The History of Christmas

1. An old English tradition involving a bundle of ash sticks burnt on Christmas Eve
3. The Queen whose husband, Prince Albert, made Christmas trees popular in England
7. What the evil butcher did to the three children before St. Nicholas saved them
10. The name of the fictitious priest mentioned in "Winter Wonderland"
12. Activity that was illegal in Rome but encouraged during Saturnalia
13. Invented by Tom Smith, this makes a popping sound when pulled
15. A hard candy that actually contains no fruit
16. The tool carried by Saturn, and later Father Time
18. Roman god of agriculture often depicted with a scythe
20. The Dutch name for St. Nicholas
22. Martin ____ is credited with putting lighted candles on the first Christmas tree
23. The country credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition
24. The likely season of Jesus' birth because shepherds were in the fields

2. Norse god associated with Wednesday and the Wild Hunt
4. Eartha Kitt, who sang "Santa Baby," also played this Batman villain
5. The original owner of the gingerbread house in folklore
6. Bethlehem is located in this modern-day territory
8. The drink that caused a riot at West Point in 1826
9. The horned demon who punishes naughty children with birch twigs
11. In the song "Santa Baby," the singer asks for a deed to this kind of mine
13. The reason Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem
14. The group that banned Christmas in Massachusetts in 1659
17. Modern-day country where the real St. Nicholas was born
19. Ancient Roman festival involving gambling and role reversals
21. Last name of the cartoonist who gave Santa his red suit and North Pole address