The Daily Teaser and the Themed Christmas Set …

Well, here we go, again: Britain is bow in the grip of its second Big Freeze in the space of a fortnight.

So far … ?

So far, the South-east is relatively snow free. But I’m willing to bet that the roads are going to be very icy.

Be careful, out there …

Oh, and Trevor, what are thinking the 551’s going to be doing … ?

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Lets get moving on, shall we … ? Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor managing to bag 7 out of 7, and putting in some quotes from Jane Austen. It also saw Kaiju admitting he couldn’t join us, yesterday as he was on a tight deadline: but also gently kicking himself, over the day before’s question about the sixth amendment.

Let’s see how they — hopefully, they — and you do with today’s questions. Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 17th December, 1790, saw the discovery of the Aztec Calendar Stone: in which Central American city … ?


Q2) More to the point, what did the Aztec’s call that city … ?

Q3) Equally to the point, in which year — in the popular mind — does this calendar stone say the world will end … ?

Q4) Moving on … 17th December,1577, saw who set off — on the orders of Elizabeth 1st — on a mission to explore the Pacific coast of the Americas … ?

Q5) 17th December, 1989, saw which cartoon make its US — and world — debut … ?

Q6) 17th December, 2009, saw the death of US scriptwriter, Dan O’Bannon: he’s also generally acknowledged to be one of the creative forces behind which Ridley Scott film … ?

Q7) 17th December, 2007, saw Jigme Singye Wangchuck announce his abdication as king of where … ?

Q8) And finally … 17th December, 1969, saw the US Air Force close Project Blue Book: what was Project Blue Book studying … ?

A8) UFOs.

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 16th December, 1984, saw who saw he’d had a ‘successful’ visit to the UK … ?


A1) Mikhail Gorbachev.

Q2) One year later, 16th December, 1985, saw who assume control of the Gambino Mafia family … ?

A2) John Gotti.

Q3) 16th December is Independence Day in which former Soviet Republic … ?

A3) Kazakhstan.

Q4) 16th December is a national holiday in what was formerly East Pakistan: how is East Pakistan now known … ?

A4) Bangladesh.

Q5) More to the point what name does that country give to that holiday … ?

A5) Victory Day.

Q6) 16th December, 1948, saw the birth of English actor, Christopher Biggins: in which year did he win I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here … ?

A6) 2007.

Q7) And finally … 16th December, 1962, saw the birth of American footballer, William Perry: what was his nickname … ?

A7) The Refrigerator.

And here’s the 60-questions-set for struggling pub quiz-masters: covered by the same Creative Commons license as everything else, it’s the Official Old Peculiar Christmas Quiz …

ROUND ONE: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) Which one of Santa’s reindeer shares its name with a love god?

A1) Cupid.

Q2) Whose ghost was the first to appear to Ebenezer Scrooge?

Q2) Jacob Marley.

Q3) Which supermarket got into trouble, in 2009, for putting “Santa Loves All Kids, including the Ginger ones” on some of its Xmas cards?

A3) Tescos.

Q4) Boxing Day, December the 26th, is also the feast day of which saint?

A4) Saint Stephen.

Q5) Which item of Christmas decoration did Prince Albert introduce to the UK?

A5) The Christmas Tree.

Q6) George Orwell once said that “the whole point of Christmas was to have a …” what?

A6) Debauch.

Q7) Christmas takes place a week before New Year. Which festival takes place a week after the Jewish New Year?

A7) Yom Kippur, the Day Of Atonement.

Q8) Finding a button in your xmas pudding means you’ll be what, during the New Year?

A8) A bachelor.

Q9) A Robert L. May short story in 1939 was the first appearance of which Xmas character?

A9) Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Q10) Saint Nicholas was born in which country?

A10) Turkey.

ROUND TWO: MUSIC AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

Q11) Christmas hit, 2000 Miles, was a hit for which US band?

A11) The Pretenders.

Q12) Noddy Holder and Dave Hill topped the Christmas charts with which band?

A12) Slade.

Q13) More to the point, with what song?

A13) Merry Christmas, Everybody.

Q14) According to a popular Christmas song, who had “…a jolly happy soul”?

A14) Frosty the Snowman.

Q15) Which 2009 song, was the first to be a Christmas Number One, purely on download sales?

A15) Killing In the Name, by Rage Against the Machine

Q16) Boney M had a Xmas hit with Mary’s Boy Child; - how many members of Boney M sang on Boney M’s records?

A16) Just one: Liz Mitchell

Q17) Rolf Harris had a Christmas number 1, in 1969: with which song?

A17) Two Little Boys.

Q18) Which composer wrote the music for Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Felix Mendelssohn, Johann Sebastien Bach or Ludwig van Beethoven?

A18) Felix Mendelssohn.

Q19) What did my true love send to me, on the 2nd day of Xmas?

A19) Two turtle doves.

Q20) Which singer appears on both the original version of Do They Know It’s Christmas and the 2005 remake?

