'Tony's Christmas Quiz For You To Try'

Well, its just seven days now to the BIG day! Not really seemed as much like Christmas to me this year and we are nearly there now so I guess its going to take a miracle for me to REALLY get my usual buzz at this time of year...

Anyway, here as promised is the Christmas Quiz I put to my writing club members the other night. in hindsight, I think its probably a bit too hard to be a great quiz but have a go and see how you get on - its certainly more of a challenge than most quizzes and even if you don't know the answers you will learn a lot about Christmas by taking part!!

Tony May’s Christmas Quiz!

Round 1 – Christmas Traditions

Q 1-What actually happens to letters sent by children to Santa addressed to ‘The North Pole’?

A) The Post Office simply discards them at the local sorting office.

B) They are sent to The North Pole.

C) They are stored at the sorting office over Christmas and then re-cycled.

D) They are sent internally to the Post Office HQ where they are destroyed.

Q 2 – With what is it deemed unlucky to cut a mince pie?

A) A Knife

B) A Sword

C) An Axe

D) A Pikestaff

Q3 – With what purpose is Christmas pudding traditionally doused in flaming brandy?

A) The flaming brandy helps to enhance/hide the flavour of the pudding – many of which in Dickensian times may have been made with stale ingredients of fruit well past its best.

B) The flames are said to ward off evil spirits.

C) The tradition of doing so originated in the U.S. where the flaming of the pudding was said to signify ‘the eradication of sin and the birth of hope for goodness from then on’.

D) The flames are purely for show and always have been!

  

Q4 – Which group of people are said to have invented Carol Singing?

A) Servants

B) The Landed Gentry

C) Monks

D) Beggars

Q5 – The traditional period to sing carols begins on which date?

A) 21^st Dec

B) 22^nd of Dec

C) Christmas Eve

D) 19^th Dec

Q6 – If you are ‘Mumming’ at Christmas what in fact are you doing?

A) Being a VERY naughty boy or girl!

B) Visiting the home of your mother or wife’s mother

C) Taking part in an early version of pantomime

D) Using a LOT of bandages!

Q7 - What are the three items it is said Children should leave out for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve?

A) Sherry, Mince Pies And A Letter

B) Brandy, An Apple And Mince Pies

C) Mince Pies, Brandy & A Carrot

D) Brandy, Mince Pies & A Letter

Q8 – According to old Christmas superstitions what do all of the sheep in the fields do at midnight?

A) Turn and bow to the North

B) Turn and bow to the South

C) Turn and bow to the West

D) Turn and bow to the East

Q9 – What exactly is ‘posset’?

A) It is a medieval Apple Pie

B) It is a wooden cup specially carved each year for the purpose of celebrating the festive season. Family members would take turns in drinking from the posset before meals during the twelve days of Christmas.

C) It is a drink traditionally drunk on Christmas Eve made from milk combined with spices, lemon, sugar and other ingredients.

D) It is a long wooden bench made from Oak.

Q10 – Poinsettia’s are traditional Christmas plants but from which country do they originate?

A) Mexico

B) Spain

C) Brazil

D) Scotland

Round 2 – History

Q 1 – Where and when did the first recorded observance of Christmas take place?

A) AD 100 in Jerusalem

B) AD 340 in Vienna

C) AD 360 in Rome

D) AD 330 in Oslo

Q2 – Electric lights were first used to celebrate Christmas in which year?

A) 1879

B) 1880

C) 1881

D) 1882

Q3 - In Which Country was the first Christmas stamp issued in 1898?

A) England

B) France

C) Canada

D) The United States

Q4 – In what year was the first Christmas card created?

A) 1887

B) 1842

C) 1844

D) 1843

Q5 – The carol, ‘Silent Night’, was written by a Priest named Joseph Mohr. What nationality was he?

A) German

B) Czech

C) Swiss

D) Austrian

Q6 – Up until the 19^th century people would keep their decorations up until Candlemas Day. When exactly is ‘Candlemas Day’?

A) February 2^nd

B) January 31^st

C) February 4^th

D) January 25^th

Q7 – St Francis Of Assisi is said to have created the first nativity performance in 1223. In which country did this take place?

A) Italy

B) Greece

C) Portugal

D) Spain

Q8 – Why are there twelve days of Christmas?

