Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-12-2025 — Christmas Day

25th December, 2025: Christmas Day.

It’s Christmas Day.

And … ?

Bar the one car that’s just gone past, my street is as quiet as the grave.

It’s the one day of the year it happens: and quite beautiful.

With that said?

I can only wish you — and the neighbours, if they’re reading this — a very Happy Christmas.

It’s the one bit noise we should make, today.

~≈🎄≈~

Unless the noise is music, of course.

I always think the best Christmas song ever written, is one about two drunk people having a row in the middle of Times Square.

How more Christmasy do you want?

How more Christmasy can you get?

The only way to get more Christmasy … is to have a song by two of the best male singers of their respective generations.

One of whom is in recovery from a serious drug habit: the other*, a major investor in tape recorder technology.

Either of those songs … ?

Is a contender for “Best Xmas Song Ever Recorded”!

~≈🎶≈~

Doctor Who — Joy to the World — A Review

25th December, 2024: Joy to the World.

The Introduction.

You know … I had my  doubts about posting an introduction video to this post.

But?

It’s getting to be something of a tradition that I take my time to write a review of something … 

So … ?

Having a video floating around, telling you something is on the way, seems sensible.

I’ve spent today with my family: celebrating Christmas, having the usual row about trivia, and helping my nephew, Jude, set up his shiny new phone.

There was a lot of swearing … especially when we all realised the damn thing had a charging cable, but no charger!

I got him a laptop for his birthday: tomorrow.

I hope there’s a charger in that!

Charger or no, marking Christmas, and a birthday means it’s going to be a while before this review gets finished!

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Classic Doctor Who — The War Games In Colour — A Review

23rd December, 2024: The War Games In Colour.

The Introduction.

Right … 

It’s officially the case that Dave Brubeck is playing in the background.

The Time Out LP, if you must know.

It’s something I find vaguely meditative.

I’ve also got dinner cooking.

Fish and chips.

Yes: I like others, usually have that on Fridays.

But … ?

I wanted to make room in the fridge.

I’ve been shopping, today … !

~≈🧑🏿‍⚕️≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s the 23rd December: and we’re two days away from this year’s Dr Who Christmas special, Joy to the World.

Something I’m looking forward: and assume that you are, too.

But, first … ?

BBC Four are showing an edited, colourised, version of The War Games, Patrick Troughton’s last story.

I’m interested in watching it: partly to see how the thing compares to last year’s The Daleks In Colour.

And partly to see how a story that — as originally broadcast — ran to some two hundred and fifty or so minutes … services the editing process!

This review … ?

Will be live tomorrow: I’m planning to sleep in between now and then … !

~≈🩺≈~

Doctor Who — Christmas Special — “The Church on Ruby Road” — A Review

25th December, 2023: the Intro.

Right ...

It’s Christmas Day.

And?

Until the replacement Mac turns up, I’m stuck writing this post with my back-up laptop.

Yes: I’m grateful to everyone who’s helped me buy that replacement machine.

But?

Angry at having to use a machine that was only ever meant as a ... a ... a toy, almost: a spare, rather than a main machine.

Cie la vie!

Friday -- the date when the new machine turns up?

Can’t come soon enough.

At any rate?

I'm writing this introduction early on Christmas day: in the expectation I'll be finishing it on Boxing Day: and will be letting you know what I thought of “The Church on Ruby Road”, as soon as I can!

~≈🕰≈~

A Christmas Horror: A Review

23rd December, 2018.

You know, it’s the night before Christmas Eve, and all through the house?

There’s the odd bit of dust.

I think that — potentially — I should be doing the odd but of … you know … sweeping up.

Possibly.

If I can … you know …



Get motivated.



Or get bothered!

At ANY rate … ?

It can’t have escaped you — or me — what time of year it is.

Yes … 

It’s Christmas.

And frankly?

Whilst I’m not working, now, I can, at least be grateful I bought a few presents, whilst I was … !

Not much … 

But someone’s going to get a lot of Lego*.

