Thursday, December 29, 2011
Do you know the seven principles of Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven nights, and on each night a different principle is observed. Six of the seven principles are: Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Purpose, Cooperative Economics, Unity, and Faith. What is the seventh priniciple? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
How significant is Hanukkah to Jewish religion?
According to Jewish law, Hanukkah is one of the less important Jewish holidays. True or false? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Do you know when America began celebrating Christmas?
When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid the country of decadence. As part of the effort, they cancelled Christmas. The holiday was rekindled when Charles II was restored to the throne. However, the pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. For many years, the holiday was actually outlawed in Boston, and anyone exibiting Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. In what year was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the U.S.? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer …
Monday, December 26, 2011
Do you know what the colors of the holiday represent?
The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. Black represents the people, while red represents their struggle. What does the green stand for? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. We'll post the correct answer later in the day.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Do you know about Sinterklaas?
"Sinterklaas," a Dutch figure from which Santa Claus got his name, is celebrated annually on St. Nicholas Eve or the morning after in Belgium and France. Which day is St. Nicholas Eve? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
How much do you know about one of the newest holiday celebrations?
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University-Long Beach. The name "Kwanzaa" is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits" in what language? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Do you know the origins of this song?
Santa's light on a dark night, Rudolph, was born more than 100 years after his eight flying counterparts. The "most famous reindeer of all" was the 1939 creation of Robert L. May to drive holiday traffic to what department store? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Are you up on the origins of this holiday celebration?
The events that inspired Hanukkah happened during a particularily turbulent time of Jewish history. Judea, the land of Israel, was taken over by Antiochus III around 200 B.C. Antiochus III was tolerant and allowed Jews to continue practicing their faith. His son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, proved less benevolent, outlawing Judaism and forcing Jews to worship what or who? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Do you know about the history of this famous Christmas song?
Franz Gruber's "Silent Night"—or "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht" in German—was first performed at Midnight Mass in Oberndorf, Austria, on Christmas Eve night 1818. Some speculate the organ that would normally accompany any musical performance at mass was broken, which prompted the church's pastor to accompany Gruber on another instrument. What was the instrument? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The correct answer will be posted later in the day.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Do you know how the Christmas tree tradition began?
Long before the advent of Christianity, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. Some cultures believed evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. The beginning of the Christmas tree tradition, as we know it, began in Germany in the 16th century. As waves of Germans arrived in America, in the 19th Century, many Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. Which U.S. state is credited with having the first Christmas tree on display? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. We'll post the correct answer with our next holiday trivia question.
Caitlin Burgess
11:11 am on Friday, December 30, 2011
The correct answer is Creativity. more ›