Category: Pursuit of the Trivial

Happy Christmas—Answers

Here are your festive answers.

Happy Christmas. Here are five festive questions for you.

A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
Project Gutenberg
Caption
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blitzen—
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!”

One

The names for Santa’s reindeer originate from a poem known variously as A Visit from St. Nicholas (in full Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas); The Night Before Christmas or ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. In this, there are eight reindeer, and below are anagrams of their names.

(Two are doubled — two reindeer names joined by ‘and’ — for example, if we were looking for cartoon characters, ‘trendy major’ would be ‘Tom and Jerry’.)
The confused reindeer are

  • shared
  • craned
  • cavern annex drip
  • me cot
  • up cid

Over the years, the final two reindeer have had various names, so I’ve provided you with three versions: (1) is from the original publication, (2) is from Project Gutenberg, and (3) is [possibly] the best known.

  1. darn mixed bundle
  2. bland intruded zen
  3. bland intern zoned

Answers

  • Dasher
  • Dancer
  • Prancer and Vixen
  • Comet
  • Cupid

The final two reindeer with their various names

  1. Dunder and Blixem — published in the Sentinel of Troy, New York, on 23 December 1823
  2. Dunder and Blitzen — Project Gutenberg
  3. Donner and Blitzen — the ‘best known’, Wikipedia

There is an even greater variety of spellings for the last two names than I’ve shown. A quick look online finds, for example, the Poetry Foundation using Donder and Blitzen from The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (Random House Inc., 1983).

Two

A writer best known for his 1900 novel, which was adapted into a musical film in 1939, penned The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus in 1902. In this work, he renamed Santa’s reindeer and increased their number to ten: Flossie, Glossie, Racer, Pacer, Fearless, Peerless, Ready, Steady, Feckless and Speckless. Who was the writer, and what was the title of his 1900 novel?

Answer: L. Frank Baum; The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a 1900 children’s novel by L. Frank Baum, follows Dorothy’s journey in the magical Land of Oz. The book’s success led to thirteen sequels, and it is considered a beloved American fairytale.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is a 1902 children’s book by L. Frank Baum. The story follows Claus, a human raised by fairies in the Forest of Burzee, who becomes known for his kindness to children and his gift-giving. After a battle with the evil Awgwas, Claus is granted immortality and becomes the immortal Santa Claus, with his deputies Wisk, Peter, Kilter, and Nuter.

Three

In Arthur C. Clarke’s short story The Star (1955), the faith of a Jesuit priest is tried when he discovers the Star of Bethlehem was actually a… — What nine-letter word completes this?

Answer: Supernova

The Star is a 1955 science fiction short story by Arthur C. Clarke. It follows a group of space explorers who discover the remnants of an advanced civilisation destroyed by a supernova. The story explores themes of faith and the intersection of religion and science, culminating in a crisis of faith for the chief astrophysicist, a Jesuit priest.

Four

The first solo female vocalist to reach number one on the UK Christmas chart simultaneously topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks – a record at the time. Who was the singer and with what song did she achieve these feats?

Answer: Whitney Houston: I Will Always Love You

I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard soundtrack, spent 14 weeks at number one on the Hot 100, won GRAMMYs and was selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the National Recording Registry.

Five

Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe.”

This is the opening of ‘Christmas Creeps’, which is chapter one of what novel, and who wrote it?

Answer: The Stupidest Angel or The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror; Christopher Moore

The Stupidest Angel is a 2004 novel by Christopher Moore, set in the fictional town of Pine Cove. The story follows an angel named Raziel, who accidentally turns the townspeople into zombies while trying to grant a child’s wish. The novel won the 2005 Quill Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror.

Six

The creature who performed the wedding ceremony in The Owl and the Pussycat is popular at Christmas. What is this creature?

Answer: Turkey

The creature is a turkey — specifically, ‘the Turkey who lives on the hill’ from Edward Lear’s poem The Owl and the Pussycat. Turkey is very popular as a dinner ingredient at Christmas.

Seven

What Christmas ballet features the ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’?

Answer: The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, a two-act ballet by Tchaikovsky, premiered in 1892. Though initially not as successful as the Nutcracker Suite, it gained popularity and is now performed by many ballet companies, especially in North America.

Eight

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown visits a psychiatric booth for help with his problems. Who runs this booth?

Answer: Lucy Van Pelt

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a 1965 animated TV special based on the Peanuts comic strip. It follows Charlie Brown as he struggles with holiday depression and directs a neighbourhood Christmas play.

Nine

In which decade did the first commercially available Christmas cards go on sale to the public?

Answer: 1840s

The first commercially available Christmas card, designed by John Callcott Horsley in 1843, depicted a family toasting and scenes of charity. Early British cards favoured fanciful designs, humour, and sentimentality over winter or religious themes.

Ten

White Christmas is Guinness World Records’ best-selling single. Who composed the song, for what film was it written, and who sang it in that film?

Answer: Irving Berlin; Holiday Inn (1942)

White Christmas was composed by Irving Berlin for Holiday Inn and sung by Bing Crosby. It has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, having topped the charts for eleven weeks in 1942 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Elton John’s tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, Candle in the Wind 1997, has sold 33 million copies.