~≈§≈~



At any rate … ?



It’s Christmas: with all that implies.

If, like me, you’re at home?

You’ve a couple of options.

Some of them repeatable in public.

In my case?

Well, in my case, the first thing I did, was do my mother a favour: updating her iPad to the most recent version of the operating system it could deal with, and updating some apps.

THEN … ?

Well, I figured a movie would be the thing.



I’d seen Christmas horror films, before now — Rare Exports and Krampus — and felt the genre was maybe something to explore.

The big question … ?

Did I make the right decision, with A Christmas Horror Story?

Hmmm … 

~≈§≈~

Dr Who Xmas Special 2017: Twice upon A Time — Thanking Mr Moffat

25th December, 2017.

You know … 

You can — sort of — guess I need to be up early, for work, tomorrow.

I’m writing this, for heaven’s sake: rather than doing something more Christmas.

But, to be fair?

I have spent a lot of time with my family, today: with lots of presents given and received.

Of and at least one smashed plate, one dropped glass, and a lot of frayed tempers!

But that’s Christmas for you.

Happy … with grotty bits … 

~≈§≈~

That’s truly Christmas for you.

The extraneous bits of Christmas?

Well, I think I can say the gifts I’d managed to get my family went down well.

And one or two gifts I got given caught my eye.

There’s an iTunes card in there: from Ruth and Jude.

An Amazon Gift card from my mother.

And a copy of the newly remastered Tom Baker era Shada: famously never finished because of a strike.

All gratefully received, I should add.

~≈§≈~



Of course, the really extraneous part of Christmas?

For me as a Dr Who fan is extremely extraneous.

Yep.

You’re right … 

It was Twice upon a Time … 

And Hmmm is a possible response.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-12-2016: Christmas Day

2016 has been one heck of a year, hasn’t it?

I mean … 

It’s seen quite a few celebrity deaths: people whose lives and work meant much to many.

Another one has been added to the list.

Rick Parfitt of Status Quo died in hospital, yesterday: of blood poisoning from complications of a shoulder injury.

My condolences go to his family.

On a personal level?

I’m upset.

The Quo were and are musical favourites of mine.

Not great, perhaps, but providing fantastic music, over the course of five decades: driven, partly, by Parfitt’s song-writing skills, and abilities on rhythm guitar.

He’ll be missed.

~≈Ì≈~

Krampus — A Review … !

14th December, 2016.

It’s not THAT often that I’ve had time to myself.

Work, more work, shopping, pressie wrapping … 

Oh … and stuff … !

Lots of stuff, in theory, any way.

Oh … and writing for Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar … 

Amazing how what started as something to advertise a pub quiz can morph in to something of a passion.

But there we go.

I’ve a couple of nights off a week: One of which I tend to spend, writing … 

And another … ?

Another that I tend to want to either watch some TV: BBC3’s Class has been a recent favourite.

And frankly?   I’ve still got season 3 of The Strain, and the first season of Mr Robot lined up, too.

Though these are things for another time, maybe.

At any rate, tonight, I wanted to catch a movie.

To be more specific, I had — and wanted to see — the chance to catch something that’s been in my collection for a while, now.

The 2015, Michael Dougherty directed, Krampus.

And yes … 

Fun is a good word to apply.

~≈fl≈~

The Daily Teaser — 25-12-2015: Christmas Day

Well, that’s two presents opened … !

I’ve now got my own Mad Hatter keyring … AND an compilation CD, as well.   Which looks rather interesting.

And will be imported into iTunes, the minute I get the chance!

All of that … ?   Is courtesy of a Secret Santa scheme we do at work.

Which are rather fun.

So you know, a few work places I know of, do a Secret Santa: basically, you get assigned a random person to give a gift to — USB sticks with keyrings make for a good example, you can never have to many USB sticks — and a spending limit, and buy your giftee a present: AND end up getting one, yourself.

Personally … ?   I’ve got a FUNNY feeling whoever got mine for me?   Would SERIOUSLY get on with my Aunty Bella!

