The History of Christmas

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  1. 4. A traditional colour of Christmas, symbolising life and rebirth
  2. 5. During the Elizabethan period, the exchange of …….. took place on the 1st January rather than on Christmas day
  3. 6. A traditional colour of Christmas, symbolising the blood of Christmas
  4. 7. The tradition of leaving out carrots for the reindeer comes from Norse mythology where children would leave food out for Sleipnir, the horse of the most important Nordic god, in hopes that he would leave them gifts in return
  5. 8. In 1670, the choirmaster at a cathedral in Germany handed out this treat to his young singers to keep them quiet during the Living Creche ceremony
  6. 11. Christmas carols were produced by these monks, followers of Saint Francis of Assisi
  7. 14. Trees were used to celebrate winter festivals long before Christianity, including to worship the god, Ra by this ancient civilisation
  8. 15. Rather than opening chocolate advent calendars in the count down to Christmas, people in the ………….. period spent the lead up to Christmas fasting and praying for forgiveness
  9. 16. Christmas is the celebration of this person’s birthday
  10. 17. In the 1800s, servants would be given a Christmas box and a day off on this day from their masters
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  1. 1. It was during this English queen's reign that many Christmas traditions were introduced, including building snowmen and sending Christmas cards
  2. 2. On June 1647 Oliver Cromwell cancelled Christmas as part of the period known as the English ...........
  3. 3. The figure of Father Christmas or Santa Claus is based on this saint, known for giving away all his wealth
  4. 9. The tradition of Christmas lights began in Germany where they placed ...... on Christmas trees
  5. 10. Although this plant had been associated with fertility since ancient Greece it was not until the 18th Century that it become customary to kiss under it
  6. 12. Known as the Christmas ....., German and British soldiers on the Western Front met on no man’s land to socialise and exchange gifts instead of fighting on 24th December 1914
  7. 13. Often placed at the top of the Christmas tree, Christians believe that this object led the wisemen to the birthplace of Jesus