A Christmas Cryptogram Trivia Quiz

Answer: White Christmas

From the introduction you could see that I = E, which gives you the last letter of the first word of this question. Noticing the V in each word (and in VASLIZ in the intro) gives another clue. Once you have figured out a few words, work back and forth to fill in those that are tricky.

Bing Crosby sang of dreaming of a "White Christmas" in more than one movie in the 1940s and 1950s, and in many Christmas variety shows thereafter. The photo of a snowy evergreen tree was meant to evoke that hope.

Answer: Christmas tree

If you noticed that the first word here is the same as the second word of the first question, you have a great start! DJSOTVNET = Christmas so you have all those letters now. Already knowing that I = E should have helped with TREE.

If you have a real, live Christmas tree, instead of an artificial one, it is very important not to let it dry out and become a safety hazard. The poor tree in the picture appears to have outlived its purpose.

Answer: Boughs of holly

Have you noticed that the code uses vowels to replace vowels, and consonants for consonants? This should help you, especially as you know from the outset that I = E and from working out "Christmas" that O = I and E = A, leaving U and A to represent O and U (as it happens, in that order). So for CUAHJT we now have -OUGHS (the G from the intro and the H and S from working out Christmas) which resolves itself into BOUGHS.

The photo of the school hallway is meant to suggest the line from the Christmas song: "Deck the halls with boughs of holly...."

Answer: Last minute shopping

Because you have now identified all of the vowels, the letters in "Christmas" and "eggnog" you can rewrite the clue like this: -ast -inute sho--ing leaving only L, M and P to be filled in.

I'm pretty sure everyone has experienced the panic (no, don't) of last minute shopping, and not being able to find that perfect gift for someone special. The photo of part of a mall and its parking lot might bring that feeling to mind.

Answer: Stockings

Using the letters we have already figured out, one way or another, we can see that only the L needs to have its equivalent identified: Stoc-ings suggests that L = K and there we have it.

"Hang with care" alludes to a line from Clement Moore's poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" (or "The Night Before Christmas") as does the photo of a chimney, by which the stockings were carefully hung.

Answer: Carol singers

You might have noticed that the letter group OPH turns up often, and we can show from earlier deductions that OPH = ING and appears here once again in the second word. If we have already solved the HOLLY clue, then we in fact already know all the letters to arrive at CAROL SINGERS.

Love them or hate them, carol singers are a part of Christmas for many people, whether they are singing just for fun or in aid of some charitable organization. Attending a community singalong or a carol service at church can really get one into the holiday spirit.

Answer: Midnight mass

For those who have solved all of the previous clues, the only letter to identify here is F = D, which should fall into place when the other letters are transposed. If starting from scratch on this clue, hints to note are that both words start with the same letter, and the second word ends in a double letter.

Midnight mass is traditional for many families, especially those who wish to recall the real meaning of Christmas amid the more commercial aspects of a modern celebration.

Answer: Santa Claus

Chances are good that we have all the letters figured out to identify SANTA CLAUS as our answer (helped perhaps by the photo and the jolly laugh).

Believing in Santa Claus (or Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas etc.) is an essential part of childhood for many people, and a visit to sit on the old chap's knee in the mall or elsewhere is a rite of passage.

Answer: Lump of coal

All of the letters here have been used before, so the solution should come fairly readily. Perhaps recalling that UG = OF will help?

In some traditions, naughty children receive a lump of coal in their stocking (or shoe, or under the tree) instead of toys or other desirable gifts. The photo of a fireplace is meant to suggest the coal, or a place it might be used.

Answer: Presents

All of the letters in PRESENTS have been used in earlier clues, so it should be a fairly quick task to write them in.

Children on Santa's "Nice" list are sure to receive presents on Christmas morning, and many will hope for all of the goodies they put on the list they sent to the old gentleman earlier in the season.