At any rate … ?   That’s put a smile on my face, first thing on a Christmas morning.

:D

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 24-12-2015: Christmas Eve

Hmmm … 

THAT’S one hell of a thing to happen: on Christmas Eve.

You’ve possibly worked out I’m having a conversation with TV producers, CBS.

I’ve posted a clip from Penny Dreadful, a while back: under what I believe to be correctly used ‘Fair Use’ exceptions to US and UK law.

They’s replied to my recent email.   Asking me to remove the clip from YouTube.

And contradicting their original email, where they offer to unblock the video, if I cancel my appeal.

Hmmm … In amongst going to work, today, buying one last present, wrapping it and doing the tag, in between writing a few Teasers and doing the associated videos, AND pick up a prescription* … ?

I’ve got to deal with CBS.

Hmmm … 

Lovely … !

~≈§≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser: Christmas!

It’s officially official: Christmas — Or Xmas, if that’s the bag you’re into — is here early.

OK, no: maybe not.

But what HAS arrived early … ?

Is both the Brentwood Gazette: and — funnily — the associated Christmas Teaser.

Here — covered by the usual Creative Commons License* — is this week’s questions and answers … 

Q1) Which King of England was crowned, on Christmas Day, 1066?

Q2) Which Roman nativity festival took place on 25th December?

Q3) In which of the New testament books of the Bible is the Baby Jesus visited by the Three Magi … ?

Q4) More to the point, what are the traditional names of those three Magi … ?

Q5) The earliest reference to the birth of Jesus being on the 25th of December is in a calendar for which year: 354AD, 356AD or 357AD?

Q6) Who made the headlines in 1906 by refusing Christmas dinner?

Q7) In the Gregorian calendar, 25th December, is on the 25th December.   Obviously.   When is the December 25th, in the Julian calendar, used by many Eastern Orthodox churches?

Q8) Christmas Day is the traditional date of Jesus’ birth.   In which year was this … ?

Q9) More to the point, Jesus’ birth was supposed to be during the reign of which Jewish king … ?

Q10) Name either of the Gospels that give accounts of Jesus’ birth.

And here’s last weeks questions and answers …

Questions.

Q1) 18th December, 1912, saw the announcement of the alleged discovery of Piltdown Man.   The man who announced the hoax was called Charles what: Dawson, Higson or Dixon … ?

Q2) The fake human ancestor was discovered in Piltdown.   Which was a small village in what was then which county: East Sussex, West Sussex or Mid-Sussex?

Q3) The hoax skull consisted of the upped part of a modern human, and the lower jawbone from which great ape: a gorilla, chimp or orangutan … ?

Q4) Piltdown Man was described as the missing … what … ?

Q5) Piltdown Man was finally exposed as a hoax in which year of the 1950s … ?

Q6) Which detective author was felt — by some — to be the man responsible for the hoax: Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Dorothy L. Sayers … ?

Q7) Mike Oldfield famously pretended to be Piltdown Man on which of his albums … ?

Q8) While we talking of hoaxes, the fake automatic chess player, famous in the 18th Century, was known as the Mechanical … what … ?

Q9) P. T. Barnum, the original Prince Of Humbug, famously exhibited the Feejee what: Mammoth, Mermaid or Monkey … ?

Q10) Finally … which Christian church’s holy book is felt by many to by a hoax, invented by its founder, Joseph Smith … ?

Answers.

A1) Charles Dawson.

A2) East Sussex.   (Mid-Sussex was merged into West Sussex in 1974.)

A3) An orangutan. (Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii)

A4) Missing link.

A5) 1953.

A6) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

A7) ‘Tubular Bells’.   (The Piltdown Man section starts at  11 minutes, 57 in, on Side Two.   Just in case your interested … )

A8) The Mechanical Turk.

A9) Mermaid.

A10) The Mormons, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Enjoy those: and Happy Christmas, if we don’t speak before-hand.