A20) Bono, from U2.

ROUND THREE: IN PANTO

Q21) What told Dick Whittington to “… turn again”?

A21) The Bells Of London.

Q22) In which pantomime does Maid Marian appear?

A22) Babes In The Wood.

Q23) In traditional versions of “Cinderella”, what is the name of Prince Charming’s friend?

A23) Dandini.

Q24) In Jack and the Beanstalk, what does Jack get in exchange for his mother’s cow?

A24) Magic Beans.

Q25) What is the name of Aladdin’s mother?

A25) Widow Twankey.

Q26) When Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on a spindle, what happened to her?

A26) She fell asleep.

Q27) What does Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother turn into a coach?

A27) A Pumpkin.

Q28) Who is the sweetheart of Harlequin in Italian pantomime?

A28) Columbine.

Q29) Who ate the Gingerbread House?

A29) Hansel And Gretel.

Q30) Which pantomime character marries Alice Fitzwarren?

A30) Dick Whittington.

ROUND FOUR: CHRISTMAS TV PUDDINGS …

Q31) The Vicar in White was the 2007 Christmas special for which TV show?

A31) The Vicar Of Dibley.

Q32) Dear Dad, Death Takes a Holiday, and ’Twas the Day After Christmas were Christmas episodes of which wartime American comedy?

A32) M*A*S*H.

Q33) How many Morecambe & Wise Christmas Specials were there?

A33) Fourteen. (The first in 1969, and last in 1983.)

Q34) What’s the name of the 2008 Doctor Who Xmas Special? (Bonus point for telling us which Australian singer made an appearance in it.)

A34) The Voyage of the Damned. (Kylie Minogue.)

Q35) How many Christmas specials did the late Ronnie Barker appear in?

A35) Nine. (Seven for the The Two Ronnies and two Porridge specials.)

Q36) According to the characters in TV show South Park who else visits, on Christmas Day?

A36) Mr Hanky, the Christmas Poo.

Q37) What vegetable was used a booby prize on kids TV show, Crackerjack?

A37) A cabbage.

Q38) Which long running character died in the 2006 EastEnders Christmas special?

A38) Pauline Fowler.

Q39) More to the point, which late actress played that character?

A39) Wendy Richards.

Q40) Which comedienne appeared in the 2006 Dr Who Xmas special?

A40) Catherine Tate.

ROUND FIVE: TOYS AND GAMES AND OTHER ARGUMENTS.

Q41) Which Nintendo computer games console went on sale in 2006?

A41) The Wii.

Q42) Barbara Millicent Roberts is better known as Barbie. Who was her boyfriend?

A42) Ken.

Q43) Which Japanese collectable card game has proved popular, over the past few years?

A43) Yu-Gi-Oh.

Q44) Which rather spoiled dolls have been a christmas hit, over the past few years?

A44) Bratz.

Q45) He’s Action Man in the UK; what’s his US name?

A45) GI Joe.

Q46) What board-game has a circular board, & wedges shaped pieces?

A46) Trivial Pursuits.

Q47) Which football based game has a name that means ‘Hobby’?

A47) Subbuteo.

Q48) According to popular belief, what board game causes the most family arguments, at Christmas?

A48) Monopoly.

Q49) What traditional Christmas game involves pulling raisins out of burning brandy?

A49) Snap Dragon.

Q50) What puzzle sold over 150 million copies, whilst causing the largest amount of Repetitive Strain Injury?

A50) Rubik’s Cube.

ROUND SIX: – GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) Christmas Day 1967, Paul McCartney announced his engagement to who?

A51) Jane Asher. (Who’s now — ironically — got a site devoted to her range of wedding cakes … )

Q52) In a 2008 advert, posters relocated the Nativity in a what; – bus shelter, airport, or taxi rank?

A52) Bus shelter.

Q53) The traditional Christmas Tree, in Trafalgar Square, is a present to the UK, from which European country?

A53) Norway.

Q54) The traditional Christmas cracker was invented in 1847. It originally contained what?

A54) Sweets. (Bonbons, to be precise …)

Q55) Which Xmas decoration is also known as the Great Ashen Faggot?

A55) The Yule Log. (I don’t know about anyone else, bur I’m getting worrying images of Julien Clary. At any rate, if no-one makes comments about faggots or logs … )

Q56) On Christmas Day in 1950 what was stolen from Westminster Abbey?

A56) The Stone of Scone.

Q57) In February 1993 Queen Elizabeth issued a writ against which newspaper over the publication of her Christmas day speech?

A57) The Sun.

Q58) Which King of England was crowned on Christmas day?

A58) William the Conqueror.

Q59) If you were born on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, what would your star sign be?

A59) Capricorn.

Q60) In some countries, Christmas gifts are usually given on January 1st: by which saint … ?

A60) Saint Basil of Cæsarea.

Enjoy that lot, folks: I’ll catch you later …