Christmas/Santa Quiz

What dangerous activity was associated with Christmas celebrations in earlier times?

• Burning Christmas trees

• Shoving burning raisins into your mouth

• Lighting candles on wreaths

• Jumping through fire

What was the term for the early "trick-or-treating" practice during Christmas?

• Caroling

• Mumming

• Wassailing

• Masking

Why did the Massachusetts General Court criminalize celebrating Christmas in 1659?

• To prevent pagan practices

• Due to its association with rowdy and unchristian behavior

• To promote other holidays instead

• To emphasize Halloween instead

How did Puritans view Christmas celebrations?

• As a sacred religious event

• As a pagan celebration in disguise

• As a family-friendly gathering

• As an essential Christian holiday

What key argument did Reverend Ezra Stiles make about celebrating Christmas?

• That it was a necessary Christian tradition

• That the true date of Jesus’s birth was unknown

• That it should align with other seasonal festivals

• That it was inspired by Saint Nicholas

Why did the Church choose December 25th as the date to celebrate Christmas?

• Historical records confirm it was Jesus's birthday

• It coincided with the Winter Solstice and preexisting celebrations

• The Bible mentions December 25th specifically

• Early Christians voted on the date

What cultural practice did the church hope to replace with Christmas?

• Roman Saturnalia

• The Wild Hunt

• Yule sacrifices

• Halloween

What tradition did Puritans find particularly objectionable about Christmas?

• Exchanging gifts

• The reversal of social roles

• The singing of carols

• The use of evergreen decorations

What did the Reverend Increase Mather criticize about Christmas celebrations?

• Their lack of religious focus

• The widespread fasting

• The commercialization of the holiday

• The emphasis on singing and dancing

Which author wrote a story that helped rehabilitate Christmas’s image?

• Washington Irving

• Charles Dickens

• Clement Clarke Moore

• Thomas Nast