Christmas History Quiz 2025

Born in what was then Swedish Pomerania in 1774, Friedrich became the most important German artist of his generation. His expansive landscapes direct the viewer's gaze towards the individuals within it, but emphasise their connection to nature and the landscape.

Nog was "a kind of strong beer brewed in East Anglia", first recorded in 1693. The recipe for it originated from the early medieval British drink called posset, which was made with hot milk that was curdled with wine or ale and flavored with spices.

One in four people on Earth, roughly a billion people spread among 64 countries, listened to the reading. While they initially drafted a message supporting the concept of peace on Earth, this was thought to be inappropriate in light of the ongoing war in Vietnam.

This year saw the establishment of some key National Holidays in the USA. The original four holidays first nationally recognised in 1870 were:
New Year's Day
Independence Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

The Sámi are indigenous people inhabiting the region of Sápmi, which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Traditionally their society has focussed on coastal fishing, fur trapping, sheep and reindeer herding.

Several of the Eastern Orthodox countries, including Russia and Serbia, celebrate Christmas on 7th January. This is due to the 13 day difference between the newer Gregorian calendar and the older Julian calendar, which they operate to.

Prior to the war there had been Soviet military advisors deployed in Afghanistan, several of whom were killed in an uprising in Herat in early 1979. The war proper began with a Soviet assault on Kabul and the assassination of Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin.

Alawism has around 4 million adherents, with the majority in Syria and Turkey. Alawite theology is based on the belief in reincarnation and views Ali (a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) as a divine incarnation of God. It incorporates significant aspects of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; including Adam, Noah, Jacob, Moses, Solomon, Jesus and Muhammad amongst their prophets.

This wasn't initially a tradition, with only four further Boxing Day tests in the following 30 years. Kerry Packer's Channel Nine got the broadcast rights to cricket in Australia in 1979. Seeing the potential, they encouraged this test, which has been played almost every Boxing Day since.

Eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music, the text for the oratorio was compiled from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter.