"D"eck The Halls!! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dove

The dove is an important symbol of Christmas, as it represents purity, peace, and the Holy Spirit. But even before the birth of Christ, it became a symbol of peace after a dove brought Noah an olive leaf (Genesis 8:11), which meant that the long flood was over.

In Luke 3:22 it was written that at Christ's baptism, "...the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased" (KJV).

Answer: Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens wrote many fine stories, but his "A Christmas Carol" is a mainstay of the Christmas season. It's a story about finding redemption and how to treat other people, especially those who are less fortunate. Poverty was certainly an issue in Victorian England, and his story was a gentle reminder about helping others.

It was so immediately popular that by 1844 it had been adapted into a play; since then it has been adapted for many media forms, including radio, movies, television, opera, and ballet.

Answer: Decree

An order typically issued by a government leader, a decree has the force of law. Before Christ's birth, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that every man in the Roman Empire had to return to the city of his birth to be registered. This decree is described in the King James Version of Luke 2:1, and states, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed", meant that Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem because as a member of the house and lineage of David, that was where he had to register.

Answer: doll

Dolls, constructed with whatever material could be found, have been made since ancient times. Children have played with dolls - from the wooden paddle dolls of ancient Egypt (c. 2100 BC), to the Greek clay dolls (c. 200 BC), to Roman rag dolls (c 300 BC) - throughout history.

There is evidence that some of these dolls had changeable clothing and were buried with their deceased masters. But they were often more than toys; dolls not only taught cultural ways and values, they were also often associated with religion and magic.

It was not until the Industrial Revolution that dolls were mass produced with a similar appearance.

Answer: December

December is from the Latin "decem" for the number ten. It was originally the tenth month of the Roman calendar, which dated to sometime around 750 BC and was attributed to Romulus. The Roman December was followed by a number of days that were not included in any month until the Julian Calendar was devised in 45 BC.

At that time the new months of January and February were created. In the fourth century BC, December 25 was chosen as the day of Christ's birth; it's a topic that has been debated over time, but to this day nobody really knows when Christ was born. December 25 was the time of the winter solstice when the Romans held their Saturnalia and other people had observances as well.

It made sense to put it there as potential converts already had beliefs associated with that particular season.

Answer: Donner

While some stories credit Blitzen with being Rudolph's father, others say he was the son of Donner, who was Santa's lead reindeer, and Mrs. Donner. This was the story line in the annual television special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" from 1964 when Rudolph ended up on the Island of Misfit Toys with Hermey, the elf who wanted to be a dentist. Actually, though, in the original version of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (1823) the names of the reindeer were Dunder and Blixem, which translate from the German for thunder and lightening.

Answer: Drummer

The story of the little drummer boy was originally called "Carol of the Drum". It is a lesson about giving one's best to Jesus, as the little drummer boy was poor and had no other gift to offer. No worries! The infant loved the drumming and smiled at him, while Mary nodded and the animals kept time. "The Little Drummer Boy" has been recorded by a number of people, but the Trapp Family Singers were the first in 1951.

Answer: Dressing

Also called stuffing, dressing is usually made with a mixture of stale bread, eggs, organ meats, and herbs that are used to "stuff" the animal's body cavity before roasting. Its origin is unknown, however, a recipe appeared in an ancient Roman cookbook, "Apicius De Re Coquinaria", in the first century AD.

It's really quite a versatile food, as just about any type of foodstuff can be used to make the delicious dish - even other animals!

Answer: Dessert

In my family, desserts that are served at Christmas are typically reserved for that time of the year, just to make them more special. Decorated cut-out cookies are always at the top of the list. But many Christmas desserts are regional specialties. For example, in France one would find the Buche de Noel.

In Germany is is Christollen, or Stollen Bread, while in the UK it is fruit cake or Christmas pudding, and in Australia it is pavlova. The word "dessert" comes from the French "desservir", which means to "clear the table".

In other words, dessert was served after the other dishes had been taken away.

Answer: Adorn

The word "deck" is from the Dutch "decken", which means "to cover or put under roof". To "Deck The Halls" means to decorate with - basically - anything! Boughs of holly, garlands, wreaths, trees, lights, stockings, and more are adornments that are used to decorate at Christmas. While the melody of the famous song dates back to the 16th century, the lyrics were not added until 1862.