A) Because it took the three kings twelve days to find the baby Jesus

B) Because the twelve days represent the twelve months in each year

C) Because it allows plenty of time for continuous feasting and merrymaking

D) Because (say someone present in the room) said there should be!

Q9 – The Christmas Pudding we know today started life as a kind of Christmas porridge. By what name was this porridge known?

A) Kasha

B) Frumenty

C) Groats

D) Quinoa

Q10 – When did Wassailing first become associated with Christmas?

A) The 1600’s

B) The 1500’s

C) The 1700’s

D) The 1400’s

Round 3 – Christmas Hits

Q1 – What was the Christmas No 1 Single in the U.K. in 1972?

Q2 – Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen was first No 1 at Christmas in 1975. In which year did it return to the top spot at Christmas when re-issued as part of a double a-sided single with the song, ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’?

Q3 - Who had a top ten hit in 1957 with the song, ‘Santa, Bring My Baby Back To Me’?

Q4 – The Smurfs had a 1978 Christmas hit with the song, ‘Christmas In Smurfland’. From which country do Smurfs originate?

Q5 – Which British band had a 1980 Christmas hit with the song ‘Never Mind The Presents’?

Q6 – In what year was ‘Do They know Its Christmas?’ by Band Aid first released?

Q7 – Who was the first British artist to have a No 1 Christmas hit in the U.K?

Q8 – Wizzard had the 1973 Christmas No 1 in the U.K. with the festive classic ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’. Name the group’s lead singer. * BONUS POINT if you can name the record label it was on.

Q9 – In 1983, Actors George Cole & Dennis Waterman teamed up to record the Christmas novelty song, ‘What are We Gonna Get Er’ Indoors’. The song was a cash-in from the duo’s popularity in the television programme ‘Minder’. We all remember that George Cole played Arthur Daley but what was the name of the character played by Dennis Waterman?

Q10 – Bob The Builder was number one at Christmas in 2000 with the song ‘Can We Fix it?’ Can you name the actor who was the voice of Bob?

Round 4 – Christmas Films

Q1 – Which Actor provides the voice of ‘Scrooge’ in the 1992 Film, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’?

Q2 – What was the surname of he angel, ‘Clarence’ in the 1946 classic Christmas film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’?

Q3 – In what year was the film ‘Elf’ starring Will Ferrell released?

Q4 – The 1947 film, ‘Miracle On 34^th Street’ starred Maureen O’ Hara, John Payne and Natalie Wood but which other Actor was it who won ‘Best Actor in a supporting role’ in the 1948 US Academy Awards for his portrayal of the lead character, Kris Kringle?

Q5 – What is the name of Bill Murray’s character in the 1988 film ‘Scrooged’?

Q6 – The 1988 film, ‘National Lampoons Christmas Vacation’ was the final film in the 58 year career of Mae Questel. Which well-known cartoon character was Mae the voice of?

Q7 – How many films in the ‘Home Alone’ series have been made so far?

Q8 – ‘Whoville’ is the fictional town in which Christmas film?

Q9 – What year was the animated short film ‘The Snowman’ released?

Q10 - Who plays the character Ted Hanover in the 1942 film ‘Holiday Inn’?

Round 5 Christmas Cryptic Capers!

The following are cryptic clues to objects found around the home at Christmas.

Q1. Appointments?

Q2. Dad's a barber?

Q3. Crazy?

Q4. Make a pig of yourself when you find them?

Q5. The orange song?

Q6. A pleasure in Ankara?

Q7. Vision for cockney?

Q8. Type that goes on your head?

Q9. Second visitor in a Christmas Carol?

Q10. Opposite a French stick?

Round 6 – Christmas Panto’s

Q1 – In which Shakespeare play does a variant of the Giant’s cry "Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman" 

 from ‘Jack and The Beanstalk’ appear?

A) A Midsummer Nights Dream

B) Othello

C) As You Like It

D) King Lear

Q2 – In which Pantomime does the character ‘Ilnyeva Gettamanovic’ appear?

A) Puss In Boots

B) Cinderella

C) Peter Pan

D) Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

Q3 – Richard Whittington was in fact a real person and the pantomime that bears his name is the only pantomime to be based on a true subject. ‘Dick’ was mayor of London three times. In which of these years was he NOT Mayor of London?

A) 1401

B) 1397

C) 1406

D) 1419 

Q4 – In which pantomime does the character ‘Columbine’ appear?

