The Daily Teaser — 25-12-2014: Christmas Day — The Nativity

It’s here … 

Christmas Day, I should add … !

And I have to admit to being up, relatively early: after a late night at work.

What amazed me there … ?   Was the fact, on my way up Warley Hill, I saw a few people coming down … complete with wrapping paper, and last minute presents.

~≈∑≈~

I mean, come on … !

It’s not like we don’t know when Christmas Day is: and can’t, you know, plan ahead, a little bit.

Says the man who — with a certain amount of smugness — bought his presents a month ago.

Either way … ?

Either way, I’m just hoping Santa’s hidden a few of them around my mother’s house.   I’d like to see my nephew’s reaction, when he opens the ones I’ve got him.

All commercialism aside, I think that’s part of the real meaning of the season: getting stuff that’s needed, wanted or helpful — or just covered in chocolate — for family and friends, and seeing people’s reaction to it.

Either way?

Either way, I hope, if Santa’s brought you something … ?   I hope it’s something that’s needed: even if it’s not something that’s wanted … 

~≈∑≈~

At any rate … ?   At any rate, let’s get a move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and scoring nine out of ten.

Let’s see who’s feeling Christmassy enough to try today’s Nativity questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 25th December marks the birth of Jesus: central figure of Christianity.   His birth is mentioned in two of the New Testament’s four Gospels.   Name either.

Q2) Believers will tell you that Jesus was born in Bethlehem: in Judea.   The town’s now in which Palestinian controlled territory?

Q3) Jesus was visited by Three Wise Men.   The Wise Men are also called the three Kings: and what else?

Q4) Name any of the gifts the Wise Men brought.

Q5) The Wise Men were guided to Bethlehem by the what of Bethlehem: stone, star or steer?

Q6) According to the Bible, the Wise Men were — on finding Jesus’s birthplace — supposed to report to whom?

Q7) That latter figure carried out what, on hearing reports of the birth: the Massacre of the Innocents, the Massacre of the Firstborn or the Massacre of the Infants?

Q8) One Gospel gives us a detailed story of Jesus’ birth: and includes the birth of John the whom?

Q9) In that same Gospel, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is told of his birth: by which angel?

Q10) Finally … After Jesus’s birth, his family flee to safety: in which country?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) During WW1, 24th December, 1914, saw the start of the Christmas Truce.   In which Belgian town?

A1) Ypres.

Q2) Reportedly, many squaddies played what, during the Truce?

A2) Football.

Q3) Some of the opposing armies sang a well known Christmas Carol, that day.   Which Carol?

A3) Silent Night.   (Ironically, the carol had first been performed, 98 years earlier … on Xmas Eve.)

Q4) The non-aggression that the Truce inspired was called ‘Live and Let …’ what?

A4) Live and let Live.

Q5) Which song — by The Farm — was inspired by the truce?

A5) All Together Now.

Q6) One of the last known survivors of the Truce — Bertie Felstead — died in which year: 2000, 2001 or 2002?

A6) 2001.

Q7) Which 1969 film depicts the Truce?

A7) Oh! What A Lovely War.

Q8) A character in the last series of Blackadder — Blackadder Goes Forth — was involved in the Christmas Truce.   Which character?

A8) Captain Edmund Blackadder, himself.   (Apparently, the goal was off-side.)

Q9) The video for Paul McCartney’s Pipes of Peace depicts the Truce.   In which year was Pipes of Peace released?

A9) 1983.

Q10) Finally … 2014 saw a memorial to the Truce opened, in the UK’s National Memorial Arboretum.   The Arboretum is in which English county?

A10) Staffordshire.

I’ll leave you with this song … 

And this thought from G. K. Chesterton …

“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”

G. K. Chesterton.

Happy Christmas, everyone.   May God — however you perceive him — bless you, today.

*        Oh, don’t I know it, Debbi?!‽   (The other annoying thing?   Some apps don’t manage to get the keyboard shortcuts right!)   Either way … ?   Happy Christmas to you and yours, as well.   Pass my thoughts on to everyone!