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About This Quiz
Christmas is a worldwide celebration. This yuletide holiday brings cheer to families and is celebrated uniquely in many countries. But do you actually know the religious story behind the Christmas tradition? Take this quiz and find out!
The religious story of Christmas can be found in which text?
The Kabbalah
The Bible
The Bible contains one version of the story of the world. It begins with God’s creation of the universe. Many of the chapters in the grand book serve as accounts of the figure who inspired it.
The Quran
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In which section of the Bible is the story of Christmas found?
The Old Testament
The New Testament
The Bible is split into two, regardless of versions. These divisions are known as the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Christmas story is contained in the New Testament.
The Now Testament
The Testament
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While the New Testament carries many historical accounts written by many authors, which two books are the only ones that tell the Christmas story?
Matthew and Luke
The first part of the New Testament contains the Four Gospels. These were authored by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But only the books of Matthew and Luke account the birth of Jesus.
Mark and John
Psalms and Solomon
Noah and Job
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The birth of Jesus actually has a formal term in the Christian world. What is it?
Relativity
Sovereignty
Nativity
The Nativity of Jesus is the marker of Christmas in the Christian world. It is significant because Jesus is seen as the savior of mankind and the announced Son of God.
Felicity
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The Nativity of Jesus is anticipated by the beginning of a Christian season known as what?
Lent
Holy Week
Advent
The beginning of the Advent season marks the preparation of the Christian world for the coming of Jesus. “Advent” is actually a Latin word which means “coming.” The coming or arrival of the Son of God is therefore the highlight of the season. Advent includes the four Sundays before Christmas.
Trinity
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To mark the time before Jesus arrives, Christian churches use what Advent material to signify each passing week?
crucifix
Advent wreath
This very Lutheran tradition of using an Advent wreath was also adopted by many Western Christian churches. One of the four outer candles is lit each Sunday, beginning on Advent Sunday. All four candles will be lit when the four weeks of Advent have passed. If there is a fifth candle, it is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
rosary
Advent pew
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In the Biblical story of Christmas, who is the identified mother of Jesus?
Marion
Marian
Mary
Mother Mary is the identified mother of Jesus. She was chosen to carry the baby in her womb. This is why in many Catholic churches, her name is also affixed with the word “Mother” or “Mama” before it. But she would be aided by other people chosen by God.
Martha
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Why was Mary’s sudden pregnancy so important in the Christmas story?
Because she was barren.
Because she was too young.
Because she was not yet ready.
Because she was supposed to be a virgin.
In modern interpretation, Mary was just technically engaged. This means she was yet to marry someone. And in Biblical times, premarital sex was not allowed, hence the "miracle pregnancy."
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Which of the angels visited Mary to announce her childbearing status?
Azrael
Gabriel
Angel Gabriel is known as the official messenger of God, in a way. He delivers God’s messages to chosen people. He appears in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible several times.
Raphael
Ezekiel
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To whom was Mary engaged?
Jehosaphat
Joshua
Jacob
Joseph
Joseph came from the line of David in the Old Testament. It is not clear how Mary and Joseph met and came to be engaged. It is one of those “found subplots” in the Bible that doesn’t have much back-story.
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What was Joseph’s actual job?
carpenter
Joseph was a carpenter. He would be influential in this way, since he would inspire Jesus to also be a carpenter. But eventually, Jesus will also be a “carpenter of men” as Christian symbolisms interpret how He also works with the broken people and repairs them for their salvation, and to be closer to God.
alchemist
shepherd
tax collector
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If Mary was a virgin, how was she impregnated with the Son of God?
Through prayers.
Through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost in some accounts is responsible for Virgin Mary’s impregnation. It is an abstract representation, in a way, of how God sometimes works. Without it, the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit will not stand.
Through sheer willpower.
Through bathing in the River Jordan.
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Who else from Mary’s family knew of Mary’s virgin birth?
Elizabeth
Mary was close to her older cousin, Elizabeth. She immediately shared the news with her. But Elizabeth was also visited by an angel who told her of this news beforehand.
Karenina
Victoria
Antoinette
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When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, the latter also had some news to share. What was this news?
