Christmas Plants! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ivy

Many ancient peoples have seen some sort of significance in ivy. The Romans believed it symbolized Bacchus, their god of wine, while the ancient Greeks presented it to newly married couples as a symbol of fidelity. Evergreen ivy is especially resistant to frost, and lives for quite a long while.

While Christians used holly to represent Christ, ivy was used to represent the Virgin Mary, as it symbolizes her eternity, as well as her complete faithfulness to God.

Answer: Mistletoe

The ancient Druids would hang mistletoe in their homes to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Norsemen used the plant as a sign of love and friendship (after Loki tricked Hodur into murdering Balder with an arrow made of mistletoe). Scandanavia is likely to have been the area where "kissing under the mistletoe" originated. Because of the pagan meaning and usage, it took a while for the Christian church to agree to its use as a symbol. During the Middle Ages, the plant was associated with fertility, and it eventually became a good excuse for young men and women to sneak a kiss!

Answer: Holly

Often called "Christ's thorn", the use of holly, which maintains its colors in the winter, to symbolize eternal life and protection from evil spirits, dates all the way back to the ancient Druids, who even wore it in their hair! It was adopted by Christians as a symbol of Christ; the red berries represent the blood of Jesus, and the sharp spines depict the crown of thorns.

The shape of the leaves, believed to resemble flames, also represents God's burning love.

Answer: Poinsettia

Displaying the perfect Christmas colors, the poinsettia was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. The star-shaped pattern of the leaves is said to represent the Star of Bethlehem. Interestingly, the plant was also important to the Aztecs, who used it for red dye, and as a medicine to reduce fevers.

Answer: Christmas Cactus

Although it appears that a Christmas cactus flowers at Christmas, it actually blooms between Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States. There are many "Cactaceae" species that are sold as Christmas cacti, so the blooms, which are said to resemble hanging Christmas ornaments, come in a variety of colors.

A houseplant that is relatively easy to grow and maintain, a Christmas cactus does require special care if the blooms are to be enjoyed every year. Proper light exposure, correct temperatures and limited watering during the months of September and October are said to be the key to enjoying the beautiful plant.

Answer: Evergreen Tree

An evergreen tree, either cut or growing, has been the center of Christmas celebrations since - well Roman times, when the celebration was called the Saturnalia. Romans would decorate tress where they grew with red and purple ribbons, as well as fruit, but they would also bring evergreen boughs into their homes, looking forward to spring after the long winter solstice.

The ancient Celtic peoples held many of the native evergreen trees as sacred; the cedar tree was called the "Tree of Life", and the pine tree was "the sweetest in the woods".

The first documented use of evergreen trees as Christmas trees was recorded in1441, in Tallinn, Estonia.

Answer: Rosemary

While you might not associate rosemary with Christmas, there is a story that the plant is included in nativity scenes in the Mediterranean. According to legend, the clothes of Baby Jesus were dried on a rosemary bush; Christians believe that it is good luck to smell rosemary at Christmas, and bushes in some areas are pruned and sold to look like Christmas trees.

Answer: Amaryllis

An amaryllis is a beautiful flowering bulb that will bloom for Christmas if potted in early to mid-November. Also called the Christmas lily, an amaryllis bloom will last for quite a long time if given proper care. Consequently it has become the symbol of success, and because the bulb can last for seventy-five years, it is also the symbol of prosperity.

Although there is a story from Greek mythology about the lovely shepherd woman, Amaryllis, who fell in love with a man who loved only flowers, it became a popular houseplant in Victorian times.

Answer: Pomegranate

A symbol of prosperity and ambition for the ancient Egyptians, pomegranate was "the fruit of the dead" to the ancient Greeks. To the ancient Hebrews, pomegranates were symbols that the promised land was indeed fertile, and it is said that even Solomon's Temple was decorated with carvings of the fruit. Pomegranates because an important symbol used by Italian artists during Renaissance; the fruit burst open is a symbol of the suffering and resurrection of Christ.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, however, the fruit is used to symbolize the sweetness of the heaven. Today in the Middle East, the pomegranate is the symbol of prosperity.

Answer: Radish

The Night of the Radishes (Noche de Rábanos) is celebrated in Oaxaca, Mexico on December 23, as part of its annual Christmas celebration. Large radishes are carved by competitors to make scenes that are then judged. It is estimated that in 2014, approximately twelve tons of radishes were used in the event; the plants are locally grown in Oaxaca. Traditionally the nativity scene carved out of radishes was a common entry, however, there are no particular rules as to what type of themed display can be entered.