Let's Celebrate!

This feast started with kids leaving their shoes out overnight by a fireplace, on the windowsills or outside their bedroom doors.

• St. Basil's Day

• St. Noel de Chabanel Day

• St. Nicholas Day

• St. Agatha's Day

Answer explanation

December 6th is the feast day of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. St. Nicholas of Myra is a major saint in many European and Eastern countries. One of the old Christian traditions surrounding his feast day is for kids to leave their shoes out overnight in front of the fireplace, on the windowsill, or outside their bedroom door so that St. Nicholas can fill them with special fruits, candies, and other small gifts and treats. This tradition grew from the story of when St. Nicholas threw bags of dowry money, either through a window or down a chimney, into the home of an impoverished family to rescue their daughters from being sold into slavery. This was just one of his many acts of goodwill and charity towards the poor, especially poor children.  Source: St. Nicholas and Your Shoes! A St. Nicholas Day Tradition - The Catholic Company®  

This day of feasting focuses on heavily fattening foods such as lamb and mutton.

• Donghzi Festival

• Ching Ming Festival

• Chung Yeung Festival

• Qingming Festival

Answer explanation

In northern China, where it is especially cold, mutton is a popular food at Dongzhi Festival. In Chinese food culture, mutton is regarded as having significant blood replenishment benefits and is therefore considered a healthy food to eat in winter. Eating mutton on Dongzhi Day warms people up and is said to prevent colds in the coming winter.  

Source: Dongzhi Festival (Winter Solstice) 2022: Tradations, Food (chinahighlights.com)  

This Italian legend is said to sweep the floors as they leave a household on December 30th

• The Orco

• The Guifa

• The Benandati

• The Befana

Answer explanation

According to folklore, on the night before the feast of the Epiphany in early January, Befana flies around on her broom, delivering gifts. Like Santa Claus, she leaves candy, fruit, and small gifts in the stockings of well-behaved children throughout the year. But, on the other hand, if a child is naughty, they can expect to find a lump of coal left behind by La Befana.  

La Befana’s broom is for more than just practical transportation—she also will tidy up a messy house and sweep the floors before she departs for her next stop. This is probably a good thing since Befana gets a bit sooty from coming down chimneys, and it’s only polite to clean up after oneself. She may wrap up her visit by indulging in a glass of wine or a plate of food left out by the parents as thanks.  

Source: 8 Famous Witches From Mythology and Folklore (learnreligions.com)  

This country does not celebrate with Christmas trees, but rather sprigs of basil tied to crosses

• Italy

• Greece

• Spain

• Denmark

Answer explanation

Unlike many countries around the world, the Greek people have never really used Christmas trees to adorn their houses, but a wooden bowl with a piece of wire dangling along the rim. On this wire hangs a small wooden cross with basil wrapped around it. While this is still the case throughout many regions, Christmas trees have risen in popularity over the past few centuries.  

Source: Greek Christmas Traditions | Christmas in Greece | Lemon & Olives | Greek Food & Culture Blog (lemonandolives.com)  

In this country, finding a single almond baked into a pudding brings good luck for the upcoming year.

• Italy

• Greece

• Spain

• Denmark

Answer explanation

Ris A La Mande or risalamande is a rice pudding dessert. Ris A La Mande is a traditional Danish Christmas dessert that can be made from leftover Risengrød and is mainly topped with a cherry sauce and whipped cream. The traditional Danish Christmas rice pudding dessert translates to “rice with almonds” and is usually served on Christmas eve. The main point behind serving the dessert is to see who wins the mandelgave (almond present) by first finding the whole hidden almond.  Source: Ris A La Mande Recipe - Danish Christmas Rice Pudding Dessert (almostnordic.com)  

It is considered good luck to throw a spoonful of this traditional food at the ceiling see if it will stick.

• Pasta

• Rice

• Pudding

• Porridge

Answer explanation

In Russia, some people choose not to eat anything and fast on Christmas Eve until the first star appears in the sky. People then eat porridge or 'Sochivo,' a porridge made from wheat or rice and served with honey, fruit, nuts, and seeds. Porridge in Russia symbolizes unity; in the past, families would throw a spoonful of it onto the ceiling. If it sticks, it means good luck and harvest for the family - we have no idea how they'd clean it up afterward.  

Source: 21 Christmas food traditions from around the world | GoodTo

This traditional holiday treat was first prepared to serve as a storyboard that told the day's news.

• Shortbread Cookie

• Biscotti

• Gingerbread

• Pizzelle

Answer explanation

An early European recipe for gingerbread consisted of ground almonds, stale breadcrumbs, rosewater, sugar and, naturally, ginger. The resultant paste was pressed into wooden molds. These carved works of art served as a storyboard that told the day's news, bearing the likeness of new kings, emperors, queens, or religious symbols. The finished cookie might be decorated with edible gold paint (for those who could afford it) or flat white icing to bring out the details in relief.  

Source: The History and Origin of Gingerbread (thespruceeats.com)  

To spread joy, a tradition in England is that each family member stirs this mixture while making a wish.

• Christmas Pudding

• Mincemeat tarts

• Triffle

• Fruit Cake

Answer explanation

To spread joy, it was a tradition in England that each family member stirred the mixture while making a wish. And if you want to ensure good health and happiness in the upcoming year, you should eat one mincemeat pie every day for the Twelve Days of Christmas, from Christmas Eve until the 5th of January.  

Source: The History of Mince Pies | Walker's (walkersshortbread.com)  

This country has an essential tradition that boasts the antonym of Santa Clause

• Liberia

• Nigeria

• Ethiopia

• Kenya

Answer explanation

This essential tradition takes on a different form in Liberia, where a personified antonym of Santa Claus is seen doing the winter rounds. Known as the Old Man Bayka or the Old Man Beggar, the unique figurine sports rags and masks but retains Santa’s big belly. However, Bayka wanders the city's streets, begging for gifts rather than giving them out!  Source: Liberian Santa Claus and Old Man Beggar | Nyanseor's Dukpa (wordpress.com)

This food is traditionally eaten on New Year's Day in hopes that it will strengthen your teeth and bones in the new year.

• mochi

• tempura

• miso soup

• soba

Answer explanation

In Japan, mochi has been eaten for New Year’s since at least the Heian period (794-1185). At this point, mochi was actually eaten in hopes that it would bring your teeth and bones strength for the New Year because the mochi that was set out as an offering was tough to eat by the New Year.  Source: Mochitsuki: A Japanese New Year’s Tradition (Cultural Meaning/Video) – IndoJapanPulse