Elizabeth was leaving her husband.
Elizabeth was not happy with her life.
Elizabeth was pregnant, too.
Elizabeth was also pregnant when Mary visited her. It is implied that Elizabeth's pregnancy began before Mary’s. This was significant since it was thought that Elizabeth couldn’t bear a child, but God changed that.
Elizabeth was going to live with Naomi.
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Elizabeth’s pregnancy is important in the story because this signifies how God prepared for Jesus’ coming. Which important Biblical figure will Elizabeth give birth to?
King David
John The Baptist
Elizabeth will give birth to John The Baptist. He will grow up to be sometimes mistaken as the actual Son of God.
St. Paul
Gideon
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Where were Mary and Joseph living when the news of the future birth came to them?
Nazareth
Both Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth when the holy message arrived. Nazareth is located in the Galilee region. This region is located in the northern part of what we now know as Israel. Jesus is sometimes referred to as Jesus of Nazareth.
Sinai
Gomorrah
Sodom
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In the Old Testament of the Bible, the book of Micah contains a prophecy that Jesus would be born somewhere other than Nazareth. Where is this designated birthplace?
Nineveh
Bethlehem
Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem in Judea, which is located six miles south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem was also the birthplace of King David.
Yahweh
Mordecai
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King Herod The Great was the current ruler of Judea when Mary and Joseph traveled there. Which ruling empire did Herod serve?
British Empire
Roman Empire
King Herod was one of the Roman Empire kings designated to rule a smaller area of the empire. Each smaller area contributes economically to the empire. Therefore, Bethlehem, as part of Judea, was ruled over by the great Roman Empire under Herod.
Ottoman Empire
Mongolian Empire
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Prophecy aside, what was the primary reason why Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem?
To escape a debt payment.
To take part in a census.
The Roman Empire wanted to count all the people they governed, so they ordered a census. But they wanted to count the people who were born in a given area, not the people merely living or working there. Thus, Joseph had to go back to his original city of Jerusalem for this census, taking the pregnant Mary with him.
To find freedom of birth.
To seek a better livelihood.
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Joseph walked during their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, while Mary rode on what?
A donkey.
Mary rode on a donkey since she couldn’t walk so far, due to her pregnancy. The donkey is usually used by simpler folks to transport goods or carry people. In the Bible, the donkey is also a symbol of peace.
A camel.
An ox.
A dog sled.
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A “rumor” went around that a prophecy foretold of the birth of what specific person, alarming the Roman Empire’s King Herod?
King of the Peasants
King of the Poor
King of the Jews
Certain prophecies had been circulating about the coming of the Son of God. One such term was King of the Jews. He was known as such because He was supposed to be the savior of the people, especially the oppressed, like those under an empire's rule.
King of the Oppressed
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Due to the overcrowding of people for the census, what couldn't Mary and Joseph find in Bethlehem?
sheets
reservations
rooms
Since there were no formal inns during this time, extra rooms of houses were offered to travelers. But Bethlehem ran out of such rooms when Joseph and Mary arrived. The couple were forced to seek shelter in a place where domesticated animals also took shelter.
seats
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Due to the nature of Joseph and Mary’s temporary quarters, Jesus was born and placed in what kind of structure?
A chair.
A haystack.
A manger.
The image of the baby Jesus being born in very simple surroundings implies humility. To be born in the manger signifies that a prophesied king could have humble beginnings. It also foreshadows how Jesus could relate to poor people.
Shrubs.
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The tradition has baby Jesus wrapped in what type of material, being a newborn?
A sack.
Swaddling cloth.
The symbolism of the birth of Jesus is supremely important in the Christian world. Jesus, the future king of the people, had no luxurious wraps or clothes when he was born. Even though the swaddling cloth is a traditional baby wrap of that time, Christians still find humility in it.
Paper.
A wheat sheaf.
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The angels announced the birth of Jesus to a group of what sort of men?
Fishermen.
Carpenters.
Shepherds.
The fields around Bethlehem where Jesus was born were full of simple folk. The shepherds were among them. They were so enamored with the angels who sang about the birth of Jesus that they went to find the newborn and give praise.
