Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Twenty Four

Have you been with me since December 1st when we started this crazy endeavor? If so, well, pat yourself on the back, you made it all the way to the end. Here are the final questions of the Family Circle Christmas Quiz!

B24: What is the name of the little girl who asked a newspaper editor, "Is there really a Santa Claus?"
Wha-? Did that make national headlines or something?
"Virginia"
If you say so.

B25: Who is Kris Kringle?
Santa Claus, in Europe? Germanic countries?
[Meh, the answer doesn't say where, just "Santa Claus"]

B26: How many days after Jesus was born did the Three Wise Men visit him?
Let's go with the theme of three wise men and three gift... who arrived three days after he was born?

Nope. Twelve.

Oh.

Is that why "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is something special?
If I really cared I'd look it up.

Wow. I'm ending on such a high note, not!

Today's score: 1 / 3 = 33%
Score to date: 37 / 51 = 72.5%

What is that, a C? Oh well.

How did YOU do?

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Twenty Three

Almost there, folks! Have you been keeping your own score? Here are a few more Christmas-related questions for ya...

B21: The Three Wise Men brought Jesus three gifts. What were they?
Hey, I over-answered this a while back didn't I? Gold, frankincense and myrrh.

B22: What is the name of the little crippled boy in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"?
Tiny Tim

B23: How many years ago was Jesus born?
Oh I'm looking forward to the official answer! Because it's not exactly the year that we're in... but hey whaddaya know, the 1984 magazine says Jesus was born 1,984 years ago. I totally call B.S. on this answer, and insist that this question gets thrown out! :D

Which brings the tally to...

Today's score: 2 / 2 = 100%
Score to date: 36 / 48 = 75%

Tomorrow is the final hurrah! Join me?

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Twenty Two

We are almost there! More Christmas-related questions for you, courtesy of an ancient Family Circle magazine quiz that my packrat hubby saved back in 1984.

B18: What were the creatures doing in the poem "A Visit from St Nicholas"?
sleeping?

Technically, weren't they "not stirring"?

Yup.


B19: Who first saw the star of Bethlehem, the Three Wise Men or the shepherds?
I'll go with the Magi.
Yup. The answer clarifies that the Three Wise Men saw the star, while "the good news was given to the shepherds by an angel."


B20: How many reindeer does Santa have?
If you recall, I do not know their names, but I think there are... twelve?

NOPE, he has eight plus Rudolph.

Oh well.

So how's my score?

Today's score: 2 / 3 = 67% (hey, two out of three ain't bad)
Score to date: 34 / 46 = 74%

Six questions to go ... accompany me to the finish?

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Twenty One

Continuing with Christmas-related questions, seeing as it's December and all...

B15: Where is Christmas Island?
Near Easter Island?

Turns out there are two Christmas Islands. One is in the Pacific Ocean south of Hawaii, the other in the Indian Ocean. I did not know that; did you?

B16: What cactus plant blooms only at Christmas?
No idea.

A Christmas Cactus.

Seriously?

B17: Name two food items that people often string together to make Christmas-tree garlands.
I know popcorn... [and cranberries. really?]

Oops, today wasn't a good day for me, again!

Today's score: 0.5 / 3 = 17%
Score to date: 32 / 43 = 74%

Tomorrow. I'll make it up tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Twenty

Hey hey hey, we're moving along nicely... here are more of the Christmas-related questions from an ancient issue of Family Circle magazine.

B12: Name the three spirits who visited Scrooge on Christmas Eve.
The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

B13: Who plays with a pinata at Christmas, and what is inside?
I dunno.. Winnie the Pooh? Blackbirds??! LoL!

(Looks at answers)

Oh.

I thought there was a movie or something that was being referenced. Turns out "Mexican children play with a pinata (a decorated, animal-shaped pottery container) by striking it with a stick until it breaks open. Inside are candies, fruits and small gifts.

I knew that. I just only ever saw it when a birthday was involved.

B14: Name one ingredient in mince pie:
minced meat?
NOPE, Chuck Testa trick dish! It usually contains raisins, apples, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

Whooops! That's gonna drag my score down again, ainnit?

