It's Christmas!

Christmas #1 - Trivia

1. The first Christmas stamp was issued in 1898 in which country – Canada, USA or UK ?

2. What is Aladdin’s surname? 

3. The Addis Brush Company produced the first artificial Christmas trees in the 1930s using the same machines used to produce what – toilet, tooth or hair brushes?

4. US advert writer Robert L May invented which colourful Christmas character in 1939?

5. Which favourite Christmas item is an  anagram of the two 6 letter words meaning "pay attention" and "noiseless"? 

6. In which year did Queen Elizabeth II broadcast her first Christmas message to the nation – 1955, ’56 or ’57?

7. What is the name given to the current that occurs every 5 to 8 years around Christmas time off the Pacific coast of S.America?

8. In which version of “The 12 days of Christmas” is the person is sent 11 bosomy maidens – French, German or Italian ?

9. Which is the last ghost to appear to Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” ?

10. In which US state is the city of Bethlehem – Maryland, Nevada or Pennsylvania?

Christmas #2 - Cryptic: Add one on

Add a letter to the first answer to give you the second. The number of letters in the first word are shown in brackets.

1. (5) Put your mark on it before having a drink

2. (4) Heavy breathing at the family entertainment

3. (6) Don’t like the fact that you’ve received a gift 

4. (4) As a party thrower, you wouldn’t want to have this kind of spirit there 

5. (6) Right wingers and the tales they tell provide a link with number 4

6. (5) Extreme displeasure when in a stall perhaps 

7. (4) Do old fashioned rotters send these at Christmas 

8. (5) A grass perhaps using seasonal transport

9. (4) A consecrated shrub by the sound of it

10.  (7) After too much food and drink, do Germans in this place suffer from one 

Christmas #3 - Entertainment

1. In the first “Home alone” movie, in which city is Kevin left at home alone at Christmas?

2. The Pet Shop Boys had a Christmas No.1 in 1987 with which song written by Willie Nelson?

3. The charity set up by Band Aid had raised over £90 million by the time it closed after how many years – 5,7 or 9 ?

4. Which of the Beatles announced his engagement on Christmas Day 1967?

5. In the 1998 film, which actor whilst out Christmas shopping finds himself an “enemy of the state”?

6. In the song “The twelve days of Christmas” what is a “colly bird” –a turkey, guinea fowl or blackbird?

7. Where, in an animated children’s story, was it always winter but never Christmas?

8. Which English actor starred in “The Muppet Christmas Carol”?

9. Which sad Christmas song features the line “decorations of red on a green Christmas tree won’t be the same dear ‘cos you’re not here with me” ?

10. Which New York store features prominently in the film “Miracle on 34th street ?

Christmas #4 - A Christmas world tour 

1. The loudest sound in modern history occurred in 1883, what caused it?  

2. Which Cheshire town, associated with a motorway service station, takes its name from a king of England?

3. Elidir Mountain housing the massive Dinorwig hydro-electric power station is in which National Park?

4. Founded in 1859, complete the name of the railroad that had great influence on the development of the Southwestern USA - the Atchison, Topeka and....? 

5. The site of where Noah’s Ark is thought to have come to rest is in which modern country?

6. What was the name of the prison where Nelson Mandela served his sentence?

7. On 2nd September 1666, in which thoroughfare did one of the most momentous events in London's history begin?

8. Raleigh is the capital of which US state?

9. At 45 feet high and 350 feet long, which tourist attraction can be viewed from Los Angeles' Griffiths Observatory? 

10. How are the eight elitist universities in the USA collectively known?

Christmas #5 - Cryptic: The "Knight" before Christmas

All answers begin with the sound "sir"!

1. Rather than a lance, this knight would prefer to carry a lancet 

2. A knight who sounds nice, tell him so and he’ll probably lap it up

3. Once he strikes, this knight would be almost certain to bite

4. An appropriate title for Francis Chichester perhaps

5. A Christian knight, he would give you a good talking-to

6. A nasty knight with a mean disposition 

7. Having given up his knighthood to become a man of the cloth, he now wears this

8. This knight carries this written proof that he is what he is 

9. A bit over the top, this knight could prove to be too much

10. No amount of armour would  save a Jewish knight from this cut!

Christmas #6 - Trivia Part 2

1. Which famous scientist, born on Christmas Day, was the first scientist to be buried in Westminster Abbey?

2. Name the Christmas song with the initials “WIAWW” ?

3. What was the most popular Christmas gift in 1980 – Rubik’s cube, Action Man or Cabbage Patch Doll ?

4. Which socialist state officially ceased to exist on 25th December 1991 ?

5. Traditionally, what were known as “waits” at Christmas time?

6. Iceland was once a dependency of which country?

7. Which Christmas item takes its name from the French for “spark”?

8. In pantomime, who is Princess Aurora ?

9. In which year did the Post Office first produce official stamps for Christmas postage – 1962, ’64 or ’66 ?

10. Who made the headlines in 1906 when they refused Christmas dinner?

Christmas #7 - Remember December

1. Which historic underground meeting took place on December 1st 1990?

2. On 27th December 1831, who set out from Plymouth on a five year global scientific expedition ?

3. On December 3rd 1967, which historic first occurred in Cape Town, South Africa?

4. “A day that will live in infamy” was how which event of December 7th 1941 was described?

