Christmas Memory Quiz

November/December 2008 Issue | Posted by Tom and April Hoopes in Mind Games

MEN: What was the Christmas gift from your childhood that you most cherish?

A. Rock’em Sock’em Robots (or that Firebird Trans-Am model), because it was the hippest thing that year.

B. Deluxe Electronic Erector Set (or Pong game), because it was expensive, regardless of the use I got out of it.

C. The Old West Canteen my dad picked up on a business trip to Colorado, because Colorado seemed exotic and because he picked it out just for me.

D. Here’s Looking at You, Kid, a book of remembrances from my mom. It was nice, but not my favorite at the time — but it’s my all-time favorite now.

WOMEN: What was the Christmas gift from your childhood that you most cherish?

A. Erik Estrada Lunch Box (or Sean Cassidy poster). It was the envy of the lunchroom (or looked great in my locker).

B. An Easy-Bake Oven (or 8-track player), because it was expensive, regardless of the use I got out of it.

C. The Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls my grandma made — just like her own growing up!

D. The picture frame showing three different photos of my family growing up. It’s been on my wall from college to this day.

MEN: What’s your favorite Christmas memory?

A. Going to Rocky IV (or E.T.) with my family.

B. Seeing Bon Jovi (or KISS), in concert with my friends.

C. Driving through the Christmas lights district of our town and just being together with the family.

D. Christmas dinner when my little brother wasn’t taller than I was yet, and my sister still lived nearby.

WOMEN: What’s your favorite Christmas memory?

A. Going to Sixteen Candles (or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) with my family.

B. Seeing Howard Jones (or Peter Frampton) in concert with my friends.

C. The Family Night at the skating rink when dad took me out on the rink, then took mom.

D. Baking Christmas cookies with mom and aunt and grandma, and seeing how they interact.

BOTH: What Christmas story did you love the most?

A. The ones that were sweetest: The Muppets and John Denver’s Christmas Carol, or Lawrence Welk.

B. The ones that were best known: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman.

C. The ones your parents read to you: ’Twas the Night Before Christmas or The Little Match Girl.

D. The ones that happened spontaneously: mom and dad sharing their own Christmas memories.

BOTH: What were your favorite Christmas carols?

A. The grocery-store CD “Joyous Christmas” because it was our first CD!

B. Belinda Carlisle’s Christmas album (or Mannheim Steamroller) because it was the newest thing.

C. My parents’ scratchy old LPs of Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole.

D. Songs we sang while Aunt Jane played, a bit too fast, on our out-of-tune piano.

If you answered mostly …

A. You’re hopelessly nostalgic. Try being nostalgic about family instead of things.

B. You like what’s spectacular and popular. Balance that with your kids.

C. Times with your family have made your Christmases bright.

D. Meaningful things are the most meaningful to you.

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