Christmas Trivias!!

Who delivers gifts to children in Italy?

Answer: La Befana

According to tradition before the birth of Jesus the three wise men reached the village where La Befana lived. She put them up for the night because she kept a neat house. The wise men asked her to go with them to find the baby Jesus but she declined because she was busy cleaning the house. She later regretted her decision not to go and set out by herself to find the baby but unfortunately she did not succeed. And now every January 6th which is the last day of the 12 days of Christmas she goes out and searches for the baby. She brings gifts with her for all the good children and delivers coal to the bad ones.


Which Christmas Carol composed in 1818 was written for guitar?

Answer: Silent Night

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The day before Christmas an Austrian Priest was informed that the church organ was broken. He was also told that it would not be fixed in time for Christmas day services. Unhappy about the fact that there would not be any music on Christmas day he sat down and composed the song Stille Nacht on his guitar. And on Christmas day 1818, Silent Night was sung accompanied by a guitar and choir for the first time.

Who delivers gifts to children in Syria?

Answer: The Smallest Camel

In Syria Children actually get their gifts on New Year's Day. They are brought by the smallest camel that brought the Wise Men to the baby Jesus. It is traditional for children to leave water and hay outside of a camel's house the night before. In the morning the water and hay is gone, replaced by gifts.

Who is credited with designing the first glass Christmas ball?

Answer: Hans Greiner

Hans Greiner was by profession a glass blower who lived in Lauscha, Germany. He and his partner set up their glass shop in 1597. Since he was unable to buy the traditional Christmas tree decorations of nuts, fruit and candy he decided to make glass decorations. He started making his decorations in the shape of fruits and nuts but later expanded them to the customary sphere.


Where did the kissing under the mistletoe tradition begin?

Answer: Scandinavia

There are a lot of traditions surrounding the mistletoe plant. Mistletoe was traditionally hung in doorways where a young man could claim a kiss if he caught a girl there. He then removed one of the berries from the plant. When the fruit was gone no more kisses could be claimed. It was thought to be unlucky to have the mistletoe touch the ground. Although the berries of the plant are poisonous, mistletoe has long been believed to have supernatural and medicinal powers.