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1. Christmas trees as a custom originated in America
They originated in medieval Livonia (present-day Estonia and Latvia) and early modern Germany
True
False
2. One of Santa's reindeer shares a name with a Roman god
Cupid. Fun fact: Rudolph was nearly called Reginald!
True
False
3. In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas the singer receives forty gold rings
The singer receives five rings on eight separate days, for a total of forty
True
False
4. Jesus was gifted gold, frankenstein and myrrh at his birth
Frankenstein was not present at Jesus's birth, though both are said to have raised people from the dead
True
False
5. Russia sends the UK a Christmas tree every year to put in Trafalgar Square
Norway sends the tree. The "flea-bitten" and "anaemic" 2021 tree has been widely mocked.
True
False
6. Jingle Bells was originally written for Thanksgiving
It was also the first song broadcast from space, after Gemini 6 reported seeing a “red-suited” astronaut in “polar orbit”.
True
False
7. No gifts are given to Santa at Christmas
Lots are given! USA: milk and cookies, UK: mince pies and sherry, Ireland: Guinness, France: biscuits, Sweden: coffee, Denmark: rice pudding and cinnamon, Chile: fruit, nut and rum sponge cake, Australia: a cold beer!
True
False
8. In Japan it is a Christmas tradition to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken
Following a successful marketing campaign in 1974 - Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii, or Kentucky for Christmas - it has become family tradition for millions to gather round a bucket of the Colonel's finest.
True
False
9. Celebrating Christmas used to be illegal in Boston
Yes, from 1659 until 1681. The Puritan majority considered Christmas a pagan ritual, citing no Biblical evidence for Jesus being born on December 25th and that Pope Julius I decided the date, which coincided with the existing Roman holiday of Saturnalia, in the 4th century.
True
False
10. Mistletoe emits a pheromone that makes humans more likely to kiss
It does not, and it has no discernible smell
True
False
11. Nativity scenes to promote Christianity are banned in French public spaces
They are only allowed if the organizers can prove they have a “cultural, artistic, or festive purpose”
True
False
12. Black Friday is the busiest pre-Christmas shopping day in the United States
It's the Friday and Saturday before Christmas
True
False
13. The "mincemeat" in mince pies used to be made with actual meat
Yes, mixed with the fruit and nuts was usually mutton, but also beef, rabbit, pork or game.
True
False
14. In the Netherlands, Santa has a controversial companion named "Black Pete"
Zwarte Piet is traditionally portrayed by Dutch people in blackface and Renaissance attire
True
False
15. Legend tells that St Nicholas resurrected three children from the dead
The story goes that the three children had been murdered and pickled by a butcher to sell as pork during a famine. Ho ho ho.
Fun idea! Some good tricky questions here. I have a couple quibbles though.
My main objection is that Cupid is technically a Roman god; his Greek counterpart is Eros, so I marked that one false. Maybe change the clue to Roman instead of Greek?
Also, I think there is debate about whether the gifts from The 12 Days of Christmas are cumulative or not. Personally I'm of the opinion that the each set of gifts are only given once, on the initial day they are mentioned. Perhaps I'm in the minority on that one, though.
My main objection is that Cupid is technically a Roman god; his Greek counterpart is Eros, so I marked that one false. Maybe change the clue to Roman instead of Greek?
Also, I think there is debate about whether the gifts from The 12 Days of Christmas are cumulative or not. Personally I'm of the opinion that the each set of gifts are only given once, on the initial day they are mentioned. Perhaps I'm in the minority on that one, though.
The song lyrics are clear about what is given on each day IMO.