Christmas Web Quest

We use the Internet in our everyday lives, at home, at school and at work. Over the centuries, hundreds of myths have built up around Christmas.

Your task this lesson is to use your research skills to find out which of the myths listed below are true, which are false and which ones no one really has an answer for!

Your Task

Use the Internet to help you find out whether the following myths are true, false or simply not proved.

Christmas myths - or are they?
Myth	True	False	Not Proved
1. Jesus was born on December 25th
2. The Bible says that exactly three wise men travelled from afar on camels to visit the infant Jesus as he lay in the manger.
3. Two of Santa's reindeer were originally named 'Dunder' and 'Blixem,' not 'Donner' and 'Blitzen.'
4. Poinsettia plants are poisonous to humans.
5. The name of Boxing Day comes from the need to rid the house of empty boxes the day after Christmas.
6. Christmas cards date to 1843.
7. The tradition of the Christmas tree dates back to the days of the Egyptians, Romans, and Druids.
8. Rudolph was one of Santa's original reindeer
9. The term 'Xmas' is an abbreviation of Christmas. It has no other meaning.
10. The Original Father Christmas was Christian
11. The red and white striped candy canes represent a shepherd's crook
12. The word 'carol' originally referred to a ring-dance which meant a song that could be danced to
13. Father Christmas is the same as Santa Claus
14 Holly is a traditional decoration at Christmas because its spikes are meant to represent the Crown of Thorns
15. Some people dread Christmas because they suffer from 'Pogonophobia' - a fear of beards.
16. Now come up with 5 questions of your own about Christmas.Give them to another student to solve while you solve their questions.

When you have finished your research, and only when, you can check your answers here