Seasonal Quiz 09 (True/False)

Answer T(rue) or F(alse)

Q1. Jesus was born in 0 AD
Q2. We are told in the Bible that Mary rode into Bethlehem on a donkey
Q3. The Bible says that Jesus was born in December
Q4. The Bible says that barn animals miraculously spoke the night Jesus was born
Q5. In Ukraine spiders and spider webs are a traditional part of Christmas decorations
Q6. The traditional hook-like red-white candy canes started out as straight white sticks
Q7. The first use of electric lights at Christmas was in the 1920s
Q8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was invented by an American department store to sell goods
Q9. There are at least 20 S Claus's living in the UK today
Q10. White Christmases were once fairly common in London before the 1970s with at least 20 occuring between 1900 and 1950

Ans

1F (There is no 0 AD, Jesus was probablly born between 6 and 4 BC due to a miscalculation; 2F (They may have, though as poor people they woud probably have had to borrow it);3 F (No mention of the time of the year); 4F (no direct mention of animals); 5T (In Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, finding a spider or a spider's web on a Christmas tree is considered good luck).

6F;7F (actually Edison had Chrsitmas lights outside his house in the 1880s);8T (Rudolph first appeared in a 1939 booklet written by Robert L May and published by Montgomery Ward, the department store); 9T;10F (For more southern areas of the UK away from the highest hills there were only four classic widespread white Christmas days when snow fell and laid giving a good cover between 1900 and 1950. They were 1906, 1917, 1923 and 1938).

The Oxford Handbook of Christmas

I am hoping the family will club together and get this for me for Christmas. (They did!). It is an academic book so has a crazy price tag. Looks lilke fun, however. PS They did! And it it was fun. Not all read this Season.

Devotional Book of Advent Readings Now Out

I have written a book of 25 Advent readings available from Amazon in hardback, paperback and electronic forms. See here.

Christmas is Murder

I have a little collection of Christmas books here at home that come out once a year for a month or so. Many of them are in the crime fiction genre and include two volumes by P D James. When I saw a third volume that looks uniform with the first two but is by Val McDermid I thought I'd get it. I inadvertently sent for a paperback version, which took the edge off it a little. None of the stories are that Christmassy either. McDermid is a more modern writer and includes two lesbian stories. I think P D James is probably a better writer but I'd be hard put to prove that. So slightly disappointed.

Christmas Lore and legend Yuletide Essays by Llewelyn Powys

A few years ago I bought this little collection of essays gathered from various sources, all on a Christmas theme. I've dipped into it in the past but this year I read them all consecutively. Powys died in 1939 so they are quiteold fashioned but that is a bonus. Like many a pagan this son of a vicar wants to keep all the bits of Christmas he likes. Lovely short book.

Winter by Steeleye Span

I love Christmas music but somehow I'd missed this 2004 album from folk rockers Steeleye Span. It is an excellent collection of familiar and new pieces, mostly vocals but with plenty of variety. Tracks include the familiar "The First Nowell", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "Good King Wenceslas", "See, Amid the Winter's Snow" and "In the Bleak Midwinter" all given a partiular twist. "Down in Yon Forest" is an old piece found also on one of Kate Rusby's albums under a different title. "Blow Your Trumpet Gabriel" is a version of an African American spiritual. This very Christian element is balanced with more pagan songs delving into other aspects of Christmas tradition. Well worth checking out.

Seasonal Quiz 08

1. In what year was “Merry Christmas everybody” by Slade the Christmas number one?

A. 1970 B. 1973 C. 1979 D. 1981

2. Who is the author of these words - “It was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if anyone possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, Every one!”

A. William Wordsworth B. Thomas Hardy C. L Frank Baum D. Charles Dickens

3. In what film does a character called Jack sing 'There's children throwing snowballs instead of heads/They're busy building toys and absolutely no-one's dead!”

A. The Nightmare before Christmas (1993) B. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

C. Dead of Night (1945) D. Gremlins (1984)

4. “Get dressed ye married gentlemen” is a mondegreen. What are the real words of the carol?

A. God rest ye jerry mental men B. God rest ye merry gentlemen

C. Got trussed the merry gentleman D. Go trusty moral gentleman

5. Give me the first five words of the famous poem by Clement Moore about Father Christmas 

A. 'Twas the night before Christmas B. 'Twas the day before Christmas

C. 'Twas the night after Christmas D. 'Twas the night before Christmas Eve

6. In what year was “Mistletoe and wine” by Cliff Richard the Christmas number one?

A. 1988 B. 1990 C. 1992 D. 1994

7. Eid milad saeed – in what language is this the way to say Merry Christmas?

A. Arabic B. Farsi C. Swahili  D. Daric

8. In what year was the Bob the Builder song “Can we fix it” the Christmas number one?

A. 1999 B. 2000 C. 2001 D.2004

9. What is the name of the 1947 film (remade in 1973 and 1995) in which a character called Kris Kringle is prosecuted for claiming to be Father Christmas?

A. The Santa Clause B. Miracle on 34th Street C. Santa Claus The Movie D. Arthur Christmas

 

10. Before turkey was introduced, people in Europe traditionally had any of these for Christmas Dinner, except one. Which one?

A. Peacock B. Goose C. Pheasant D. Nightingale

BDABA

AABBD