Across
- 4. A small, decorative sphere hung from a Christmas tree
- 6. A hollow structure allowing smoke from an indoor fireplace to vent outside; also Santa Claus’s magical entryway into homes
- 7. A pagan festival celebrating rebirth and renewal held on the Winter Solstice
- 8. The Christian season of expectant waiting and preparation beginning four Sundays before Christmas
- 9. A Hebrew name meaning “God with us”
- 11. A candle holder for the seven candles lit during Kwanzaa
- 12. The English personification of Christmas, now synonymous with Santa Claus
- 15. A British holiday celebrated the day after Christmas
- 16. A half-goat, half-demon character of European folklore who punishes misbehaving children during Christmas
- 17. Magical, pointy-eared creatures who build toys for well-behaved children at the behest of Santa
- 19. The eight-day “festival of lights” commemorating the rededication of the Jewish temple around 200 B.C.
- 20. The name of a popular ballet set during Christmas, scored by Tchaikovsky, staged during the holiday season
Down
- 1. A festive song often sung at Christmas
- 2. A Spanish phrase meaning “Happy Christmas”
- 3. A seven-day festival celebrating African American cultural heritage, created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966
- 5. A phonetic translation of “Merry Christmas” into the Hawaiian language
- 10. A four-sided top used by children to play a gambling game during Hanukkah
- 13. A fragrant oil symbolizing suffering and mortality.
- 14. These children traditionally received coal from Santa Claus instead of presents
- 18. An ancient people that celebrated the winter solstice