*        Regulars will know already, but for newcomers … all it means is that you’re free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets.   All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event’s flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license.   A link back to the site — and to the Gazette’s, if that’s where you’ve found these — would be appreciated.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale: Nice … !

20th December, 2013.

You know, I HAVE to get writing in the morning.

A Thank-you letter, before you point out that I usually DO write, first thing, of a morning!

You see, my Aunty Bella, bless her, usually manages to give me a little cash for Christmas: or a check, anyway.

Some of which has been wisely spent, today, on bills, and food.

And some of which … ?

Has been spent treating myself to an iTunes card.   And — metaphorically — to a copy of Born To Laugh At Tornadoes, by Was (Not Was).

The band’s first LP is quite a listen*.

At any rate, it also meant I had a few pounds worth of iTunes credit to spend on renting a movie.

You’ve possibly worked out I write quizzes, haven’t you … ?

I do: and have to say, I came across the film I rented, researching today’s Christmas-themed, Friday Question Set.

You’ve already worked I rented 2010 film, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.

And I must say: someone’s got their tongue firmly stuck in their cheek … !

~≈§≈~

The Friday Question Set — 20-12-2013: It’s CHRISTMAS … !

OK, OK … SUE ME!

I didn’t put together a specific — and seasonal — image for today’s Friday Question set.

You’ll forgive me, I hope: especially when you consider I’ve JUST finished writing it.

And, LORDY, it was a dozy.

Certainly in the sense that each question and answers has an attached link: in the hope that everyone reading this will find that helpful.

So: WITHOUT much ado — and with reference to the fact this set is, as always, covered by the Creative Commons License* — here’s this weeks Christmas Friday Question Set …

Xmas 60: 2013
ROUND ONE. CHRISTMAS KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) Brassica oleracea is a species of vegetable that includes one found with your Christmas dinner.   WHICH one … ?
A1) The Brussel Sprout.

Q2) Father Christmas’ outfit is based out which rank of churchman?
Q2) A cardinal’s.

Q3) The importance of mistletoe come from which ancient culture … ?
A3) The Celts..

Q4) The traditional christmas cracker was invented in 1847. It originally contained what: small toys, sweets or a hat?
A4) Sweets: the original manufacturer wanted to boost sales.

Q5) The Ashen Faggot is an old English version of which Xmas tradition: the Xmas tree, the Xmas pudding or the Yule log … ?
A5) The Yule log.

Q6) 25th December, 1950: and what got stolen from Westminster Abbey … ?
A6) The Stone Of Scone.

Q7) Which form of clean ‘transport’ do Norwegians hide away somewhere in the house on Christmas Eve?
A7) Brooms: It’s to hide them from the witches … 

Q8) Which of the Three Wise Men’s gifts to the baby Jesus is also known as ‘Olibanum’?
A8) Frankincense.

Q9) The world’s longest cracker pulling chain was in London, this year.   How many people took part: 601, 602 or 603 … ?
A9) 603.

Q10) Santa Claus Land — the world’s first theme park — opened in which year of the 1940s … ?
A10) 1946.   (It’s NOW called Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.   Apparently … )

ROUND TWO. MUSIC AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

Q11) For her 2006 album, Wintersong, Sarah McLachlan covered which John Lennon hit?
A11) Happy Xmas (War is Over).

Q12) What was Wham!’s first Christmas number one?
A12) Last Christmas..

Q13) More to the point, in which year?
A13) 1984.

Q14) In what year of the 70’s was Merry Xmas Everybody, by Slade, first a Xmas hit?
A14) 1973.

Q15) Kylie Minogue did a cover of which Xmas song, in December, of 2000?
A15) Santa Baby..

Q16) Who had a hit with the original version of that song: Nancy Sinatra, Earth Kitt or Connie Francis?
A16) Earth Kitt.

Q17) Prior to the release of Do They Know It’s Xmas, by Band Aid, in 1984, what was Britain’s biggest selling Xmas record?
A17) Mary’s Boy Child.

Q18) David Bowie had a Xmas hit, with a recording of Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy in which year of the 70’s?
A18) 1977.