Today's score: 1 / 3 = 33%
Score to date: 31.5 / 40 = 79%

Will I be able to make it back into the 80% or higher bracket? Am I going to earn a "C" on this quiz? Keep coming back, we'll find out together!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas Quiz : Day Nineteen

Still here? It's Day Nineteen of the Christmas-related trivia questions taken from a 1984 Family Circle magazine.

B10: What did Mary ride to the stable where she gave birth to Jesus?
A donkey? Mule? [a donkey]

B11: How many turtle doves did the true love in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?
Heh. Five?

Nope. Two.

Oh well.

Today's score: 1 / 2 = 50%
Score to date: 30.5 / 37 = 82%

We're doing this up until Christmas rolls around, so come back tomorrow for more.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Eighteen

Any of you gonna have any difficulty with any of there questions?

B8: What do Dutch children leave out for Santa to fill with presents?
A sock? A little sack? Oooh ohhh wait... how about their shoes/clogs?!
(Yep, their clogs or shoes is the answer)

B9: Who are Santa's helpers?
Elves.
Or, singular and with a diminutive added, that would be the family pet of The Simpsons :)

Today's score = 2 / 2 = 100%
Score to date: 29.5 / 35 = 84%


Puzzled at what's going on? I am featuring Christmas-related trivia questions taken from a Family Circle magazine from 1984, and my responses to them... just because! There will be more tomorrow, don't worry!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Seventeen

More Christmas-related questions on this seemingly never-ending Christmas Quiz I decided to subject not just myself to, but my reader(s) [if any, haha] too!

And on we go.....

B6: Who's "nipping at your nose" when you go outside in winter?
Jack Frost

B7: What kind of Christmas does Bing Crosby always dream of?
the White variety

Easy peasy.

Today's score = 2 / 2 = 100%
Score to date: 27.5 / 33 = 83%

Hey, my percentage it slowing rising again. Pity I'm not gonna actually get anything out of this, LoL!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas Quiz : Day Sixteen

A long time ago, back in 1984, Family Circle magazine featured a Christmas Quiz, which got saved by my packrat now-hubby. The yellowed pages somehow ended up with me a few years ago. This year I am finally going through them, and will be 'free' to put them in the paper recycling bin, once I go through all the questions here on this blog.

So on we plod.

B3: What do bad boys and girls get for Christmas?
A lump of coal?
(The answer specifies said coal would be in their stockings)

B4: If someone wished you "Feliz Navidad," would you be in England, Holland, Germany or Spain?
Spain. No debate there.

B5: Name two decorations that are often put on top of Christmas trees.
An angel or a star.

Today's score: 3 / 3 = 100%
Score to date: 25.5 / 31 = 82%

Wheeee!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Fifteen

Wheee! We are halfway through this bad idea I had, rejoice, rejoice!! :) Here are the "B-side" questions.

B1: Who was chosen to guide Santa on Christmas Eve?
I assume you mean Rudolph?

B2: Where is America's national Christmas tree?
Wha-? At the Rockefeller Center skating rink thingy, perhaps?

NOPE! Turns out that the official National Christmas Tree is the General Grant, a giant 40-foot-base sequoia, in Kings Canyon National Park in California. Did you know that? I most certainly did not!

Today's score: 1 / 2 = 50%
Score to date: 22.5 / 28 = 80%

You know the drill... come back tomorrow for more Christmas-related questions! Why? Because like me, you're a glutton for punishment.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Fourteen

Today's questions are sooooooooooooooooooo easy, they are not worth the pixelson your screen to read them.

A25: What date is Christmas Day?
December 25th

A26: Name three words Santa says when he's happy.
Well it's the same word, just repeated twice: "Ho, ho, ho!"

Today's score: 2 / 2 = 100%
Score to date: 21.5 / 26 = 83%

Tomorrow we start the "B" questions, also 26 of 'em. Are you looking forward to them?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Thirteen

"Are we there yet?"
... Not quite halfway, sorry!

