Vocabulary Quiz (Holidays)
- Question: “Samhain” is associated with which popular holiday?
- Answer: Halloween likely developed from the pagan, pre-Christian, Celtic holiday Samhain, which was celebrated in ancient Ireland about November 1, perhaps as a New Year festival of sorts.
- Question: When is “Election Day” in the United States?
- Answer: U.S. Election Day is held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, in even-numbered years.
- Question: Why were fireworks specialists in the 16th and 17th centuries called “green men”?
- Answer: Fireworks specialists back then were frequently called “green men” because they layered fresh green leaves upon themselves for protection from sparks and to avoid catching fire.
- Question: “NORAD” is associated with which holiday?
- Answer: In 1955 the Continental Air Defense Command began tracking Santa’s yearly flight, a tradition that was adopted in 1958 by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). With the use of radar and satellites, NORAD follows Santa’s progress as he delivers his Christmas present payload.
- Question: Which of the following is true about “Daylight Saving Time”?
- Answer: All of these are true about Daylight Saving Time.
- Question: What common word is derived from the name of the Roman god associated with the new year and the making of resolutions?
- Answer: Every January ancient Romans celebrated Janus, their god of new beginnings, who had two faces—one looking backward to the past and the other looking forward to the future. The month was named for the Roman god.
- Question: The earliest known New Year’s resolutions took the form of a “negative confession.” What is a “negative confession”?
- Answer: A “negative confession” is a list of sins one has not committed that can also serve as a pledge to continue avoiding those sins.
- Question: Who does Jack refer to in “jack-o’-lantern”?
- Answer: The Jack in “jack-o’-lantern” refers to Stingy Jack of Irish mythology; according to legend, his spirit was condemned to roam the earth and was warded off by the carving of scary jack-o’-lanterns during Halloween.
- Question: How many Americans planned to “self-gift” on Valentine’s Day in 2025?
- Answer: Just over one-third of Americans planned to buy themselves Valentine’s Day gifts in 2025.
© Blacksanshine/Dreamstime.com
© Blacksanshine/Dreamstime.com
