Gotta Love a Tradition Trivia Quiz

300s

Saint Nicholas (the original one!) was thought to have started this tradition by tossing bags of gold through the open window of the house of three poor sisters. The bags landed, according to legend, in the stockings of the sisters, that had been hung up to dry near the fire. The money saved them from being sold by their father into prostitution.

1300

Well, the word 'pudding' was a bit of a stretch back then, since what was called pudding was really a porridge or soup called 'frumenty'. It was probably more like a stew as it contained meat with raisins, wines, currants, and spices. The constituents gradually changed and it became less savoury as sugar became available, and it took on the form of a boiled pudding or cake.

It is said that a Christmas pudding should have 13 ingredients, representing Jesus and the 12 disciples.

1500s

The Christmas tree (as it relates to the Christian tradition) was first recorded being used from 1510 in Riga, Latvia. Germans in the 16th century erected trees in their homes and in the cathedral in Strasbourg in Alsace (which was at that time part of the Rhineland, now in present-day France), but it was Martin Luther who added lights as a decoration. The story goes that he was walking home at night and had the idea when he saw the stars twinkling amongst the treetops. When he got home he used wire to attach candles to the fronds of his Christmas tree.

Modern coloured glass Christmas ornaments were also invented in the small German town of Lauscha in around the mid-16th century.

1719

The lyrics to this well-loved Christmas carol were written by Sir Isaac Watts in 1719, with music added by Lowell Mason in 1836. The lyrics were adapted from Psalm 98 and Watts, who authored the hymn, considered them to do with the second coming of Christ, rather than his advent. However, after the tune was added by Mason and released at Christmastime, it became immediately popular and has remained so.

1840s

London confectioner Tom Smith first made crackers, sometimes also called bonbons, in the 1840s. They were (and still are) a short cardboard roll (about the size of a toilet roll centre) filled with a paper party hat, a toy or trinket and a joke. Threaded through the centre are two thin cardboard strips joined at one end with a little silver fulminate or gunpowder. This creates a small bang as they are pulled apart. The whole is covered in festive paper. Crackers are opened before the Christmas meal in the UK, Australia and other countries where they have been introduced. It's not Christmas if you're not wearing a paper crown!

1918

Planned by Eric Milner-White, then the Dean of King's College, the inaugural Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College was held on Christmas Eve, 1918, at the end of World War 1. There had been similar presentations of the Christmas message in the late 1800s, but the most enduring version was created by former army chaplain, Rev. Milner-White.

The program consists of nine readings from the Bible, with an appropriate hymn accompanying each. The lessons, which are generally fairly standard wherever the nine lessons are performed, are as follows:
Genesis 3: 8-15, 17-19
Genesis 22: 15-18
Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7
Isaiah 11: 1-4a, 6-9
Luke 1: 26-35, 38
Luke 2: 1-7
Luke 2: 8-16
Matthew 2: 1-12
John 1: 1-14

Though each year the music changes, with alternate tunes or harmonies sung, the first carol is always 'Once in Royal David's City'. There is generally an especially commissioned carol performed for the first time. Choristers from the King's College Cathedral choir lead the singing, with several anthems interspersed among the lessons.

1946

At the start of 'It's a Wonderful Life', George Bailey (played by James Stewart) is contemplating suicide and Clarence Oddbody (Henry Travers) is sent from heaven to help him. George Bailey realises how different the life of his family (wife Mary (Donna Reed) and his children) would be if he was not there, and decides not to commit suicide. Clarence, having been successful in his mission, is rewarded by being awarded his wings. The film, which was produced and directed by Frank Capra, has become synonymous with Christmas, and many families have a tradition of watching it together each year.

1965

First aired on December 9, 1965, this favourite TV special has become a holiday classic. Charlie Brown thinks Christmas has too much materialism, and decides, at Lucy's suggestion, to direct the school play. Here he learns about the true meaning of Christmas with the help of Linus and a drooping Christmas tree.

1974

Because turkey was nearly impossible to find in Japan, and ex-pat Christians wanted to celebrate with their usual turkey dinner, but realised they couldn't have it, they decided to buy fried chicken. KFC was an especial favourite, though initially they got any chicken they could. In 1974, the KFC marketing team launched a Christmas campaign targeted at both foreigners and locals. The slogan, 'kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!' ('Kentucky for Christmas!') was so successful the locals really became hooked on the tradition. Fifty years later, people queue for as long as two hours, and some who like to plan ahead pre-order their feast in advance.

1994

From Mariah Carey's fourth studio album and first Christmas album, Merry Christmas, 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' is the best-selling Christmas song of all-time in the USA. In 2003, its use in the rom-com 'Love Actually', cemented its place as a Christmas favourite, exposing it to a whole new generation of fans. Based on commercial performance, it was officially crowned the greatest Christmas song of all time in 2023 by Billboard.