Train up a child…

A Christmas Quiz for Children

Recently it has come to light that many college students do not know the basic facts about Christmas. We need to make sure that our children know certain things, so they can enjoy the season confidently in the reason for its celebration.

Following are some basic questions that one could ask children to determine their knowledge of this important holiday.

• Why do we celebrate Christmas? (It is the date set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus.)
• Who is Jesus? (The son of God) (John 3:16 is appropriate to explain this question.)
• Where was Jesus born? (In Bethlehem of Judea)
• Who was Jesus’ mother? (The virgin Mary)
• Who was Jesus’ earthly father? (Joseph)
• Why was Jesus born in a stable? (There was no room in the inn.)
• Why was there no room in the inn? (The government had ordered everyone to go to be counted in a census for tax purposes.)
• What is a manger? (It is a feeding trough for animals.)
• What were shepherds? (The people who watched the sheep)
• What did the angel say when it appeared to the shepherds? (Fear not, for I bring you good news.)
• What did the shepherds do after the angel left them? (They went to Bethlehem to see Jesus.)
• When did the wise men go to see Jesus? (About two years after he was born)
• How did the wise men find Jesus? (They followed a star.)
• What did the wise men bring Jesus? (Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Frankincense and myrrh are saps from two different trees. When burned, they give off a nice fragrance. Myrrh was used for embalming the dead.)
• From where did the wise men come? (The Bible only tells us that they came from the east.)
• Who did the wise men stop and see on the way to see Jesus? (King Herod)
• What did Herod tell the wise men to do when they found Jesus? (To come back and tell him where they found Jesus)
• Did the wise men go back to Herod? (No)
• Where did Joseph take Mary and Jesus after the wise men came to visit? (Egypt. He was warned in a dream to take them away.)

These are basic facts about Christmas that all children should know. Hopefully,  if they are asked about these things, they will know the correct answers. Further, knowing the facts will help them understand the real meaning of Christmas.