Q19) With who did Bowie duet, on that song?
A19) Bing Crosby.

Q20) Which band had the UK’s Christmas No 1 in 2009?
A20) Rage Against The Machine, with Killing In The Name.

ROUND THREE. GOBBLE GOBBLE!

Q21) As a result of Jamie’s School Dinner’s, there was something of a national uproar about … what … ?
A21) Turkey Twizzlers.

Q22) Which Labour frontbencher did David Cameron recently refer to as a Turkey … ?
A22) Ed Balls.   (Or Mr Sweaty, as I prefer to think of him … )

Q23) Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the first leader in which modern country … ?
A23) Turkey.

Q24) In The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, what type of sweet does Edmund get offered … ?
A24) Turkish Delight.

Q25) Meleagris gallopavo and Meleagris ocellata … are what … ?
A25) Turkeys: the North American Wild Turkey, whichhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocellated_Turkey the Domestic Turkey is a subspecies of,  and the Ocellated Turkey, from the Yucatan.

Q26) In which Guy Ritchie film would you find Bricktop, Turkish and Cousin Avi … ?
A26) Snatch.   (Quoting Bricktop’s Pig speech may — or may not —  be a good idea … )

Q27) Which Irish rock band had a big hit with Zombie, AND goes very well with turkey … ?
A27) The Cranberries.

Q28) More to the point, what colour is the berry that band takes its name from … ?
A28) White, initially: but turning red on ripening.

Q29) In which sport are a given number of strikes — or maximum scores per ball — sometimes referred to as ‘turkeys’: ten-pin bowling, lawn bowling or boulles … ?
A29) Ten pin bowling.

Q30) What’s the capital of Turkey … ?
A30) Ankara.

ROUND FOUR. CHRISTMAS MOVIES.

Q31) Which Aardman Animations film sees Santa’s youngest song son, delivering a bicycle to a girl called Gwen … ?
A31) Arthur Christmas.

Q32) When their version of the story was released in 1961, what DID Disney call the operetta, Babes In Toyland … ?
A32) Funnily … Babes In Toyland.

Q33) Which film saw Macauley Culkin as Kevin MacAllister, defending his home against two incompetent burglars … ?
A33) Home Alone.

Q34) Which 2009 film sees Martin Freeman as a primary school teacher school teacher in charge of the school Nativity play … ?
A34) Nativity!.

Q35) French film, Joyeux Noël, is all about the famous Christmas time truce: during which war … ?
A35) World War 1.

Q36) Which Batman movie is set at Christmas … ?
A36) Batman Returns, back in 1992.

Q37) Christmas time horror movie, Rare Exports, is set in which European country: Sweden, Norway or Finland … ?
A37) Finland.

Q38) Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas … ?
A38) Tim Burton.

Q39) What Bruce Willis film is — famously — set at an office party that gets seriously interrupted … ?
A39) Die Hard.

Q40) Which 1998 film stars Michael Keaton as a man who dies and comes back to life as a snowman … ?
A40) Jack Frost.   (It also features three of Frank Zappa’s kids — Ahmet, Dweezil and Moon-Unit, so you know — in various minor roles.)

ROUND FIVE. CHRISTMAS STUFFING.

Q41) What is the name of the cake traditionally eaten in Italy at Christmas?
A41) Panettone.

Q42) Tamales, pozoles, and menudo are tradition Xmas dishes in which Central American country?
A42) Mexico.

Q43) What’s the North American term for stuffing?
A43) Dressing.

Q44) True or false: mince pies have meat in them …
A44) USUALLY False: although some recipes do.

Q45) What vegetable was used a booby prize on kids TV show, Crackerjack?
A45) A cabbage.

Q46) Turrón is usually eaten at Christmas: in Argentina, and other Spanish speaking part of the world.   Is Turrón chocolate, nougat or liquorice?
A46) Nougat.

Q47) Traditionally eaten at Christmas, Arroz con dulce is a Puerto Rican version of what … ?
A47) Rice pudding.

