this quiz?

She was bored.

She made it as part of her church's christmas party.

Her new job pays her to make quizzes.

Who is Ginny?

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How well do you know your Christmas Traditions?

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