WorksheetsHistory of Christmas
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 8mins
In the text it states, “Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.” Using context clues, what would be a synonym (similar meaning) for phenomenon?
sensation
regularity
normality
In the early days, Europeans celebrated light in the darkest days of winter. By the “darkest of days of winter,” which best explains what is meant by this statement?
This was the saddest time of the year
This is when Europeans made the least amount of money.
This is when it was there was the least amount of day light.
During the Yule celebrations, Scandinavians believed that each spark from the fire represented the birth of a pig or calf that would be born in the year to come. What is most likely the reason their birth was celebrated?
Animals were as important as people.
They were great Christmas presents.
This is how people survived- living off the meat that pigs and calves provided.
In Mexico, children perform the Posada procession. An antonym (opposite meaning) for procession is:
sequence
disorder
march
True or False- in Australia, one difference between Christmas in the US is Christmas is celebrated in the summer:
True
False
In the US, Christmas became more family-focused in the early in the early 19th century, possibly brought on by turmoil that was occurring in the US. A synonym for turmoil is
chaos
happiness
relaxation
A squire can be best described as:
A peasant
Someone who is highly disliked.
Someone who is well off financially
Which line from the text best shows how Washington Irving likely reinvented Christmas
“This suggested that people from all walks of life should be able to gather and get along, no matter their social status.”
“Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., a series about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house.”
“The series focused on a squire.”
The text states that, “St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth…” Which does NOT best describe what inherited means?
handed down
given
stolen
True or False- No matter where Christmas is celebrated, today the primary focus is on family.
A. True
B. False