Q48) If you were eating a Christmas Damper, what would you be eating?
A48) A star or wreath shaped soda bread.

Q49) More to the point, where would you be eating it: Australia, South Africa or India … ?
A49) Australia.   (The same country, I should add, that gave us the Pie Flouter)

Q50) Where would you be eating Vánoční cukroví … ?
A50) The Czech Republic.

ROUND SIX. CHRISTMAS IGNORANCE.

Q51) True or False: the 12 days of Christmas lead up to Christmas.
A51) False: they the 12 days after, including Xmas day, itself.

Q52) Which of Shakespeare’s plays is subtitled What You Will … ?
A52) Twelfth Night: and, mildly ironically, first performed on Candlemas, Feb 2nd.

Q53) According to the carol, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, what DID my True love give to me, on the twelfth day … ?
A53) 12 Drummers, drumming.

Q54) Sometimes assumed to be where Santa lives, would you find the North Pole: in the ocean or on land?
A54) Ocean: it’s in the Arctic Ocean.

Q55) What — in Monty Python’s version of the Nativity story — is the name of Brian’s mother … ?
A55) The Virgin Mandy.

Q56) Which US city banned Christmas between 1659 and 1681: Boston, New York or Galveston … ?
A56) Boston.

Q57) Speaking officially, how many White Christmas did England see, during the 20th century … ?
A57) Seven.

Q58) In which east European country is Father Christmas known as Swiety Mikolaj … ?
A58) Poland.

Q59) What’s the name of the plays usually performed at Christmas, in the UK … ?
A59) The pantomime.

Q60) And FINALLY … which part of Los Angeles is ALSO known as Tinseltown … ?
A60) Hollywood.

Enjoy those: and Happy Christmas … 

*        Regulars will know already, but for newcomers … all it means is that you’re free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets.   All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event’s flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license.   A link back to the site would be appreciated.

A Discovery: With Apologies To John Peel* …

You know, it HAS to be said, Christmas can be a heck of a time of year, it really can.

Especially if money’s involved.

Which is a statement that’s going to be come back an haunt me, at some point … !

But, at ANY rate … ?   At any rate, we can only give the gifts we can afford, and hope for two things.

That that gifts we can are enjoyably useful.

And that the gifts we give both gratefully received and give pleasure.

Something I’m pretty sure has happened this year: chocolates and gift tokens always seem to go down well.

Oh, and in the youngest member of my family’s case … ?   Toy car’s alway’s seem to go down well.

~~~~~~

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I have to admit to being suitable grateful to my family.

Bless them, they not only got me an iPod — the best they could afford, with the money available — and just enough cash so that I could treat meself to a few games.

Simple ones: like Tetris and Space Invaders: because I’m old school enough to like that sort of thing.

Rather than huge great monsters like Assassin’s Creed, although I’m sure a few people will try and persuade me otherwise.

~~~~~~

The other thing I’ve managed to pick up — or couple of things — is albums.

Actually, a couple of specific ones.

If you ever get the chance to poke through my iTunes collection, you’d possibly notice there’s quite a bit of electronic on there.

Well, I have to admit, I’ve added some more.

A couple of vintage Tangerine Dream albums, Alpha Centauri and Phædra.

Can I be frank … ?

Having thoroughly enjoyed the White Noise album, An Electric Storm In Hell, these two are right up my street … !

Hmmm … 

Having given up smoking, and having a little — very little — more money to juggle means one thing.

I might just invest in a few more Tangerine Dream albums.

Who knows … !

*        Who, as with many bands, was the first English DJ to play them.

The Christmas Friday Question Set — 21-12-2012

It’s official: it’s just gone quarter to three on 21st December, 2012.

And despite what certain tribes Mesoamericans would tell you … ?

We’re still standing upright: and NOT dead of planetary disaster.

Which is a bit of a result.

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, I think I can ALSO tell you something else.

Today’s Friday: the last Friday before Christmas … 

Which, of course, means the Christmas Friday Question Set.

