Tonight’s Gig

Well, here goes; — the usual nerves are setting in, and the usual hope that I get a turn-out.

Heck, if ever the people that said, at some point of in a conversation, “…of course we’ll turn up”, actually did, I’d not actually have a problem with that.

Frankly, I’d prefer a “Sorry, not my type of thing”, or a “…well, if I get a chance, but I can’t promise” to some of the meaninglessly overenthusiastic “Yes”’s I have had, over the years; — even a flat out, but polite “No thanks” would be preferable!   It means I can start to try and persuade someone who’s a bit more of a likely prospect.

Anyhow, wish me luck, for tonight, I’m hoping it goes well.

Either way, something a friend suggested, was to post the questions, and then the answers, so, with that in mind, here’s the questions.   I’ll put up the answers later …

ROUND ONE: –  GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) How long after the birth of Christ did the 3 Wise Men arrive?

Q2) According to Pagans, the mistletoe is supposed to represent a god’s … what?

Q3) In which Ocean is Christmas Island; – the Indian, Atlantic, or Pacific?

Q4) What colour are the flowers of the Christmas cacti?

Q5) What line follows “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house”?

Q6) Which family is the center of interest in Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol”?

Q7) Advent candles are a popular Christmas tradition in many cultures; – what does the word advent mean; – arrival, beginning, or start?

Q8) The Bible doesnt say when Jesus was born. Pope Julius I made this decision in which year; –  350AD, 850AD or 1350AD?

Q9) Back in 1890, James Edgar was which Christmas first; – department store Santa, Christmas card maker, or Christmas cracker maker?

Q10) Which Christian feast is celebrated on 28 December; – Holy Innocents,Holy Fools, or Holy Donkeys?

ROUND TWO: –  CHRISTMAS STUFFING.

Q11) In Germany, what item of food gets hidden in a Christmas tree?

Q12) Chocolate covered Truffles are occasionally eaten at Xmas; - what animals are used to find truffles?

Q13) In many parts of Scandinavia, what four legged animal is killed and eaten at Christmas?

Q14) What was the first thing that Scrooge purchased after his change of heart?

Q15) What bird did Queen Elizabeth I decree should be eaten as Christmas; – a goose, a duck, or a pheasant?

Q16) Tamales, pozoles, and menudo are tradition Xmas dishes in which Central American country?

Q17) What is the name of the cake traditionally eaten in Italy at Christmas; – Chiacchire, Panetonne, or Cannolli?

Q18) Gløgg is a traditional Christmas drink, drunk where; – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, or Finland?

Q19) According to a 2008 report, who eats more Brussel sprouts; – men, or women?

Q20) In which English county is Starry Gazy Pie eaten at Christmas time; – Cornwall, Devon, or Somerset?

ROUND THREE: –  TOYS AND GAMES.

Q21) What stuffed toy does an actophile collect?

Q22) What was the name of Nintendo’s 2005 canine computer game?

Q23) Which toy brick got recalled in 2008?

Q24) Who bought the toy company, Corgi, in 2008?

Q25) In which year were Barbie dolls first manufactured; 1959, 1961, or 1963?

Q26) In the board game, “Cluedo”, what colour is the Reverend?

Q27) According to writer Ben McIntyre, what’s the world’s most interesting game?

Q28) Playing what became Britain’s most popular pastime, during 2008?

Q29) Which board game has a Genus edition?

Q30) What type of game is known by the initial’s, ‘RPG’?

ROUND FOUR: –  MUSIC AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

Q31) Which song was heard on both sides of the trenches on Christmas Eve 1914?

Q32) “…Do the fairies keep him sober for a day” is a line from which Christmasy Slade hit?

Q33) The PNC Bank publishes the annual Christmas Price Index, a list giving the current prices of the gifts featured in which Xmas Carol?

Q34) Which Beatle was simply having a “Wonderful Christmas Time” in 1979?

Q35) “Always On My Mind” was a 1987 UK Christmas number 1 for which duo?

Q36) 1972 saw which member of the Osmond family have a Christmas number One, with “Long Haired Lover From Liverpool”?

Q37) Who composed the music for the festive seasonal ballet “The Nutcracker”; – Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, or Mozart?

Q38) Which Pink Floyd song was the last UK Christmas No 1 of the 1970s?

Q39) Which country singer had a hit with the ORIGINAL version of “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”; – Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, or Tammy Wynette?

Q40) According to the Performing Rights Society 2008 Annual Report, which Wham! song is the most played Xmas song of the previous five years?

ROUND FIVE: –  CHRISTMAS TV DINNERS.

Q41) Which monsters are to appear in the 2008 “Doctor Who” christmas special?

Q42) In a christmas version of which series did Miranda Richardson play both Elizabeth the 1st, and Asphyxia the 19th?

Q43) “The Man Who Blew Away”, “Starbound”, and “The Wisdom of the Witch” were Christmas episodes of which sitcom?

Q44) “Knowing Me Knowing Yule” was which Steve Coogan character’s Xmas special?

Q45) Which children’s TV show regularly makes a decoration called an advent crown?

Q46) Which year of the  1980’s saw the very first Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas Special?

Q47) At what time of the afternoon is the Queen’s Christmas Day Speech usually broadcast?

Q48) Which Star Trek star once played Ebenezer Scrooge?

Q49) What was the only year of the 1970’s to NOT have a Morecombe & Wise Christmas Special?

Q50) The “Charlie Brown” Christmas special first aired in which year of the 1960’s?

ROUND SIX: – GENERAL KNOWLE IGNORANCE.

Q51) The male of which bird is the only one to sing at night?

Q52) The MS Emma Mearsk, one of the largest ships afloat, docked in Dover in 2007, loaded with Xmas gifts.   Which far Eastern country did it come from?

Q53) In which European country do malicious creatures called Kallikantzaroi get up to mischief around Christmas; – Greece, France, or Hungary?

Q54) Which ghost was the 2nd to appear to Ebeneezer Scrooge, in the Dickens short story, “A Christmas Carol”?

Q55) Which puritan leader banned Christmas, in 1647?

Q56) According to national statistic  how many Christmas cards does the average family send every year; – 15, 35 or 55?

Q57) Which Christmas tale saw it’s 25th aniversary, in 2007?

Q58) Who makes the Urbi et Orbi speech, at Xmas?

Q59) On which website was the Queen’s Speech made available, last year?

Q60) Parts of which country of the UK were the only ones to see a White Xmas, last year?