Christmas Test

[Bumper]

1. Which of these names does NOT belong to one of Santa's reindeer?
A) Comet
B) Prancer
C) Blitzen
D) Klaxon

2. At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath a sprig of which plant?
A) Ivy
B) Yew
C) Holly
D) Mistletoe

3. In the Ukraine, what does it mean if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas morning?
A) Good luck
B) Misfortune will strike in the coming year
C) The winter will be unusually cold
D) Your house needs cleaning!

4. In many households, part of the fun of eating Christmas pudding is finding a trinket that predicts your fortune for the coming year. For instance, finding a coin means you will become wealthy. What will you be if you find a button?
A) Poor
B) Famous
C) A bachelor
D) Called away on a trip

5. If you were given some frumenty at a Medieval Christmas party, what would you probably do with it?
A) Eat it
B) Burn it
C) Put it in your sweetheart's hair
D) Use it to polish your boots

6. Which of the following names does NOT belong one of the Three Kings?
A) Caspar
B) Balthazar
C) Teleost
D) Melchior

7. One of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes takes place during the Christmas season. Which of these does the tale hinge upon?
A) A burglar disguised as Father Christmas
B) A blue diamond found in a goose
C) A cat trapped in an organ pipe
D) A poisoned flask of Napoleon brandy

8. Which well-known author of fantasy fiction also created a book called The Father Christmas Letters?
A) Lewis Carroll
B) J.R.R. Tolkien
C) E. Nesbit
D) C.S. Lewis

9. One of the most loved Christmas books is A Christmas Carol. Who wrote it?
A) Mark Twain
B) Charles Dickens
C) Hans Christian Andersen
D) Thomas M. Sawyer

10. In Sweden, a common Christmas decoration is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat. Of what material is it usually made?
A) Candy
B) Straw
C) Uranium
D) Fir wood

11. What is the Irish custom of "feeding the wren" or "hunting the wren" on December 26?
A) Taking one's in-laws out to dinner
B) Carrying a wren door to door, to collect money for charity
C) Leaving a basket of cakes at the door for passers-by
D) Putting out suet and seeds for the wild birds

12. In Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker", who is the nutcracker's main enemy?
A) A girl called Clara
B) The King of the Mice
C) Dr. Almond
D) Drosselmeyer the magician

13. At lavish Christmas feasts in the Middle Ages, swans and peacocks were sometimes served "endored". What does that mean?
A) The feet and beaks were coated with gold
B) The guests knelt in adoration as the birds were brought in
C) The birds had been raised on grain soaked in brandy
D) The flesh was painted with saffron dissolved in melted butter

14. All through the Christmas season in old England, "lambswool" could be found in the houses of the well-to-do. What was it?
A) Imitation snow used in decorations
B) A brew of hot ale with roast apples floating in it
C) The material used for knitting Christmas gifts
D) A fluffy confection made from almonds and sugar

15. The ancient game of Snapdragon has been part of English Christmases for over 300 years. Players are egged on by a chant, part of which goes, "Take care you don't take too much, Be not greedy in your clutch, Snip, snap, dragon!" What is "the dragon" in this game?
A) A costumed child
B) Flames of burning brandy
C) The oldest male in the room
D) A "snapper" made from fireplace tongs

16. In Victorian times, most Londoners would have been familiar with the "goose club". What was it?
A) A pantomime troupe specializing in slapstick
B) A stout stick used for slaughtering geese
C) A banjo-like instrument used in door-to-door caroling
D) A method of saving to buy a goose for Christmas

17. After Scrooge has reformed his life at the end of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, he invites Bob Cratchit to join him for some "smoking bishop". What did he mean?
A) A fast variation of chess popular in Victorian London
B) A premium pipe tobacco
C) A hot spiced drink
D) A Christmas pudding, soaked in brandy and set alight