Beggars.
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The Magi also sought to visit the newborn Jesus. What is another description for them?
The Three Blind Men.
The Three Wise Men.
The Magi were actually a group of dignified foreigners who traveled from the east to honor the newborn Jesus. It is not known just how many Magi there really were. But their three gifts assigned them a number, assuming one man carried one gift.
The Three Foreign Men.
The Three Pharisees.
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What were the two non-metal gifts that the Magi brought to Jesus?
Basil and oregano.
Myrrh and frankincense.
The Magi are also referred in some accounts as The Three Kings. Thus, it was assumed that they would bring Jesus very precious gifts that would be important to him upon His birth. During that time, myrrh and frankincense were used for healing purposes or for cooking.
Hibiscus and lavender.
Jojoba and aloe vera.
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What kind of precious element did the Magi give to the baby Jesus?
Platinum.
Silver.
Copper ore.
Gold.
Gold comes in many forms - it was used for barter before being used as actual currency. During Biblical times, gold was associated mainly with royalty. That’s why it’s significant that the King of the Jews received gold as a gift.
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The three important events connected to Jesus’ birth, from the Annunciation to the Visitation and the actual Nativity, are all part of which Catholic prayer structure?
The Oratory.
The Communion.
The Rosary.
The Rosary signifies important events in the lives of both Mary and Jesus. The 15 beads are made up of 3 sections called mysteries, with each section highlighting specific events. The Joyful Mysteries contain the story of the birth of Jesus.
The Eucharist.
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The Magi consulted with King Herod prior to looking for the rumored King of the Jews. Herod asked them to advise him when they found the newborn so he could also pay homage. What was his actual plan?
To kidnap the rumored king.
To kill the rumored king.
The longstanding prophecy about the birth of the King of the Jews alarmed King Herod. He thought that this king would liberate the people he was governing. As a result, he wanted to kill Jesus, to avoid His rise to power.
To jail the rumored king.
To banish the rumored king.
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The Magi were guided to where Jesus was born by following what?
The Star of Bethlehem.
The Magi were travelers who used the stars to navigate. But even with the Star of Bethlehem as their guide, they also asked for directions. This is how they ended up consulting with King Herod about the whereabouts of the supposed King of the Jews.
The Constellation of Bethlehem.
The Comet of Bethlehem.
The Meteor of Bethlehem.
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The Magi doubted Herod’s sincerity, so they didn’t report back to him when they found Jesus. What horrible event did Herod cause to occur?
The Great Flood.
Locust Swarm Attack.
Massacre of the Innocents.
The Massacre of the Innocents is mentioned in the book of Matthew. King Herod ordered the killing of all newborns and babies of up to about 1-2 years of age born in or within the vicinity of Bethlehem, in order to hopefully kill the supposed prophesied King of the Jews.
River Nile Overflow.
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The arrival of the shepherds to Jesus’ manger actually has a formal name in the Nativity story. What is it?
Arrival of the Shepherds.
Adoration of the Shepherds.
The Adoration of the Shepherds is an important detail in the Nativity scene. It signifies that poor and common people could approach this future king. This is why the Nativity scene always includes simple folk, like shepherds, around the newborn Jesus.
Travel of the Shepherds.
Beatification of the Shepherds.
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The arrival of the Three Wise Men also has a formal name. What is it?
Adoration of the Magi.
The Magi are often referred to as The Three Wise Men or the Three Kings. The Adoration of the Magi is significant. The symbolism shows that even important people like wise men or kings will bow down to this future King of the Jews. The baby’s importance is acknowledged by wise and powerful worshippers, as well as by shepherds and common people.
Arrival of the Magi.
Adoption of the Magi.
Admiration of the Magi.
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Although the actual birth date of Jesus is unknown, on what date does the Christian world celebrate the birth of Christ?
December 26
December 24
December 25
In the Bible, there is no actual mention of the date when Jesus was born. It was the Catholic figure, Pope Julius I, who marked December 25 as the official day of the birth of Jesus. This decision was made during the 4th century AD, long after the death of Jesus.
December 21
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