5. On December 17th of which year did the Wright brothers make their historic first flights – 1903, ‘05 or ’07 ?

6. Which famous British writer was born in Bombay on 30th December 1865?

7. In the USA on 19th December 1998, who was impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice?

8. Following a hard-won struggle, what happened for the first time in the UK on 14th December 1918?

9. Nicolae Ceaucescu and his wife Elena were executed on Christmas Day 1989. Of which country was he the President ?

10. Which shocking event, the first to occur since the Anglo-Saxon period, rocked the UK establishment on 11th December 1936?

Christmas #8 - Cryptic: Take a letter

The opposite to Christmas #2, take a letter away from the first answer!

1. (5) A family show with heavy breathing

2. (7) When you take down the shiny stuff, this mess is left behind

3. (8) Before you suspend this, you shouldn’t be doing this to a fire

4.  (7) A gift which you dislike

5. (5) By the sound of it, whinges about coming first

6.  (7) Making sure there are enough seats before you tuck into the turkey 

7. (6) Was all cut-up and really concerned 

8. (8) Dressing up your gifts whilst in an East London river-side district 

9. (6) If you drink too much of this you could end up bow-legged!

10. (6) Seasonal transport stored away on a shelf

Christmas #9 - A Christmas night out

1. You’re at the local theatre watching Aladdin, what is his evil uncle’s name?

2. You’ve gone up market and are watching the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, which ballet have you paid to see ?

3. On another  night at the theatre Cinderella is talking to Prince Charming’s servant – what’s his name?

4. On a night in, you watch James Stewart playing George Bailey in the film  “It’s a wonderful life” – what is George’s wife’s name?

5. Fed up with turkey, you go out to an Italian restaurant . The menu is in Italian and you order a starter from which section ?

6. You select another bird, “Phasianus colchicus” as main meal, what do you have?

7. During a night out carol singing, you’re asked to sing Adeste Fideles – what do you sing in English ?

8. You’re talking about seeing Aladdin but can’t remember his surname – what is it ?

9. You put a CD on when you get home – who is asking Santa to “Bring my baby back to me” ?

10. Take the first letter from each answer and sort them into a two word answer you’d associate with Christmas!

Christmas #10 -  What's in a name? 

1. Famous for a “surprise” dance routine on one of the most popular TV comedy shows, who became the first female presenter of the BBC TV's News programme in 1975? 

2. The star of the film “Shaft” died on 24th October , who was he? 

3. The cousin of TV’s “History Guy” Dan, who was Channel 4 News’  longest serving  presenter, on air from 1989 to 2021? 

4. Which tragic singer died of alcohol poisoning, aged 27, on July 23rd, 2011? 

5. Who starred as the deranged killer opposite Al Pacino’s sleepless policeman in the 2002 film “Insomnia”? 

6. Which famous role was played by Aubrey Hepburn in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”? 

7. Which member of a famous band now leads his own group named “The High-flying birds”? 

8. In his career, which follicly-challenged actor played, amongst others, a dancing King, an Egyptian Pharaoh, a robotic Gunslinger and a human gunfighter?

9. Charles - one of rock ‘n’ rolls founders, an Oscar-winning US actress and UK TV cook Mary all share which surname? 

10. Which former co-presenter of a popular TV quiz- show, a numbers genius, is an Honorary Group Captain in the RAF?

Christmas #11 - Entertainment Mark 2

1. Name the 3 Darling children in “Peter Pan” 

2. The first episode of what was screened on UK television on December 9th 1960? 

3. The best selling record of 1956 was recorded on New Year’s Day in Nashville. Was it Singin’ the blues, Catch a falling star or Heartbreak Hotel?

4. Sharing it’s title with a Shakespeare play, who had a UK Christmas hit in 1982 with “A Winter’s tale”?

5. Just prior to Christmas 1980, who had a posthumous UK No.1 replaced by a school choir singing "No-one quite like Grandma", then returned to No.1 a week later?

6. Which record was a No.1 UK hit in both 1975 and 1991 – Bohemian Rhapsody, Mistletoe and Wine or Merry Christmas everybody? 

7. What did Frosty the Snowman have for a nose? 

8. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” was played in 1975 as a signal for the evacuation of which city? 

9. Which favourite Christmas film is set in Bedford Falls?

10. The "Godfather of Soul" died on Christmas Day 2006, who was he? 

Christmas #12 - Happy New Year!

1. The UK became a member of the EU on January 1st of which year ?

2. The Norwegian city of Christiania changed its name to what on New Year’s Day 1925?

3. Which notorious British serial killer committed suicide on 1st January 1995?

4. The USA banned the import of what on New Year’s Day 1808 – steel, slaves or silk?

5. Who failed an audition at Decca studios on New Year’s Day 1962 ?

6. On January 1st 1985, what was Ernie Wise the first person in the UK to do, use an ATM card, make a mobile ‘phone call or play a CD in a car?

7. The Euro was introduced on January 1st of which year ?

8. J Edgar Hoover was born on 1st January 1895. for how long was he head of the FBI – 38, 43 or 48 years ?

9. In the UK, traditionally , on 1st January each year all what become a year older?

10. Which predicted modern disaster failed to occur on New Year’s Day 2000?