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Holiday Food Traditions: Test Your Knowledge

How well do you know culinary traditions and customs?

Aaron Kassraie,

Updated November 19, 2024

AARP

En español

Published October 11, 2023

/ Updated November 19, 2024

10 Questions

9c347686-8d22-4f4f-9673-42320d22893d

Holiday Food Traditions: Test Your Knowledge

[ {
 "question" : "What is the most popular side dish served at Thanksgiving?&nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Mashed potatoes ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Stuffing ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Dinner rolls ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Gravy ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "77 percent of people said mashed potatoes was part of their Thanksgiving spread, followed closely by stuffing, at 76 percent, according to a 2021 Ipsos poll.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Turkey was a centerpiece on the table since the very first Thanksgiving.&nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "False ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "There is no indication that turkey was shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in 1621. It wasn’t popularized until around 1863, when Thanksgiving became an official holiday. &nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Which ingredient is traditionally used when preparing food for Hannukah?&nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Schmaltz ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Olive oil ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Vegetable oil",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Eating fried foods, cooked in oil, symbolizes the miracle of oil that burned for eight days instead of one. &nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Animal crackers were originally intended to be a Christmas treat.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "False ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The iconic Barnum's Animal Crackers box, shaped like a circus train with animals, was originally designed as a Christmas ornament due to the string attached to the box.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Corn has a symbolic meaning for those who celebrate Kwanzaa.&nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "False ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Corn symbolizes children and the future they embody. &nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Which of these holiday foods are allowed through a TSA checkpoint?&nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Fruitcake ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Ham ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Spices ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Foods like eggnog, champagne, cranberry sauce, jams and maple syrup should be packed in a checked bag.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Peacock was served instead of turkey for Christmas in medieval England.&nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Today, turkey is the primary poultry of choice. &nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: In the 19th century, doctors believed eggnog was a good way to give prescriptions and nutrients to people on a liquid diet. &nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "False ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Eggnog was given to patients recovering from typhoid fever, dysentery, diphtheria, surgery, ulcers and tuberculosis.&nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What bean is traditionally eaten in the South on New Year’s Day as a symbol for good luck in the coming year?&nbsp;\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Green beans ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Baked beans ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Black-eyed peas ",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Black-eyed peas are often served with cornbread, pork and greens.&nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What is the traditional New Year’s Eve dish in Spain that involves eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Paella ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Tapas ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Las Doce Uvas",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "For each strike of the clock you are supposed to eat one grape. &nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Holiday Food Traditions: Test Your Knowledge

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Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. 