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

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Certified Care Worker / Care Manager (Certified Social Worker for Care Support) / Dementia Care Instructorkojifumi
Nice to meet you. My name is Koji Fumi. I entered the field of caregiving in 2005, and in addition to working on the front lines, I’m active in improving community caregiving capacity and serving as a trainer for professionals. I love hot springs. Even after all these years, I’m still studying every day, striving forward while believing in my potential for growth. I will mainly be in charge of articles for older adults. Thank you in advance for your support.

December is a special month filled with traditional events and nostalgic memories.

There are fun facts about things like Christmas, the New Year’s Eve temple bells, and year-crossing soba that we think we know but actually don’t.

This time, we’re introducing quizzes about December that you can enjoy together with older adults.

You might find answers to those “why?” questions you’ve been curious about but hesitant to ask.

Since the topics are familiar, everyone can learn while having fun.

Let’s spend a heartwarming time full of smiles that will make us forget the winter chill!

[For Seniors] December Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts (Questions 21–30)

Who is the enemy (antagonist) of the Akō rōnin?

Naosuke Ii
Yoshinao Kira
Tadaoki Hosokawa

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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.

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kojifumi

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What sweets are eaten in Germany at Christmas?

Stollen
Gâteau au chocolat (chocolate cake)
baumkuchen

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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.

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Nanaka

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What is eaten in the UK at Christmas?

pudding
Turkey
Roast beef

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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.

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Nanaka

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What meaning do the candies hung on the Christmas tree have?

the fruit of wisdom
shepherd
amulet against evil

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shepherd

Candy shaped like canes are hung on Christmas trees, right? In Christianity, they are said to symbolize shepherds. They are also said to represent Saint Nicholas’s bishop’s staff.

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Nanaka

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From which era did the major housecleaning tradition begin?

Edo period
Meiji era
Kamakura period

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Edo period

It is said that the tradition of major year-end cleaning began in the Edo period. During this time, the custom of susuharai—cleaning homes and temples at the end of the year—spread, and this became the origin of today’s grand New Year cleaning. Back then, people used braziers, hearths, and kitchen stoves inside their homes, so soot would accumulate throughout the house.

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kojifumi

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