[For Seniors] Introducing Trivia Quizzes and Fun Facts About December

crab

December is the peak season for crab, with snow crab and king crab being especially delicious. Crabs at this time of year have firm, sweet meat, making them popular with many people. Since we don’t often eat them on a regular basis, they are a highly appreciated and popular seafood gift for year-end presents.

Kamakura period

The origin of the New Year’s Eve bell-ringing is said to date back to China’s Song dynasty. Bells were struck on the last night of the lunar month to ward off demons, and over time this practice became limited to New Year’s Eve. Its form was transmitted to Japanese Zen temples during the Kamakura period. Ringing the bell 108 times symbolizes the removal of worldly desires.

Star of Bethlehem

The star placed at the top of a Christmas tree is modeled after the Star of Bethlehem, which is said to have announced the birth of Jesus Christ and guided people to Bethlehem. Inspired by the tale that under the Star of Bethlehem they found Jesus cradled by the Virgin Mary, it has come to be widely used as a symbol of Christmas.

about 120 people

There are said to be around 120 officially registered Santa Clauses worldwide in organizations such as the Greenland International Santa Claus Association. These Santas gather every summer in Denmark at the World Santa Claus Congress to socialize and exchange information.

Yoshinao Kira

Yoshinaka Kira, famous as the antagonist of the Akō rōnin, was the man killed in the Genroku Akō Incident. He was a hatamoto (direct retainer) of the Edo shogunate, and the chain of events that sparked the incident began when he was attacked by Lord Asano Naganori inside Edo Castle.

Stollen

In Germany, it’s said that people eat the traditional pastry Stollen at Christmas. It’s a slightly firm cake with raisins and walnuts in the dough. Since the flavor changes as the days go by, people are said to eat a little bit each day.

pudding

In Japan, chicken and cake are the standard for Christmas, but in the UK, people eat Christmas pudding. Pudding is a large dessert made by mixing plenty of dried fruit with flour, breadcrumbs, suet, and eggs, then steaming it. It’s characterized by a fluffy texture and a subtle sweetness.