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Holiday Traditions Quiz

Answer these questions about cultures, countries

Randy Lilleston,

AARP

En español

Published November 13, 2023

10 Questions

dc365074-5f14-41ac-be17-99cc4508c884

Holiday Traditions Quiz

[ {
 "question" : "In the holiday season, a number of Central European countries honor the (fictional) evil counterpart of St. Nicholas. What is its name?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Optimus",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Primus",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Krampus",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Kronos",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Krampus is an imaginary half-goat, half-demon that punishes bad children. The legend is believed to have originated in Germany.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false? Beach days are a Christmas tradition in Australia.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Christmas falls in the middle of Australia’s summer, and temperatures can climb above 90 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of the country, making the beach appealing for those who live nearby — or who travel there.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "In the Czech Republic, this fish traditionally is served for holiday meals.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Perch",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Trout",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Carp",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Eel",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Carp isn’t just used for food at the holidays, according to the Czech Tourism Authority. Some families buy a live carp, keep it in a bathtub for a few days, then release it into a pond or river.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Every Dec. 23, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, artisans ornately carve this/these as part of a popular local holiday tradition.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Papayas",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Radishes",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Driftwood",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Soapstone",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The event is known as la Noche de Rábanos, or the Night of the Radishes.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "A visit to this location on Christmas Eve is a tradition for many Finnish families.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "A cathedral",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "A Christmas market",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "An ice skating rink",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "A cemetery",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Finns place candles on the graves of deceased relatives on Christmas Eve. The sight of hundreds of candles burning in a snowy cemetery “can be surprisingly uplifting,” the Finland Promotion Board insists.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Hanukkah — the Jewish Festival of Lights — includes a nightly lighting of a holiday menorah. How many lights are on a Hannukah menorah?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "7",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "8",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "9",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "10",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Hanukkah is eight nights long, but the holiday’s menorah has nine lights. The ninth is the shammash, or “helper,” which is used to kindle the other lights.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "This celebration in the Bahamas breaks out on Boxing Day (traditionally the day after Christmas), New Year’s Day and many summer Saturdays.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Junkanoo",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Jackeroo",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Buckaroo",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Bonnaroo",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The origin of the celebration, which features colorful parades and dancing, is largely unknown — but that “only proves that Bahamians don’t need a reason to throw a wonderful celebration,” according to the nation’s Ministry of Tourism.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "In Iceland on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas, Yule Lads leave candy for good children who place a shoe on their windowsill. What do bad children get?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Coal",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Rotting potatoes",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Socks with holes in them",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Nothing!",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "There is a different Yule Lad for each night, each with a different personality, Smithsonian magazine reports. Some of the Yule Lad names: Spoon Licker, Stubby, Door Slammer and Meat Hook.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false? Dec. 25 is a holiday in Pakistan, whose residents are predominantly Muslim.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "It’s Bara Din, a holiday in memory of Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "“Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii,” or “Kentucky for Christmas,” is a popular way to celebrate the holiday among Japan’s minority Christians. What Kentucky-linked delicacy is traditionally served?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "“Hot brown” sandwiches",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Mint juleps",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Burgoo",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Kentucky Fried Chicken",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "According to Fodor's Travel, some KFC outlets in Japan sell 10 times their usual amount of chicken on Christmas.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Holiday Traditions Quiz

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Randy Lilleston is the homepage editor for AARP.org. He previously served as editor-in-chief for business news publisher Industry Dive and was a senior digital editor for NPR, USA Today and CNN.