Here it is, along with the ‘How To’ and Creative Commons License …

ROUND ONE:  YULETIDE KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) The poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas, is better known how?   

A1) The Night Before Christmas..

Q2) 1843 saw the first commercial printing of what?   

Q2) Christmas cards..

Q3) Tom Smith was the first person to make Xmas Crackers.  What type of Russian did he name them after?   

A3) Cossacks.   (He thought the snap sounded like a Cossacks whip.)

Q4) ‘Caribou’ is the North American name for what?   

A4) Reindeer..

Q5) Who beat Austria 6-0, on aggregate, in the play-offs for the 2002 World Cup?   

A5) Turkey.   (THINK about it … !)

Q6) Which one of Santa’s reindeer shares its name with a love god?   

A6) Cupid..

Q7) In which decade of the 19th century were electric lights first used on Christmas trees?    

A7) The 1890s.   In 1891, to be precise.

Q8) Which island nation banned Christmas in 1969 and re-introduced it in 2000?   

A8) Cuba..

Q9) Which Puritan leader banned Christmas in 1647?   

A9) Oliver Cromwell..

Q10) Which ghost was the second to appear to Ebeneezer Scrooge, in the Dickens short story,  A Christmas Carol?   

A10) The Ghost of Christmas Past..   (The first being the ghost of Jacob Marley, of course … )

ROUND  TWO: AT THE XMAS MOVIES   

Q11) Which famous actor’s real name was Joseph Yule, Jr?   

A11) Mickey Rooney.

Q12) Jack Skellington appears in which Tim Burton directed animated Xmas film?   

A12) The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Q13) Which Christmas decoration do you commonly find In Hollywood?   

A13) Tinsel.   (Tinseltown, remember … ?)

Q14) Jingle All The Way, about a father trying to buy a Xmas present for his son, starred which former American politician?   

A14) Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Q15) Which Christmas movie sees Tim Allen as Scott Calvin, accidentally killing Santa … ?   

A15) The Santa Clause.

Q16) What’s the name of the film set in Bruges, at Christmas time, about two Irish hit-men … ?   

A16) In Bruges.

Q17) Which Monty Python film, famously, opens on the original Christmas Day … ?   

A17) Life Of Brian.

Q18) Which 1982 film, sees David Bowie as a Japanese POW … ?   

A18) Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.

Q19) Which 2011 film is all about Santa’s son … ?   

A19) Arthur Christmas.

Q20) Which James Stewart film is generally considered to be the best Xmas movie ever made?   

A20) It’s a Wonderful Life.

ROUND  THREE: XMAS STUFFING   

Q21) Satsumas are a traditional Xmas gift: what country do they come from?   

A21) Japan..

Q22) What fruit tree is usually used by Christians, at Christmas time, in India?   

A22) The Mango..

Q23) A Christmas pudding is usually covered in a spirit, and then lit.   What spirit is it covered with?   

A23) Brandy..

Q24) Citizens of the USA usually eat turkey at Xmas, & at which other celebration?   

A24) Thanksgiving..

Q25) Prior to the introduction of the Turkey, what bird was traditionally eaten in Britain, at Xmas?   

A25) Goose..

Q26) What’s the name of the traditional Scottish fruit-cake eaten in the UK, at Christmas … ?   

A26) Dundee Cake.    (Bless her, my mother does great roast dinners.    Just don’t ask her about her Dundee Cake … )

Q27) Name any of the Scandinavian countries you’d be in, if you were eating a lussekatt, during Advent … ?   

A27) Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Q28) If you were eating pavo which Central American country would you be celebrating Christmas in … ?   

A28) Mexico: it’s the Mexican word for a Christmas Turkey.

Q29) Which pudding gets mentioned in the carol, We Wish You A Merry Christmas … ?   

A29) Figgy Pudding.

Q30) As a final foodie question … what, in the UK, is the traditional accompaniment to the Mince Pie … ?   

A30) Brandy Butter.

