Christmas Trivia

-1. In the Ukraine, what does it mean if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas morning?
-2. In many households, part of the fun of eating Christmas pudding is finding a trinket that predicts your fortune for the coming year. For instance, finding a coin means you will become wealthy. What will you be if you find a button?
-3. If you were given some frumenty at a Medieval Christmas party, what would you probably do with it?
-4. Which well-known author of fantasy fiction also created a book called The Father Christmas Letters?
-5. In Sweden, a common Christmas decoration is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat. Of what material is it usually made?
-6. What is the Irish custom of "feeding the wren" or "hunting the wren" on December 26?
-7. All through the Christmas season in old England, "lambswool" could be found in the houses of the well-to-do. What was it?
-8. In Greek legend, malicious creatures called Kallikantzaroi sometimes play troublesome pranks at Christmas time. What should you do to get rid of them?
-9. The jólasveinar, or "yule lads", are a traditional part of an Icelandic Christmas. What are they?
-10. The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In what country did it originally grow?
-11. The "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations in many Italian households. What is it?
-12. In Lithuania, if Kaledu Senelis, or Grandfather Christmas, appears to the children on Christmas Eve to hand out presents, what must the recipient do?

3. I would probably drink it. What will happen to me if I do?

10. Mexico

1. It would mean that you hadn't been round with the vacuum cleaner on Christmas eve

Bernie

#3 is close enough! Frumenty was a spiced porridge, enjoyed by both rich and poor. It was a forerunner of modern Christmas puddings. It is linked in legend to the Celtic god Dagda, who stirred a porridge made up of all the good things of the earth.

Michele, good one! In Mexico, the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night". It was brought to America by the diplomat Joel Poinsett in 1829. Among other accomplishments, Poinsett also played an important part in founding the Smithsonian Institution.

Bernie, true but not what I'm looking for.

8 - sprinkle holy water all over the house

Try again!

9 - trolls

Close enough! A band of 13 gift-giving goblins. From December 12 until Christmas Eve, the yule lads come down one at a time from the mountains. Each has a personal trick, such as stealing milk or slamming doors. They often leave presents for good children, and sometimes a potato for the bad ones. In olden times, the yule lads - who were themselves the children of monsters - had a much darker nature. They were so feared that in 1746 a law was passed to prevent them being used to frighten children.

2. a bachelor?

Interesting tidbits of information Pandora!

You got it, Fil! A ring means you will get married; while a thimble predicts spinsterhood. The idea of hiding something in the pudding comes from the tradition in the Middle Ages of hiding a bean in a cake that was served on Twelfth Night. Whoever found the bean became "king" for the rest of the night.

I agree, oldbroad.

7. I think lambswool had something to do with an apple cider drink - maybe a frothy foam at the top?

4. I don't know if you'd call his books "fantasy fiction" but I'm going to take a guess at Dean Koontz.

12. sing a Christmas song?

LadyK "Lambswool" was the drink that filled the wassail bowl. Sugar, eggs and spices were added to hot ale, and toast floated on top with the apples. Poor people would bring their mugs to the door hoping for a share of the steaming drink.

oldbroad, that's a very good guess but not correct.

Michele Perform a song or poem. The gifts are usually given after the traditional Christmas feast of twelve meatless dishes, which itself does not begin until the first star appears. Each diner at this special meal - the Kucios - must at least sample each of the dishes.

5 - straw

Good one! Scandinavian Christmas festivities feature a variety of straw decorations in the form of stars, angels, hearts and other shapes, as well as the Julbukk.

4. J R Tolkien ... a favorite of mine

Right! The Father Christmas Letters consists of letters written to the Tolkien children by Father Christmas. It was published in 1976. The illustrated letters describe adventures and events at the North Pole.

11. A pot of coffee?

Nope. It's an actual urn containing presents. The Urn of Fate is brought out on Christmas Eve. It holds a wrapped present for everyone. The mother tries her luck first, then the others in turn. If you get a present with your name on it, you keep it; otherwise, you put it back and try again.

Sounds a bit like the white elephant game but with a pre-planned conclusion.

6 - People get dressed in masks, straw suits and colourful clothing, form bands and parade through the streets

8. Burn either salt or an old shoe. They don't like the smell.

Yes, Marie, and it's to collect money for charity. One explanation for this St. Stephen's day custom refers to a legend in which the saint was given away by a chattering wren while hiding from his enemies. Children cage the wren to help it do penance for this misdeed. Often the children carry a long pole with a holly bush at the top - which is supposed to hide a captured wren. An artificial wren may also be used.

That's right, manxie. The pungent burning stench drives off, or at least helps discourage, the Kallikantzaroi. Other techniques include hanging a pig's jawbone by the door and keeping a large fire so they can't sneak down the chimney.