We invite you to take a short quiz to test your knowledge on the history and traditions of the season of Advent. Be sure to share the link to this page with friends so you can compare scores later.
Download, print and share this Advent Quiz with your church, family and friends! And spoiler alert: after you take the quiz, you can see all the answers and learn lots more about Advent.
- Question 1 of 10
Do you know how the Advent calendar began?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is all of the above. Advent calendars originated in Germany in the mid-19th century. The tradition began with families drawing a chalk line on the door for each day of December. An Advent Clock was one way people marked the time, as well as lighting Advent candles, one for each day. Families also hung up a new image every day before Christmas.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is all of the above. Advent calendars originated in Germany in the mid-19th century. The tradition began with families drawing a chalk line on the door for each day of December. An Advent Clock was one way people marked the time, as well as lighting Advent candles, one for each day. Families also hung up a new image every day before Christmas.
- Question 2 of 10
Why are the Advent candles arranged in the shape of a circle?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is circles symbolize eternity. Circles, because they have no beginning and no end. The wreath, a circle of evergreens (another symbol of eternity), is a reminder during Advent of our waiting for the eternal to come into our midst.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is circles symbolize eternity. Circles, because they have no beginning and no end. The wreath, a circle of evergreens (another symbol of eternity), is a reminder during Advent of our waiting for the eternal to come into our midst.
- Question 3 of 10
Which of these Advent hymns was written by Charles Wesley?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus." In this hymn, Charles Wesley captured the anticipation of the people of Israel who for hundreds of years longed for the coming of the Messiah.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus." In this hymn, Charles Wesley captured the anticipation of the people of Israel who for hundreds of years longed for the coming of the Messiah.
- Question 4 of 10
True or false: Like the 40 days of Lent, Advent is a fixed number of days before Christmas.
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is false. The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word "adventus," meaning "coming" or "visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. When Christmas Day is on a Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent is on a Sunday, so there are four full weeks to the season. If Christmas is on any other day, the total number of Advent days will vary between 22 and 27.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is false. The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word "adventus," meaning "coming" or "visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. When Christmas Day is on a Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent is on a Sunday, so there are four full weeks to the season. If Christmas is on any other day, the total number of Advent days will vary between 22 and 27.
- Question 5 of 10
According to tradition, approximately how far did Mary travel to visit Elizabeth?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is approximately 100 miles. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth (Luke 1:26), telling her she would give birth to Jesus. Mary then traveled to the home of her relative Elizabeth, who Luke tells us lived in Judea (Luke 1:39). Tradition says that Elizabeth and Zechariah probably lived in Hebron, nearly 100 miles from Nazareth. It would have taken Mary about a week to make the journey on foot.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is approximately 100 miles. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth (Luke 1:26), telling her she would give birth to Jesus. Mary then traveled to the home of her relative Elizabeth, who Luke tells us lived in Judea (Luke 1:39). Tradition says that Elizabeth and Zechariah probably lived in Hebron, nearly 100 miles from Nazareth. It would have taken Mary about a week to make the journey on foot.
- Question 6 of 10
What is a Jesse Tree?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is a representation of Jesus' family tree. The Jesse Tree takes its name from the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1, "A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots" (CEB). This prophecy links the messiah to King David whose father was Jesse. Jesse Trees are decorated with special symbols used to tell the stories of Jesus' ancestors from creation through Jesus' birth.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is a representation of Jesus' family tree. The Jesse Tree takes its name from the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1, "A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots" (CEB). This prophecy links the messiah to King David whose father was Jesse. Jesse Trees are decorated with special symbols used to tell the stories of Jesus' ancestors from creation through Jesus' birth.
- Question 7 of 10
What does the word Advent (from the Latin adventus) mean?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is arrival or coming. The Latin word "adventus" means "coming." As the Book of Worship points out, the season proclaims the comings of the Christ - whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is arrival or coming. The Latin word "adventus" means "coming." As the Book of Worship points out, the season proclaims the comings of the Christ - whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate.
- Question 8 of 10
On the third Sunday in Advent, some churches light a pink candle in the Advent wreath. Why?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is rose is a color of joy. The rose candle is a symbol of joy. Advent is traditionally a season of penitence and a time for preparing our hearts. The third Sunday of Advent focuses on the joy we find in Christ.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is rose is a color of joy. The rose candle is a symbol of joy. Advent is traditionally a season of penitence and a time for preparing our hearts. The third Sunday of Advent focuses on the joy we find in Christ.
- Question 9 of 10
Who originated Watch Night services?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is John Wesley, who started Watch Night services in 1740, presumably as an alternative to times of drunken revelry such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It is included in the United Methodist Book of Worship. Wesley believed that Methodists and all Christians should reaffirm their covenant with God annually.
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is John Wesley, who started Watch Night services in 1740, presumably as an alternative to times of drunken revelry such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It is included in the United Methodist Book of Worship. Wesley believed that Methodists and all Christians should reaffirm their covenant with God annually.
- Question 10 of 10
What is the meaning of the Hebrew word "Emmanuel"?
Correct!
Your answer:
The correct answer is God with us. In Hebrew, the term "Emmanuel" means “God with us."
Incorrect.
Your answer:
Correct answer:
The correct answer is God with us. In Hebrew, the term "Emmanuel" means “God with us."