18. In Victorian England, turkeys were popular for Christmas dinners. Some of the birds were raised in Norfolk, and taken to market in London. To get them to London, the turkeys:
A) Were herded by sheep dogs
B) Flew
C) Rode in huge wagons called "turkey-vans"
D) Were supplied with boots made of sacking or leather

19. Many movies on Christmas themes have been made for television and the cinema over the years, including dozens of versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Which of the following films has NOT yet been made?
A) The Jetsons' Christmas Carol
B) Popeye's Christmas Carol
C) Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
D) Mickey's Christmas Carol

20. In Greek legend, malicious creatures called Kallikantzaroi sometimes play troublesome pranks at Christmas time. What should you do to get rid of them?
A) Placate them with gifts of rice pudding
B) Burn either salt or an old shoe
C) Sing hymns in a loud voice
D) Throw your sandals at them

21. George Frederick Handel's great Christmas oratorio, The Messiah, was first performed in 1742. Where did the performance take place?
A) London
B) Dublin
C) Vienna
D) Jerusalem

22. The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. Where did it originally grow?
A) Canada
B) China
C) Mexico
D) Spain

23. What important contribution to our Christmas customs was made by Louis Prang, who came to the USA from Germany in the 19th century?
A) Printing the first special Christmas edition of a major magazine
B) Being first to use an image of Santa Claus in an advertisement
C) Publishing the first children’s book featuring Santa Claus
D) Popularizing the sending of printed Christmas cards

24. One fairly modern Christmas ritual is the British monarch's broadcast to the people on Christmas day. The first was given by George V in 1932. Who wrote the king's speech?
A) The king himself
B) Children’s author Enid Blyton
C) Rudyard Kipling
D) Sir Winston Churchill

25. In Lithuania, if Kaledu Senelis, or Grandfather Christmas, appears to the children on Christmas Eve to hand out presents, the recipient must:
A) Find the gift while blindfolded
B) Guess what the gift is, or pay a forfeit
C) Kneel to receive the gift
D) Perform a song or poem before receiving the gift

26. When was Christmas first celebrated?
A) The year after Jesus was crucified
B) Around 100 AD
C) In the 4th Century
D) 1935

27. Where did the Christmas tree tradition originate?
A) Germany
B) Israel
C) New England
D) Scandinavia

28. Why was December 25th chosen as Christmas Day?
A) That's when Jesus was born
B) To compete with a pagan celebration
C) That's when Christmas trees are in season
D) That's when the Bible says to celebrate it

29. How did the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe develop?
A) Eating it makes your mouth pucker
B) It was associated with the Scandinavian love goddess
C) The Druids used it in marriage ceremonies
D) It was used to make love potions in ancient times

30. What significance is holly in celebrating Christmas?
A) The pointed leaves represent the Star of Bethlehem
B) It was mistaken for mistletoe
C) The red berries are a Christmas color
D) The early church banned mistletoe, so holly was substituted

31. What country did poinsettias originally come from?
A) The U.S.
B) Cuba
D) Mexico
D) Brazil

32. Who probably was the first man to illuminate a Christmas tree with candles?
A) Alexander the Great
B) Pope John I
C) Martin Luther
D) Pope Bob II

33. Celebrating Christmas was once against the law in...?
A) Holland
B) Indiana
C) Massachusetts
D) Japan

34. St. Nicholas was born in what country?
A) The North Pole
B) Holland
C) Germany
D) Turkey

35. The candy cane legend says that it originated with a candy maker from where?
A) Indiana
B) Mexico
C) Germany
D) Turkey

36. In the Christmas carol 'Away in a Manger' where was the little Lord Jesus asleep on?
A) The Crib
B) The Bed
C) The Floor
D) The Hay

37. What was Joseph’s job?
A) Fisherman
B) Farmer
C) Builder
D) Carpenter

38. What colour is Santa Claus's belt?
A) Red
B)Yellow
C) Blue
D) Black

39. Who was Scrooge's dead business partner in "A Christmas Carol"?
A) Tiny Tim
B) Bob Cratchit
C) Jacob Marley
D) Bill Sykes

