The New Year’s Day Teaser — 1-1-2012

You know, normally … ?

I’d be whinging about getting up late, I really would.

Mind you … ?

That WAS a rather good fireworks display.

All of that to mark the fact we’re now in 2012.

Here’s hoping it’s an improvement on 2011.

It’s can’t get much worse, I think …

Let’s moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, let’s …

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — all on her ownsome — putting in her answers: and managing to get 8 out of 10*.

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

Q1) 1st January became the start of the New year in the UK and its colonies, when: 1752, 1753 or 1754 … ?

Q2) Nowruz is New Year’s Day in which ancient calendar: Iranian, Sumerian or Mesopotamian?

Q3) The Julian calendar was introduced on 1st January, 45BC, by Julius Caesar: in which Roman year … ?

Q4) The Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar: which Pope devised the Gregorian calendar?

Q5) As it’s New Year’s Day: is 2012 a Leap Year?

Q6) 1st January, 2011 saw which former Soviet State adopt the Euro … ?

Q7) 1st January, 1806, saw the abolition of which calendar … ?

Q8) 1st January, 2011, saw who step down as Governor of California … ?

Q9) And finally … 1st January, 1985, saw Britain’s first mobile phone call made, by comedian Ernie Wise: what’s the name of the mobile phone company that call was made on … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) In which city is the 2011, Gary Marshall film, New Year’s Eve, set … ?

A1) New York.

Q2) What’s the Scottish term for New Year’s Eve … ?

A2) Hogmanay. (In the opinion of many Scottish people I’ve met: “It’s just like Christmas: except God’s not around to mess it up …”)

Q3) Cap d’Any is the phrase “Happy New Year” in the Catalan dialect of which language … ?

A3) Spanish.

Q4) What name is given to the New Year celebrations in Buddhist parts or South East Asia … ?

A4) Vesakha: or Vesak, as it’s sometimes also known …

Q5) As a final one: which Robbie Burns song is traditionally sung on New Years Eve, in many parts of the world … ?

A5) Auld Lang Syne.

Q6) 31st December, 1983, saw the US government break up what … ?

A6) The Bell telephone system.

Q7) Sixty years earlier, 31st December, 1923, saw what heard on the BBC for the first time … ?

A7) The chimes of Big Ben.

Q8) 31st December, 1909, saw the opening of the Manhattan Bridge: what river does that bridge cross?

A8) The East River.

Q9) 31st December, 1937 saw the birth of Welsh actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins: who preceded him in the role of Hannibal Lecter?

A9) Two answers, here, due to the rights involved in the making of the movies, concerned: either no-one, or Brian Cox, who played the character in Manhunter, the original film version Red Dragon.

Q10) And finally … 31st December, 1991, saw the dissolution of which country … ?

A10) The USSR.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you after I’ve left you with possibly the only song to match the dayª …

* It’s only Thingyan in Burma, Debbi! As far as I can tell, everywhere else, it’s Vesakha …

ª You’re right, Debbi … It’s not that often you find Auld Lang Syne’s lyrics: although I think most Robbie Burns sites should have them …