Dec. 24, 2025
Christmas Eve Traditions
From midnight mass to leaving cookies for Santa, how families celebrate around the globe.
You may also like ODD ONE OUT. a new podcast with Mark Ellison! Mark gives you 4 words, you decide which word does not belong. Three rounds daily, quick and fun,
Portions of today's trivia podcast were made with the help of AI.
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Calaruga Shark Media. Hi, I'm Mark Ellison, and today's theme
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is Christmas Eve traditions. From midnight mass to leaving cookies
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for Sanna. How families celebrate around the globe? Question one.
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In many Spanish speaking countries, families attend a special midnight
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church service on December twenty fourth. By what traditional name
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literally mass of the rooster is this Christmas Eve liturgy known?
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Question two? Seafood takes center stage for many Italian American
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families on Christmas Eve. What is the popular name of
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this multi course, meatless feast rooted in Lavigilia traditions? Question three?
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In Iceland, it's customary on December twenty fourth to exchange books,
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cozy up and read late into the night. What is
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the Icelandic name for this beloved Christmas book flood tradition?
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Question four. Poland's with Jillia supper on Christmas Eve doesn't
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begin until a particular sign appears in the sky. What
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do families traditionally wait to see before breaking the applatech
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wafer and starting the meal? Question five. Cookies and milk
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aren't the only offering for a nocturnal gift giver. In
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the United Kingdom, what traditional treat and drink are commonly
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left out for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. We'll be
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right back with these answers after this break. Welcome back.
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Question one. What is the Spanish name for the Christmas
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Eve midnight mass? Answer Mysa del gallo. The name Mass
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of the Rooster comes from a legend that a rooster
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crowed at midnight to announce Jesus' birth. The service often
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pairs with a festive Nochebuena meal shared after church. Question two?
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What is the Italian American Christmas Eve's seafood feast? Called answer?
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The Feast of the Seven Fishes, inspired by Southern Italy's
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custom of abstaining from meat before major holy days. The
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meal features multiple fish and shellfish dishes. The number seven
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varies by family and may symbolize the Sacraments or other
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sacred numbers. Question three. What is Iceland's Christmas Eve book
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giving tradition called answer? Joliboca Flodide. After World War II,
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paper was one of the few affordable gifts in Iceland,
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encouraging a strong pre Christmas publishing cycle. Families exchange books
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on Christmas Eve and spend the night reading, often with
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hot chocolate Question four in Poland, what signals the start
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of the Wigilia supper? Answer the first star in the
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evening sky. The first star, called Giazka, symbolizes the Star
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of Bethlehem. Many households also set an extra place to
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welcome an unexpected guest or honor those absent. Question five
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in the UK, what do people leave for Father Christmas
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on Christmas Eve? Answer a mince pie and a glass
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of sherry. British families often leave a mince pie and
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sherry sometimes brandy for Father Christmas, plus a carrot for
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the reindeer. The custom parallels the milk and cookies tradition
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popular in North America. That concludes today's five daily trivia questions.
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I'm Mark Ellison, and today's questions were crafted with the
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help of AI technology. See you tomorrow.
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