ROUND FOUR: CHRISTMAS SONG AND DANCE   

Q31) Which TV series released a Christmas album in 2010 called … The Music, The Christmas Album … ?   

A31) Glee: the FULL title is Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album.

Q32) Who did the original recording of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?   

A32) Gene Autry.

Q33) Which song by The Darkness was an almost Xmas number 1, in 2003?   

A33) Christmas Time.   (Don’t Let the Bells End).   (Is it me, or does that title seem … odd … )

Q34) More to the point, what was the Xmas number 1, that year?   

A34) Mad World.

Q35) LeAnn Rimes, Amy Grant, & Mel Smith & Kim Wilde have covered which Brenda Lee Xmas song?   

A35) Rocking Around The Christmas Tree.

Q36) True or False: Las Ketchup did a Xmas version of their only hit.   

A36) True..   (According to the Wikipedia entry, the chorus is a Spanglish version of The Sugarhill Rap.   I KNEW I knew it from somewhere … !)

Q37) 1983 saw the Flying Picket’s have a Christmas hit with their version of Only You: who charted with the original version of that song … ?   

A37) Yazoo.

Q38) Who — in 1952 — had the very first UK Christmas number one … ?   (Bonus point for the song’s title … )   

A38) Al Martino, with Here In My Heart.

Q39) Who was the first band to have three UK Xmas №. 1s, for three years in a row … ?   

A39) The Beatles: in 1963, 1964 and 1965.

Q40) Who was the first girl band to have three UK Xmas №. 1s, for three years in a row … ?   

A40) The Spice Girls.

ROUND FIVE: TOYS, GIFTS AND PRESENTS.

Q41) In many parts of the world, Christmas gifts are traditionally wrapped in what … ?   

A41) Paper.

Q42) The traditional Japanese equivalent is furoshiki: which is usually what … ?   

A42) Cloth.

Q43) What dolls where supposedly born in Cabbage Patches?   

A43) Cabbage Patch Kids.

Q44) According to urban myth, 20, 000 Luke Skywalker & other 1977 vintage Star Wars models are buried in a landfill site in which English county?   

A44) Leicestershire..

Q45) What’s the name of the top-hatted figure traditionally seen on the box of Christmas favourite, Monopoly … ?   

A45) Rich Uncle Pennybags: also known as Mr Monopoly.

Q46) Which board game was created in 1979 in Canada, and has Genus, Baby Boomers and 10th Anniversary editions … ?   

A46) Trivial Pursuit.

Q47) Who — in the UK alone — has sold over 100 million copies since her introduction in 1963 … ?   

A47) Sindy.

Q48) Father Christmas’ outfit is based out which rank of churchman?   

A48) A cardinal’s.

Q49) What — up until 1916 — could you you give as gifts to friends in the trenches … ?   

A49) Heroin and Cocaine.

Q50) In which European country is the traditional Christmas gift bringer called the Yule Goat … ?   

A50) Finland.

ROUND SIX: YULETIDE IGNORANCE.   

Q51) London’s Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is traditionally given by which  country?   

A51) Norway..

Q52) What colour are the berries of the mistletoe plant?   

A52) White.

Q53) What — traditionally — were the names of the three wise men?   

A53) Balthasar, Melchior,  Caspar (or Gaspar).

Q54) Which US state was the first to declare Christmas as a public holiday?   

A54) Alabama.

Q55) In the novel, The Grinch That Stole Christmas, what’s the name of The Grinch’s dog?   

A55) Max.

Q56) A department store in which city had the first Santas’ Grotto, in 1879 … ?   

A56) Liverpool

Q57) Which London lake is it traditional to swim in on Christmas day?   

A57) The Serpentine.

Q58) In the southern hemisphere, in which month is Xmas?   

A58) December.

Q59) Which of Shakespeare’s plays had it’s first performance on Boxing Day, 1606?   

A59) King Lear.

Q60) And FINALLY … what’s supposed to be the most abused piece of office equipment, at office Christmas parties … ?   

A60) The photocopier.

Enjoy those, everyone.

Have a Happy Christmas.