A) Jack & The Beanstalk

B) Mother Goose

C) Dick Whittington

D) Cinderella

Q5 – According to the website ‘It’s Behind You. Com’ which is the most popular pantomime of all?

A) Aladdin

B) Dick Whittington

C) Cinderella

D) Snow White

Q6 – In which year was ‘Peter Pan’ first performed at the Duke of York Theatre in London?

A) 1900

B) 1910

C) 1904

D) 1908

Q7 – The first recorded use of the word pantomime was in which of these years?

A) 1788

B) 1804

C) 1717

D) 1773

Q8 – In which country is the pantomime, ‘Aladdin’ traditionally set?

A) China

B) Japan

C) Hong Kong

D) Egypt

Q9 – Joseph Grimaldi (1779 – 1837) is considered to be the most ‘famous & popular’ Clown in harlequinade and pantomime of all time but what nationality was he?

A) Irish

B) English

C) Italian

D) Dutch

Q10 – In which pantomime does the character ‘Lagoon’ appear?

A) Aladdin

B) Peter Pan

C) Mother Goose

D) Babes In The Wood

Round 7 – Christmas True of False

Q1 – The Queen’s broadcast to the nation topped the ratings on Christmas Day 2014 with an average of 7.82 million viewers?

Q2 – Legendary soul singer James Brown died on Christmas Day, 2007.

Q3 – Charlie Chaplin, Dean Martin & eartha Kitt all died on Christmas Day.

Q4 – ‘Adeste Fideles’ is how you say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Spanish.

Q5 – The Book ‘Hercule Poirot’s Christmas’ was published in 1939 - the same year that the Second World War began!

Q6 – In Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ Bob Cratchit’s second daughter is called ‘Belinda’

Q7 – Frank Kelly’s hilarious ‘Christmas Countdown’ was a top 20 hit in 1984.

Q8 – William Shakespeare wrote a Christmas poem entitled, ‘Song Of The Holly’

Q9 – Two five minute ‘Christmas Specials’ were made of the popular comedy series, ‘On The Buses’

Q10 – Leslie Neilsen played Santa in the 2000 TV Movie, ‘Santa Who?’                   

Stumped? Then here are the answers!!!!!

Q1 - B

Q2 – A

Q3 – B

Q4 – D (In The Middle Ages)

Q5 - A

Q6 – C

Q7 – C

Q8 – D

Q9 – C

Q10 - A

Round 2

Q1 – C

Q2 – D

Q3 – C

Q4 – D

Q5 – D

Q6 – A

Q7 – A

Q8 – A

Q 9 – B

Q10 - D

Round 3

Q1 – Long Haired Lover From Liverpool – Little Jimmy Osmond with the Mike Curb Congregation.

Q2 – 1991

Q3 – Elvis Presley

Q4 – Holland (The Netherlands)

Q5 – The Barron Knights

Q6 – 1984

Q7 – Dickie Valentine (in 1955 with ‘Christmas Alphabet’)

Q8 – Roy Wood & Harvest Records

Q9 – Terry McCann

Q10 – Neil Morrissey

Round 4

Q1 – Michael Caine

Q2 – Odbody

Q3 – 2003

Q4 – Edmund Gwenn

Q5 – Frank Cross

Q6 – Betty Boop

Q7 – 5

Q8 – How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Q9 – 1982

Q10 – Fred Astaire

Round 5

Q1. Dates

Q2. Parsnips

Q3. Nuts

Q4. Truffles

Q5. Tangerine

Q6. Turkish delight

Q7. Mince pies

Q8. Pork Pie

Q9. Christmas present

Q10. Shortbread

Round 6

Q1 – D

Q2 - B

Q3 – A

Q4 – B

Q5 – C

Q6 – C

Q7 – C

Q8 – A

Q9 – B

Q10 – B

Round 7

Q1 – TRUE

Q2 – FALSE – it was 2006!

Q3 – TRUE (Chaplin in 1977, Martin in 1995 and Kitt in 2008)

Q4 – FALSE – it is ‘Feliz Navidad’

Q5 - FALSE  - it was published in 1938

Q6 – TRUE

Q7 – FALSE – it only made no 26

Q8 – TRUE

Q9 – TRUE – In 1969 and 1972 – the 1969 version has been lost.

Q10 - TRUE

Do let me know how you get on?