Across
- 1. English day when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts "Christmas Box" from bosses or employers
- 3. fisherman of Bethsaida, brother of Simon Peter
- 5. Italian Good Witch who delivers gifts on Jan. 6 (followed wisemen, but got lost!)
- 7. traditional Polish, Slovenian holiday cookie
- 9. shortest day of the year
- 12. German fruitcake believed traceable to the year 1391
- 13. "one who speaks on behalf of another"
- 15. from Latin meaning coming or herald
- 16. Irish custom of welcome of Mary and Joseph; safe place for priests to perform Mass during suppression of religion
- 17. father of King David; early ancestor of Jesus
Down
- 1. Jorge Mario-ordained a Jesuit in 1969 (Pope Francis)
- 2. 8 day Jewish holiday-rededication of Temple
- 3. brings sweets, small gifts to boots of "good" German children
- 4. vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531
- 6. First Christian martyr commemorated on Dec. 26th
- 8. Scandinavian Festival of Light (cookies,rolls, song)
- 10. Christ Child in German
- 11. sweaters based on aunties, grannies, relatives gifting "hideous" sweaters as presents (Ireland)
- 14. flour and water wafer Christmas custom of Polish tradition