[For Elementary School Students] Exciting Christmas Quiz! Fun and Educational Questions

Finland

Finland is a very cold country in the north of Europe, and it’s said that Santa Claus’s hometown is in the region of Lapland there. In the city of Rovaniemi, there is a place called the Santa Claus Village, where Santa actually lives.

Star of Bethlehem

The star placed at the top of a Christmas tree is called the “Star of Bethlehem.” The name comes from the birth of Christ in Bethlehem and the bright star that is said to have shone at that time. It’s also known as the “Christmas star” or the “top star.”

Green Christmas

A Christmas when snow piles up and the town turns pure white is called a “White Christmas,” while a Christmas without accumulated snow is called a “Green Christmas.” This term became widespread because, in the Southern Hemisphere—where the seasons are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere—Christmas falls in summer, when trees are lush and green.

night

The “Eve” in “Christmas Eve” means “night.” It comes from the English word “evening,” which refers to the late afternoon or night. In other words, “Christmas Eve” doesn’t mean “the night before Christmas,” but simply “the night of Christmas.” This is because, according to the Jewish calendar, the night of the 24th counts as the 25th—the beginning of Christmas.

female

The reindeer that pull Santa Claus’s sleigh are actually all female. People tend to imagine strong male reindeer, but in reality, male reindeer shed their antlers from autumn into winter—the time when Christmas takes place. That’s why the females, who still have their antlers during this season, help Santa with his work.

fir tree

Fir trees, which appear in Christmas-themed nursery songs and the like, have long been beloved, but the actual types of trees used vary by region. In Japan, pine may also be used. In addition, varieties that are cold-hardy and keep their leaves green year-round are preferred.

Kangaroo

When you think of Santa Claus’s companion, it’s usually a reindeer, but in Australia, believe it or not, Santa’s companion is a kangaroo! And not the commonly seen brownish kind, but a white kangaroo. White kangaroos do actually exist in Australia, and they’re very rare.