It's All About Elf On The Shelf! Quiz

Answer: stollen

The original Christmas stollen dates back to the Council of Trent in 1545, although it didn't taste much like the stollen that is made today. In fact, with its main ingredients being flour, yeast, oil, and water back then, it didn't have much taste. So why was it made like that? Back in the day people fasted during Advent.

They were not allowed to use ingredients like butter in their baking. Believe it or not, a group from Saxony wrote a letter to the pope asking if they could substitute butter for oil due to the latter's expensive nature, and it took quite a long time to get approval on that small change. Ordinary families who wanted to make the substitution, however, had to pay a fine to the church. Today there are a variety of recipes for stollen that contain ingredients like raisins, almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, butter, and even rum! And - the outside of the bread is decorated with some sort of icing. Yum!

Answer: honest

Of course, children are told at Christmas that Santa knows who is naughty and nice. According to Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, who wrote the book "The Elf on the Shelf" (2004), Santa's helper elves make their way to the North Pole every night to tell Santa what they have learned about the children's behavior during the day and return to their home the next morning. (Parents, you need to make sure you put Elf in a different spot each day!) A big part of being nice is being truthful or honest. Santa likes to see that!

When you get your Elf on the Shelf, don't forget to name him! He cannot work his magic without a name and a family's love.

Answer: nestle

Clement Moore's famous poem was first published in 1823 after one of his friends sent it to a local newspaper in New York. It was not until 1827 that it was published and actually credited to Moore. It is understandable that a man who made a living as a professor of Bible learning might be a bit reluctant to attach his name to a poem that he had actually written for his children.

It was 1844 before he published the verse in a collection of his own writings. Perhaps his reluctance in taking credit for the poem is what has led to the debate that still exists today on whether or not Moore was the actual author. Oh, and by the way, in the poem "the children were nestled all snug in their beds". "Nestle" means to lay next to or within something that keeps you warm.

Answer: sleet

Of course not! Elf can make it to the North Pole in spite of the weather conditions. In fact, he will make it back to his family's home before morning and choose a different hiding place from which to watch. Did you know that there are two kinds of sleet? One type is described as a combination of rain and snow falling, while the other is called ice pellets, and consists of small little balls of ice.

Parents, if you are tired of finding a different spot for Elf every morning, you may consider having him slip on the sleet and put his leg in a cast. That way he has an excuse to stay in the same spot a bit longer!

Answer: eel

Okay! This doesn't sound good at all, and I certainly don't want to go buy any at the market place because the eyes look back at a person! But in Venice, Italy, grilled eel is the main dish in a traditional dinner. The eel is accompanied by beans and rice and a goby broth which is made from tiny fish.

Another popular meal served during Christmas in Venice, and Naples as well, is called Risotto de la Visilia, and is also made with eel. It is believed that the use of eel for the Christmas season dates back to Roman times. We must remember that an eel is a fish, and the fish is an important symbol of Christianity.

Answer: hens

The "Twelve Days of Christmas" song dates back to England in 1780, although some believe that it originated in France. In the beginning the song had lyrics, but no melody; both have changed over time depending on regional differences. Although you may be familiar with the modern version of the song, you may not know that "three French hens" is a reference to a French breed of chicken called Faverolles.

They are a large breed, with five toes rather than four, that are covered with feathers! While the chicken is exhibited in shows, it also makes a tasty meal! The friendly fellow tends to be harassed by other chickens, so it may be best to keep him in a similar group, but the breed makes a great pet for kids. And, oh! Faverolles can be either male or female, although the song makes a specific reference to hens.

Answer: fete

The term itself comes from the Medieval Latin "festus" and French "fete", which means "holiday" or "party". Fetes are popular gatherings in English towns and villages and they are not just held during Christmas. In fact, many of the outdoor events are held as fundraisers for different organizations. They feature games, food, entertainment, and fun!

Answer: felt

The manufacturing of felt, material that was originally made from pressing wool fibers together, dates all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia! It was used for a variety of items, such as rugs, hats, and slippers. Made from acrylic and other synthetic fibers today, felt is a popular material used for arts and crafts projects.

It is relatively inexpensive and has a variety of uses, such as the backing of Christmas stockings and felt boards, which are used for storytelling.

Answer: toffee

Dating from 1825, toffee was originally made as a form of taffy. It is a delicious, easy-to-make treat year round, and adding almonds or raisins makes it even better! And what do you think of Heath bars? Made of toffee and chocolate, they are just a little taste of heaven! During the Christmas holidays, toffee can be made using red and green sprinkles, or even holiday M&Ms.

By the way, English toffee is typically made with brown sugar rather than white like American, and, unlike its American counterpart, doesn't feature nuts.

Answer: noel

Originating from French in the 1300s, the word "noel" literally means "Christmas, the Feast of the Nativity". It was probably passed down, however, from the word "nael", which, in the Latin of the Roman Catholic Church, was used to designate the birthday of Christ. In English it is a synonym of the word "Christmas". Since the early 1800s, the term has been used to designate a Christmas carol. "The First Noel", a popular song of the season, was first published in 1823.