A23: What do people hang on their front doors at Christmastime?
Wreaths

A24: What is another name for the log you put on a fire at Christmas?
A yule log?
(brief consultation of the answers) ... Yup!

Today's score: 2 / 2 = 100%
Score to date: 19.5 / 24 = 81%

Puzzled at what's going on? I am featuring Christmas-related trivia questions taken from a Family Circle magazine from 1984, and my responses to them... just because! Come back tomorrow for more!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Twelve

More quiz questions!

A21: Does Santa live in the South Pole, North Pole, Greenland or Siberia?
North Pole

Duh.


A22: In the Bible story about the first Christmas, why did mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem?
Another blank for me... To escape persecution? No wait, that might have come after Jesus was born. Bah, no idea.

Oh.

"They went to Bethlehem to be counted and taxed, following the king's order"

Okay.

:p

Today's score: 1 / 2 = 50%
Score to date: 17.5 / 22 = 79.5%

Uh oh, my score is slipping!

Like I care, LoL!

More of this fluff tomorrow.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Eleven

'Tis the season to be folly, ha ha ha ha ha haha ha haaaa! Here's another Christmas-related question:

A20: What present did the little drummer boy give Jesus?
Dammit! Trying to run the song through my head, but the lyrics I have are "I've got some gifts for you, they're up in my bum" ... thanks Family Guy! :p I'm gonna have to take a stab at "the gift of a song? Or a tune?"

The answer says "He played his drum."

Close enough. I'll take that point :)

Today's score: 1 / 1 = 100%
Score to date: 16.5 / 20 = 82.5%

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Ten

Always going forward, 'cos we can't find reverse! :) No, we're not Star Trekking across the universe, we're trudging through a whole bunch of Christmas-related questions culled from an old issue of Family Circle magazine.

A18: Name a famous Christmas ballet children enjoy.
Not that I've ever seen it or know anything about it: The Nutcracker

A19: What is another name for "Christmas pie"?
I have no idea... that ghastly fruitcake? No, that's more associated with New Year's. Hmm... I give up...

Answer: Mince pie.

Oh.

Okay.

If you say so.

Today's score: 1 / 2 = 50%
Score to date = 15.5 / 19 = 81%

Friday, December 9, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Nine

Still here? It's Day Nine of the Christmas-related trivia questions taken from a 1984 Family Circle magazine.

A16: What do Christian churches call the 28days before Christmas?
The advent, right? That's when you have that countdown calendar with a piece of chocolate behind each day, right? I suppose I should look up what the significance of this 'countdown' is, because I'm sure it's not because of the Christmas gifts we'd be receiving on the 25th :D

A17: In one holiday song, a little boy claims all he wants for Christmans are two things. What are they?
Awwwwww! His two front teef :)

Today's score = 2 / 2 = 100%
Score to date = 14.5 / 17 = 85%

Tomorrow is another day....

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Eight

Day Eight of Twenty Five or so of Christmas-related trivia questions taken from a Family Circle magazine dated December 11th 1984. Why? Just because.

A15: What was the magic signal Santa gave before he went up the chimney in the poem "A Visit from ST Nicholas"?
I don't think I've ever read/heard said poem, so I have no idea. Therefore I'm going to guess "a clatter" as in "there arose such a clatter", but only because in The Santa Clause the son hears it as "there arose such a ladder" or something like that.

Checking the answer .... No, I was waaay off... official answer says "He put his finger to the side of this nose."

Oh.

If I really cared I'd look up the poem :p

Today's score = 0 / 1 = 0%
Score to date = 12.5 / 15 = 83%

Tomorrow it continues...!! Join me?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Seven

Yawwwwnnnnn what *have* I gotten myself into?? Here are a few more questions from that Christmas Quiz from an ancient issue of Family Circle magazine:

A13: What is a crèche?
If I'm not mistaken it means crib (or 'baby's sleeping place) in French.

The official answer says "A crèche is a replica of the stable where Jesus was born."

Really? A hop to wikipedia's disambiguation page tells of THREE definitions for crèche: a day care center, the nativity scene, and a zoological term for the caring of other's young offspring provided by animals

Okay so I finally learned something new, 13 questions in!


