The Seasons of Christmas Trivia Quiz

Answer: December 25

Some Eastern Christian religions use the older Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 6 or 7, but the December 25 celebration is most widely used. The Bible does not state the exact date of Jesus's birth and there are many theories on the choice of date.

Some believe it was chosen to coincide with early Roman solstice celebrations, while others believe its origin to be nine months after the Annunciation.

Answer: False

In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the bill that made Christmas Day a federally observed holiday. Prior to that date, it was observed as a holiday in some states, but many groups regarded it as a pagan tradition and chose not to observe it. (In fact, the Puritans actually outlawed Christmas for a time during the 1700s!)

Answer: Advent

The season of Advent is observed in the Catholic and many Protestant denominations as a time of waiting and preparing for the birth of Jesus. For some Christians, Advent is a time of reflection and sacrifice, and decorating, Christmas carols and other festivities are delayed until Christmas Eve.

Other traditions observe the beginning of the Christmas season around the end of November (Thanksgiving in the US) and ending on December 25.

Answer: Nativity scenes

The word "nativity" is derived from the Latin "nativus", meaning "born" or "birth". Many communities and churches host Nativity plays, and live scenes may include farm animals along with participants portraying the roles of Joseph, Mary, Jesus, shepherds, and wise men. Nativity pageants, often performed by children, are an important part of Christmas Eve services in many churches.

Answer: December 25 through January 5

In the Anglican, Catholic, and several other denominations, the actual Christmas season begins at the end of Advent (midnight on Christmas Eve) and ends on January 5, which is sometimes referred to as "Twelfth Night". Each of the twelve days is an observance of a Biblical event or the feast day of a saint. In many Western countries, religious significance has been overtaken by commercial and secular schools of thought, and the celebration of the Twelve Days has been largely forgotten.

The celebration of Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) is determined by the Jewish calendar and the dates vary from year to year.

Answer: Both Matthew and Luke

Both the first chapter of Matthew and the second chapter of Luke tell the story of the birth of Jesus in the city of Bethlehem. The accounts differ slightly in detail, with Matthew's describing Joseph's commitment as the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus, and Luke's focusing on the young family's travel to Bethlehem and the subsequent birth.

Answer: Epiphany

Depending on the individual church, Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus, the arrival of the three Wise Men, or both events. The focal point of all beliefs is the manifestation of the birth in human form of the Son of God.

The word is derived from the Greek "epiphaneia", meaning "manifestation" or a sudden realization of an important event or understanding.

Answer: Wise men who brought gifts to honor Jesus

The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of the Magi and the star that they had seen signaling the birth. After visiting Jesus and presenting gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the Magi returned to their own country in secret to avoid King Herod, who felt threatened by the news of the birth. Joseph then took his family and went to Egypt to escape Herod's decree that all newborn boys should be killed.

The appearance of the Magi is celebrated in Epiphany pageants, often accompanied by John Henry Hopkins's carol "We Three Kings".

Incidentally, the Bible does not specify there were three of them, only that they bought three gifts.

Answer: Boxing Day

Although the exact origin of Boxing Day is unclear, most theories are that the name came from the tradition of employers presenting their employees with gifts (Christmas boxes) in appreciation for their service throughout the year. These boxes were distributed the day after the customary family Christmas celebrations.

In some cultures, Boxing Day is set aside as a designated time to deliver money and necessities to the poor, honoring St. Stephen, whose feast day is December 26.

Answer: World War I

Although an earlier appeal for cease fire by Pope Benedict XV was ignored by officials on both sides, Christmas Eve in 1914 saw approximately 100,000 British and German troops in western Europe lay down their weapons in observance of Christmas. In some areas, enemy soldiers actually crossed lines to sing carols, share meals, and exchange gifts with enemy soldiers. The temporary truce lasted until New Year's Day in some regions.