40. What did Harry Potter get for Christmas in his first semester at Hogwarts School?
A) A coat hanger
B) A pair of socks
C) An invisibility cloak
D) Train set

41. What is the all-time best-selling Christmas recording?
A) White Christmas
B) Jingle Bells
C) Frosty the Snowman
D) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

42. Which country traditionally provides Britain with a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square in London?
A) France
B) Australia
C) Norway
D) Canada

43. In the song 'We wish you a Merry Christmas' what pudding was asked for?
A) Figgy Pudding
B) Plum Pudding
C) Rice Pudding
D) Sticky toffee pudding

44. Good King Wenceslas was king of which country?
A) Bohemia
B) Poland
C) Czechoslovakia
D) Hungary

45. In the song, the 12 days of Christmas, what didmy true love give on the fifth day?
A) Pipers piping
B) Lords a-leaping
C) Gold rings
D) Maids milking

46. What brought Frosty the Snowman to life?
A) Magic Snow
B) Pixie Dust
C) An old silk hat
D) A Kiss

47. Who was the composer of 'The Nutcracker' ballet?
A) Tchaikovsky
B) Handel
C) Bach
D) Schubert

48. In the Christmas song 'Let It Snow' what was the weather described as?
A) Frightful
B) Beautiful
C) Delightful
D) Ghastly

49. Which of the following was not a gift from a magi?
A) Myrrh
B) Diamonds
C) Gold
D) Frankincense

50. In the movie 'Miracle on 34th Street', Kris Kringle is hired to play Santa Claus in what large department store?
A) FAO Schwarz
B) Marshall Field's
C) Macy's
D) Gimble's


EDIT: You may have noticed this thread was closed as soon as it was entered. That was not intended to limit your input or enjoyment in any way. On the contrary, your participation is most welcome. The action was taken to prevent eager Peeps from going into some search engine, finding the answer, and posting it, as happened on several occasions in the past. (Of course I harvest a lot of this material from other sources. You didn’t think I create it all myself, did you? I’m good, but I’m not that good!) Regrettably, that also means that folks who legitimately work out their own answers, and would like to post them, don’t get to display their prowess, but I’m afraid that can’t be helped. I’ll open the thread in a couple of days, when Peeps have had an opportunity to try their hand at a solution, and you can post away then. The official answer will come a bit after that. I appreciate your patience and understanding, and hope you enjoy the exercise.

[Bumper]

1. “D” A klaxon is actually a powerful electric horn. Its name comes from a German word meaning "shriek".

2. “D” In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe".

3. “A” There once lived a woman so poor, says a Ukrainian folk tale, that she could not afford Christmas decorations for her family. One Christmas morning, she awoke to find that spiders had trimmed her children's tree with their webs. When the morning sun shone on them, the webs turned to silver and gold. An artificial spider and web are often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees.

4. “C” A ring means you will get married; while a thimble predicts spinsterhood. The idea of hiding something in the pudding comes from the tradition in the Middle Ages of hiding a bean in a cake that was served on Twelfth Night. Whoever found the bean became "king" for the rest of the night.

5. “A” Frumenty was a spiced porridge, enjoyed by both rich and poor. It was a forerunner of modern Christmas puddings. It is linked in legend to the Celtic god Dagda, who stirred a porridge made up of all the good things of the earth.

6. “C” The names of the wise men, with their places of origin, their stations in life, and even their number, come from legend and story, not from strictly religious tradition. One historical source gives them the Persian names Hormizdah, Yazdegerd and Perozadh. A teleost, on the other hand, is actually a fish. The word refers to any member of the large group that includes eel, salmon and plaice.

7. “B” In "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" Holmes manages to recover the jewel but, in the spirit of the Christmas season, allows the repentant thief to go free - on the condition that he leave England for ever.

8. “B” The Father Christmas Letters consists of letters written to the Tolkien children by Father Christmas. It was published in 1976. The illustrated letters describe adventures and events at the North Pole.