A14: In the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," what did the true love send on the eighth day of Christmas?
Ugh. I just know the partridge in a pear tree! Let's take a stab at it and say... eight maids a-milking.

Holy cow! I got that right!

Wheee!!

Today's score: 1 / 2 = 50%
Score to date: 12.5 / 14 = 89%

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Six

Continuing with this way too simple Christmas Quiz...

A11: If someone wished you "Joyeux Noël," would you be in Haiti, Switzerland, Canada or France?

These are all francophonic (is that a real [English] word?) countries, so you could be in any one of them.

A12: What famous snowman do you sing about at Christmas?
Frosty! [Not to be confused with that dessert from Wendy's!]

Today's score: 2 / 2 = 100%
Score to date: 11.5 / 12 = 96%


And tomorrow we plod on ... join me?

Monday, December 5, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Five

A9: What was Scrooge's favorite saying in Charles Dickens' story "A Christmas Carol"?
Bah, humbug, what sort of question is that? Teeheehee :)

A10: Name two places Santa puts presents for children.
In socks hanging by the fireplace, and under the Christmas tree.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Four

Today's questions are *such* a challenge... NOT!!:

A7: What song contains the phrase "fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la"?
Deck the Halls.
... with boughs of holly.

A8: Who is the singing chipmunk known for his Christmas songs?
There's only one singing chipmunk that I know of: Alvin!!

Wow, I sure hope they vary -- or at least increase! -- the difficulty level of these questions! My score for today is another 100%, and my score to date is 7.5/8 = 94%. It would be at 100% if I hadn't misspelled poinsettias.

Join me tomorrow?

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Christmas Quiz: Day Three

More Christmas-related questions ...

A4: Who are the Magi?
My answer: According to the tale, they were the three wise men who understood the signs and followed the star to the manger where Jesus was born, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Magazine's answer: The Magi is another name for the Three Wise Men who visited the Baby Jesus.

Did you know that in the Gospel of Matthew, the number of magi isn't specified, but because three gifts were offered, it has been assumed there were thus three magi. Thank you, wikipedia!


A5: What is Santa Claus called in England?
Really? He's not called Sandy Claws Santa Claus? Then I'll say Father Christmas. (Yup!)

A6: Name three of Santa's reindeer.
Ugh. Rudolf, of course. Prancer? Blitzen?
[Holy moley I got it right! Good thing they only asked for three though, any more and I'd have nothing to offer]

For the {my!} record, the reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen & Rudolph.

Score for today: 3 / 3 = 100%
Score to date: 5.5 / 6 = 90%

We're doing this all the way till Christmas Day, so swing by tomorrow for more questions!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Day Two

Here's a question for ya:

A3: What happens when you stand under the mistletoe?
Have you actually done this? I totally know this from movies, perhaps even books, but I swear I've never seen this happen in real life: you get to (of *have* to, depending, LoL!) kiss the person who's under the mistletoe with you.

Oh funny, the official answer is "You get kissed."

I know they provide as succinct an answer as possible, but still, I'm amused at the use of passive voice while I take an active perspective.

Score for today: 1 / 1 = 100%

Score to date: 2.5 / 3 = 83%

===
Puzzled at what's going on? I am featuring Christmas-related trivia questions taken from a Family Circle magazine from 1984, and my responses to them... just because! Come back tomorrow for more!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Christmas Quiz - Intro & Day One

From now until the 25th, I will be featuring Christmas-related trivia questions taken from a Family Circle magazine dated December 11th 1984 (yes, you read that right!), and my responses to them.

Just because!!

Here goes!

A1: Name the red flower commonly used as a Christmas decoration.
Ummm... poinsettas? Nope, spellcheck tells me it's spelled poinsettias. I've never had to actually pronounce/say this word, no wonder I never noticed that extra "i" there, LoL!

A2. Who is the villain in Dr Seuss' famous Christmas book?
Ha! I've never read the book, but even I know about the Grinch!

Score for today: 1.5 / 2 = 75%

Wow, wasn't that exciting?

Come back tomorrow for even more fun like this! :)