Have some holiday fun

Have some fun with a holiday trivia quiz

David A. Kolman

Dec. 10, 2012

2 min read

How well do you know your holiday trivia?

Why not test yourself with this fun quiz?

1. What do the songs Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride and Winter Wonderland have in common?

2. Approximately what percentage of American homes eat turkey on Christmas?

3. What one reindeer is never mentioned in the poem ’Twas the night before Christmas?

4. How many reindeer does Santa Claus have?

5. Name the eight reindeer mentioned in the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas?

6. When did the U.S. Marine Corps' Reserve Toys for Tots program start?

7. What president began the annual tradition of the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the White House lawn?

8. What newspaper assured a reader: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus?” In what year did it do this?

9. What state first recognized Christmas as an official holiday?

10. What are the most common New Year’s resolutions?

Answers:

1. None of them mentions Christmas.

2. About 50 percent.

3. Rudolph.

4. Santa Claus has a whole herd of reindeer. We only know about his favorite ones.

5. From the poem: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!"

6. Begun in 1947 when Major William Hendricks, USMCR, and a handful of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children on Christmas Eve. It was so successful the Marine Corps adopted the concept and in 1948 expanded it into a nationwide campaign.

7. President Calvin Coolridge in 1923.

8. The New York Sun. The sentence appeared in an editorial on Sept. 21, 1897, written by Francis P. Church, answering a letter by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon.

9. Alabama, starting in 1836.

10. In no particular order: lose weight, give up smoking, exercise, better manage finances, become more organized, enjoy life more and spend more time with family and friends.