Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-12-2021: Ring Out Those Solstice Bell

21st December, 2021.

Right … it’s officially Tuesday: in the quiet week leading up to Christmas.

Yes: I’ve written themed Teasers for those!

At any rate?   

I’ have free time: quite a bit of it, given the circumstances.

So I’ve enough time to catch a film.

We’ll have to see.

~≈fi≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Mum† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with Olga and Debbi scoring five out of five, and Mum on four.



The day also saw Mum leaving everyone a Xmas message.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1)        21st December, 2021, is this year’s Solstice.   The Solstices occur when Earth’s poles are tilted towards, or away, from what: the Sun, the Moon or Mars?

Q2)        It’s the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.   Which Solstice is it in the Southern Hemisphere?

Q3)        What’s longer, during a Winter Solstice: day, or night?

Q4)        Some of the stones at Stonehenge are aligned to the Winter Solstice’s what: sunrise or sunset?

Q5)        Finally … ?   If you’re marking Yaldā Night on the Winter Solstice, you’re marking it, where: Iran, Iraq or India?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        In the run-up to the US Civil War … ?   20th December, 1860, saw which state secede from the USA: South Carolina, North Carolina or West Virginia?

A1)        South Carolina.

Q2)        What city was named as capital of Wales, on 20th December, 1955: Swansea, Cardiff or Merthyr Tydfil?

A2)        Cardiff.

Q3)        20th December is the feast day of Saint Dominick of Silos.   Silos is where: Spain, France or Portugal?

A3)        Spain.

Q4)        20th December, 1192, saw Richard 1st of England captured by Leopold 5th of Austria.   As Richard was on his way home from where: the Third Crusade, the Battle of the Bulge or the Hundred Years War?

A4)        The Third Crusade.   (His younger brother, John, was Richard’s regent, while Richard was away.   John gained a reputation as a money grabber: as he had to raise taxes to pay for Richard’s Crusading, and ransom.)

Q5)        Finally … ?   20th December, 1968, saw the deaths David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen.   The pair were the first known victims of which killer: the Son of Sam, the Zodiac Killer or Jack the Ripper … ?

A5)        The Zodiac Killer.

Here’s a thought …

“After the longest night, tomorrow we sing up the dawn. There is a rejoicing that, even in the darkest time, the sun is not vanquished.”

Dacha Avelin.

And a song …

Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

The quizmaster’s decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        If you could tweet the link past me, Olga, I’ll have a look.   I’m in the middle of Machen’s The Great God Pan and Other Stories: and it’s starting to drag!

        Yeah: that makes sense.   Most of the charity things I see do the same, announce the results at the end of the financial year.   It’d be interesting to hear how they’ve done.   Sounds like the youngsters were helpful!

        Oh … I can remember the bands putting their kit away, at the end of gigs, at the Essex.   They were all very careful putting kit away, too.   Some of the instruments are worth a small fortune, especially if they’re a named brand of guitar.   And they were all careful, winding up cables: whether it’s audio, ethernet or electrical, they have to wind it back up, the ‘right’ way, so the actual writing doesn’t snap^.

†        Hello, Mum!

‡        Cheers, Debbi: you’re not so bad, yourself … !   Oh, one for Rick, possibly: Stanley Tucci’s doing a thing on, on Radio Four, about Italian food.   (Right at the moment?   He’s explaining about the amount of delicatessens in New York!   And how US Equity hands out shoes!)

^        I think I’ve mentioned it on Left Hander’s Day, Olga: wires are wound right handedly/clockwise.