Did you know December 21 is Crossword Puzzle Day? To celebrate this day, I’ve created a December crossword puzzle from scratch. It’s the second crossword puzzle we have made for This Awful Awesome Life. For the first puzzle, I used an online service to fit my answers into a crossword template.
This time I’m going old school and fitting the answers myself. It was challenging, but fun and I had to do things a bit differently.
There are 26 columns across (numbered above the puzzle) and 25 rows down (not numbered). Instead of using the numbers of the questions, you will use the column numbers and row numbers. It’s like plotting a graph. For example, the first answer will start at 1 across and 1 down (1a/1d). You can print this puzzle on paper, number the 25 rows down, and complete it at your leisure. I hope you enjoy learning a few fun facts about the holidays and the month of December. Good luck!
Answers to the December 2021 Crossword Puzzle are in the last article of the December 2021 issue, “Next Month in This Awful Awesome Life - January 2022 - you can click on it from our home page or use this link,
ACROSS
1. Ralphie just wants a Red Ryder BB gun in this holiday classic (3 words) (1a/1d)
2. The December ___________ is the first day of winter in the Northern hemisphere. (19a/1d)
3. Federal Housing Administration initials (1a/2d)
4. Remy in Ratatouille. (1a/3d)
5. Santa and his elves _________ at the North Pole. (17a/3d)
6. According to legend, the first person to decorate a Christmas ____was Protestant reformer, Martin Luther. (23a/3d)
7. Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed star in Frank Capra’s iconic holiday film, (4 words) (1a/4d)
8. There are three important rules to keep these Christmas presents furry and cute, (11a/6d)
9. Christmas Tree topper. (23a/6d)
10. This December action blockbuster has become a holiday must watch (2 words) (13a/9d)
1. Commonly used for Christmas decorations in Scandinavian homes to remind them Jesus was born in a manger. (8a/10d)
11. For the last decade, this fruit has become a popular gift to give friends and coworkers in China during the Christmas season. (21a/10d)
12. On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave me five of these made of gold. (1a/11d)
13. How cocoa is served during the holidays. (13a/11d)
14. This feast takes place on the final day of Kwanzaa. (3a/13d)
15. This Christmas pudding, is a tradition in England, Ireland, and some parts of the U.S. (11a/13d)
16. One of the gifts brought by the three wise kings. (19a/13d)
17. Type of flour in Joululimppu (Finnish Christmas Bread) responsible for its earthy flavor. (3a/14d)
18. The Jewish festival, Hanukkah commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the ________________ (2 words) in second century BCE. (7a/15d)
19. Opposite of yes, (25a/15d)
20. _______ Angeles (24a/16d)
21. On December 5, 1933, the 18th Amendment known as this was repealed and the manufacture, transportation and the sale of alcohol was legal again in the United States. (6a/17d)
22. The day or evening before. (19a/17d)
23. Symbol of peace. (23a/17d)
24. British thank you. (24a/18d)
25. Opposite of North. (3a/19d)
26. When Julius Caesar created the Julian calendar, he added ten days to the year expanding December from ___________ days to thirty-one days. (11a/20d)
27. How toy soldiers walk. (22a/20d)
28. Traditional fruit for Christmas stockings. (1a/21d)
29. In the old Roman calendar, December was this month of the year. (7a/22d)
30. The Who in Whoville feasted on this type of beast. (16a/22d)
31. Spanish cat. (23a/22d)
2. Red and this color are traditional Christmas colors. (1a/23d)
32. In Roman times, this mid-winter festival included feasting, merry making, and a time when slaves and their masters switched places. (16a/24d)
33. Children play with this four-sided spinning top during Hanukkah. (1a/25d)
34. Type of nut used in the traditional Spanish Christmas treat, Turron de Navidad. (8a/25d)
DOWN
1. On December 10, 1950, Dr. Ralph Bunche became the first _____________ (2 words) man awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. (1a/1d)
2. Have a conversation. (2a/1d)
3. Santa wears a red one, but the elves wear green ones to keep their heads warm. (3a/1d)
4. Make yours up to know what you want for Christmas. (8a/1d)
5. You can buy gifts at one of these. (10a/1d)
6. If you are Vegan, your turkey might be made of this. (12a/1d)
7. Pinocchio wants to be this kind of boy. (14a/1d)
8. In Sweden, this goat, made of straw, is believed to guard the Christmas tree. (17a/1d)
9. Traditionally, Italians celebrate the Feast of the _______ Fishes. (19a/1d)
10. Another name for small children. (23a/1d)
11. In Scandinavia, Vikings believed these types of trees were special gifts from Balder, their god of light and peace. (26a/1d)
12. Puritan __________ Cromwell made Christmas illegal in England from 1647 to 1660 because he believed celebrating on one of the year’s holiest days was immoral. (6a/4d)
13. Each day during Kwanzaa, a different candle is lit in this candleholder and celebrants discuss the seven principles of Kwanzaa that represent the seven values of African culture that build and reinforce community. (21a/5d)
14. In the United Kingdom and some other countries on this day of gift giving, boxes of food, clothing, and other gifts are traditionally given to employees, tradespeople, and other service providers. (4a/6d)
15. Jingle, silver, or sleigh. (8a/6d)
16. This French author of Madame Bovary was born on December 12, 1821. (11a/6d)
17. Bacalao, salted cod, is a Christmas staple in this country. (14a/6d)
18. In Costa Rica, making ________ is a Christmas tradition. (24a/6d)
19. In this country, about 3.5 million people eat fast food from Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Eve. (17a/8d)
20. An object for a child to play with. (15a/11d)
21. In Alpine countries, St. Nick rewards good children and _______ comes to punish the naughty. (3a/13d)
22. God ______ Ye Merry Gentlemen. (5a/13d)
23. The German Christmas feast is traditionally centered around Weihnachtsgans, Christmas _______ (19a/13d)
24. This potato pancake is typically prepared to celebrate Hanukkah. (21a/13d)
25. Rudolph had a red and shiny one. (26a/14d)
26. Another of the gifts brought by the three wise kings. (7a/15d)
27. This Canadian province leads the world in exporting lobster, wild blueberries, and Christmas trees. (25a/15d)
28. Place where many Christmas trees are sold. (24a/16d)
29. Bill Murray stars in this modernized version of A Christmas Carol. (1a/18d)
30. This week-long holiday beginning December 26 and ending on January 1, honors African heritage in African American culture in the United States. (8a/19d)
31. Christmas cards originated in this country in the 1840’s. (14a/19d)
32. On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen an explorer from this country, became the first person to reach the South Pole. (17a/20d)
33. Popular Christmas tree toppers. (23a/20d)
34. An individual compartment in a stable for an animal. (7a/21d)
35. Santa says this three times before saying Merry Christmas. (12a/24d)
Sources for this quiz:
https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/months/december.html
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g1315/best-christmas-movies/