9. “B” A Christmas Carol tells the story of one harrowing Christmas Eve in the life of a miser named Ebenezer Scrooge. The book was an instant hit, and Dickens wrote a new Christmas story each year from then on.

10. “B” Scandinavian Christmas festivities feature a variety of straw decorations in the form of stars, angels, hearts and other shapes, as well as the Julbukk.

11. “B” One explanation for this St. Stephen's day custom refers to a legend in which the saint was given away by a chattering wren while hiding from his enemies. Children cage the wren to help it do penance for this misdeed. Often the children carry a long pole with a holly bush at the top - which is supposed to hide a captured wren. An artificial wren may also be used.

12. “B” The King of the Mice, usually represented with seven heads, leads his troops against the nutcracker's toy soldiers. He loses the battle when Clara, the heroine, stuns him with a shoe.

13. “D” In addition to their painted flesh, endored birds were served wrapped in their own skin and feathers, which had been removed and set aside prior to roasting.

14. “B” "Lambswool" was the drink that filled the wassail bowl. Sugar, eggs and spices were added to the ale, and toast floated on top with the apples. Poor people would bring their mugs to the door hoping for a share of the steaming drink.

15. “B” When the room is dark, a bowl of raisins soaked in brandy is lit. Who will be brave enough to claim the prize from the fierce dragon flames?

16. “D” Goose clubs were popular with working-class Londoners, who paid a few pence a week towards the cost of a Christmas goose. The week before Christmas, London meat markets were crammed with geese and turkeys, many imported from Germany and France.

17. “C” Mulled wines were popular festive drinks in 19th-century London. They were undoubtedly much safer to drink than the untreated water. To make Smoking Bishop, take 6 bitter oranges and stick them with 6 cloves each. Put them in a bowl, cover with (cheap) red wine, and set in a warm place for a day. Squeeze the oranges into the wine and strain. Add port. Heat, and serve with a cinnamon stick.

18. “D” The turkeys were walked to market. The boots protected their feet from the frozen mud of the road. Boots were not used for geese: instead, their feet were protected with a covering of tar.

19. “B” The Internet Movie Database lists hundreds of movies with "Christmas" in the title. Amongst those you may not yet have seen: A Messy Christmas (1921), An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998), Goat Christmas (1997) and The Bad Man's Christmas Gift (1910).

20. “B” The pungent burning stench drives off, or at least helps discourage, the Kallikantzaroi. Other techniques include hanging a pig's jawbone by the door and keeping a large fire so they can't sneak down the chimney.

21. “B” Handel (1685-1759) seems to have been a kind and generous man. The Messiah was written to aid charities in Ireland. It was a success there from its original performance, though it was not immediately popular in England. Handel's favorite charity in London was the Foundling Hospital. He conducted performances of The Messiah there until 1754.

22. “C” In Mexico, the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night". It was brought to America by the diplomat Joel Poinsett in 1829. Among other accomplishments, Poinsett also played an important part in founding the Smithsonian Institution.

23. “D” Prang was a Bavarian-born lithographer. He settled in Boston, Massachusetts in the 1850s and established a successful printing business. He invented a way of reproducing color oil paintings, the "chromolithograph technique", and created a card with the message "Merry Christmas" as a way of showing it off. He went on to produce a series of popular Christmas cards. By 1881 he was printing more than five million cards annually.

24. “C” No doubt Kipling's fine writing contributed to the enormous success of the broadcast, which was also heard overseas. It began, "I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all..." Queen Elizabeth II continues the Christmas broadcast tradition to this day.

25. “D” The gifts are usually given after the traditional Christmas feast of twelve meatless dishes, which itself does not begin until the first star appears. Each diner at this special meal - the Kucios - must at least sample each of the dishes.

26. C
27. A
28. B
29. B
30. D
31. C
32. C
33. C
34. D
35. A
36. D
37. D
38. D
39. B
40. C
41. A
42. C
43. A
44. A
45. C
46. C
47. A
48. A
49. B
50. C