The Daily Teaser — 25-12-2013: Christmas Day

It’s now today: no, really!

But you knew that, didn’t you … ?

It’s now officially Christmas Day.

Which means, of course, that there’s going to be a heck of a lot of gift-giving at the family home.

Personally … ?

Well, personally, I’m glad Brentwood’s got it’s own branch of Poundland.

From where I’m sitting, that meant I could pick up something, even if it wasn’t much.

Although, it HAS to be said … a certain little boy going to get a lot of toy cars off his uncle.

I’m sort of looking forward to that: after all, half the fun of gift-giving is seeing the effect your present has, when it’s unwrapped … 

You never know your luck, I might even post photos … 

~≈Ï≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi, and original Big Beast, Kaiju†, putting in their answers: with Debbi* double-checking her card had got through, the day saw both players scoring seven out of seven.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) Today is Christmas Day: obviously!   Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure in which religion … ?

Q2) The first recorded use of the word ‘Christmas’ — the Old English word ‘Crīstesmæsse’ — was in which year: 1037, 1038 or 1039?

Q3) The Ancient Roman festival that corresponds to Christmas Day was the Dies Sol Invictus: which translates as the Day Of The Victorious … what … ?

Q4) Traditionally, Christmas pudding is made a few days in advance of Christmas Day: on Stir Up … when … ?

Q5) Which obligate hemi-parasitic plant are you allowed to kiss under, on Christmas Day … ?

Q6) Christmas song, Jingle Bells was originally written to celebrate which US holiday … ?

Q7) The original Christmas Cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole: in which year of the 1840s … ?

Q8) Christmas Jones appears in which James Bond film … ?

Q9) Noted judge and barrister, Christmas Humphreys, QC, was one of Britain’s best known converts to which religion … ?

Q10) The ‘x’ in Xmas actually represents which Greek letter: sigma, omega or chi … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 24th December sees the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast by the BBC.   From which Cambridge College: Christ’s, King’s or Queen’s … ?

A1) King’s.

Q2) On Christmas Eve, many Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries have a Midnight Mass called Misa de Gallo: or Mass of the … what … ?

A2) Mass Of The Rooster.

Q3) Christmas Eve is on the 24th December: All Hallow’s Eve is on which date … ?

A3) 31st October: it’s Halloween.

Q4) Eve Harrington is a character in which 1950 film … ?

A4) All About Eve.

Q5) More to the point, Evey Hammond turns up in which 2005 film … ?

A5) V For Vendetta.

Q6) Living between 140000 and 200000 years ago, what name is given to humanity’s most ancient common female ancestor … ?

A6) Mitochondrial Eve.

Q7) Finally … in which book of the Bible does Eve appear … ?

A7) The Book Of Genesis.

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Dave Barry … 

“In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it ‘Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it ‘Hanukkah’ and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy Hanukkah!’ or (to the atheists) ‘Look out for the wall!’”

Dave Barry, in Christmas Shopping: A Survivors Guide.

And with this song‡ … 

Have a Happy Christmas.

*        It got through, Debbi, and sitting on my window sill, as we speak: I’m just sorry I couldn’t get one in return.   Either way, Happy Christmas to you and Rick … !

†        Happy Christmas, Kaiju … !

‡        An alternative version, doing the rounds when I was young, started with an different first verse: 

“We Three Kings Of Orient Are,
One In a taxi, One in a car
One on a scooter, bibbing his hooter,
following yonder star”.

GOSH, how we laughed …