I hope you are having a Happy Christmas and continue to do so. At the moment, I do not have posts planned for the next couple of days, but I’ll see what happens.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas. Here are five festive questions for you.

A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
Project Gutenberg

One

The names for Santa’s reindeer originate from a poem known variously as A Visit from St. Nicholas (in full Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas); The Night Before Christmas or ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. In this, there are eight reindeer, and below are anagrams of their names.

(Two are doubled — two reindeer names joined by ‘and’ — for example, if we were looking for cartoon characters, ‘trendy major’ would be ‘Tom and Jerry’.)
The confused reindeer are

  • shared
  • craned
  • cavern annex drip
  • me cot
  • up cid

Over the years, the final two reindeer have had various names, so I’ve provided you with three versions: (1) is from the original publication, (2) is from Project Gutenberg, and (3) is [possibly] the best known.

  1. darn mixed bundle
  2. bland intruded zen
  3. bland intern zoned

Two

A writer best known for his 1900 novel, which was adapted into a musical film in 1939, penned The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus in 1902. In this work, he renamed Santa’s reindeer and increased their number to ten: Flossie, Glossie, Racer, Pacer, Fearless, Peerless, Ready, Steady, Feckless and Speckless. Who was the writer, and what was the title of his 1900 novel?

Three

In Arthur C. Clarke’s short story The Star (1955), the faith of a Jesuit priest is tried when he discovers the Star of Bethlehem was actually a… — What nine-letter word completes this?

Four

The first solo female vocalist to reach number one on the UK Christmas chart simultaneously topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks – a record at the time. Who was the singer and with what song did she achieve these feats?

Five

Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe.”

This is the opening of ‘Christmas Creeps’, which is chapter one of what novel, and who wrote it?

Six

The creature who performed the wedding ceremony in The Owl and the Pussycat is popular at Christmas. What is this creature?

Seven

What Christmas ballet features the ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’?

Eight

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown visits a psychiatric booth for help with his problems. Who runs this booth?

Nine

In which decade did the first commercially available Christmas cards go on sale to the public?

Ten

White Christmas is Guinness World Records’ best-selling single. Who composed the song, for what film was it written, and who sang it in that film?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Wrong Sort of Bees—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed in my earlier post.

Today’s questions all relate to December 24th.

See question 5. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard.
Image NASA

One

The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in London’s Evening News on 24 December 1925, introduced a fictional anthropomorphic character to children’s literature and entertainment. Who was this character, and who was the author?

Answer: Winnie-the-Pooh; AA Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh, a fictional teddy bear created by AA Milne and EH Shepard, first appeared in a 1925 children’s story. The character, inspired by Milne’s son’s toy and a bear at London Zoo, became the subject of several books and was later adapted into a successful Disney franchise.

Two

Kiritimati (pronounced Kir-is-Maas) part of the Republic of Kiribati was named by a British naval officer and explorer who visited in 1777. In what ocean is Kiritimati, and who named it?

Answer: Pacific Ocean; Captain James Cook

The name given to it by Captain Cook as he visited on Christmas Eve was Christmas Island. In Gilbertese, ‘Christmas’ is ‘Kiritimati’, the combination ‘ti’ is pronounced as ‘s’.

Three

In which year did the first Christmas truce of World War I occur?

Answer: 1914

The Christmas truce was a series of unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front during World War I.

Four

What armed forces invaded Afghanistan on this day in 1979?

Answer: Soviet Union

Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, supporting the communist government against anti-communist Muslim guerrillas until February 1989.

Five

In 1968, in a television broadcast from space the crew of Apollo 8 read the first ten verses of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible. What specific feat did the Apollo 8 mission achieve?

Answer: The answer is any, or all, of the points listed below

  • Apollo 8 was the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth’s gravitational sphere of influence.
  • It was also the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon.
  • The crew orbited the Moon ten times without landing.
  • The three astronauts, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders, were the first humans to see and photograph the far side of the Moon.
  • They also witnessed and photographed an Earthrise (see image).

On Christmas Eve 1968, the Apollo 8 crew, the first humans to orbit the Moon, read from the Book of Genesis during a live television broadcast from lunar orbit. The reading, which was heard by an estimated one billion people worldwide, was a suggestion from Christine Laitin, the wife of one of those working on the project. Mrs Laitin had been a member of the French Resistance during World War II.

The Wrong Sort of Bees

Today’s questions all relate to December 24th.

See question 5. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard.
Image NASA

One

The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in London’s Evening News on 24 December 1925, introduced a fictional anthropomorphic character to children’s literature and entertainment. Who was this character, and who was the author?

Two

Kiritimati (pronounced Kir-is-Maas) part of the Republic of Kiribati was named by a British naval officer and explorer who visited in 1777. In what ocean is Kiritimati, and who named it?

Three

In which year did the first Christmas truce of World War I occur?

Four

What armed forces invaded Afghanistan on this day in 1979?

Five

In 1968, in a television broadcast from space the crew of Apollo 8 read the first ten verses of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible. What specific feat did the Apollo 8 mission achieve?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Matchmaker—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.

Today’s questions are all connected to December 23rd.

Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Toni Collette in Emma (1996).
Image © 1996 Miramax Films via Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In 1815, Jane Austen published her fourth novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1996. What was the title of the book?

Answer: Emma

Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, Emma, follows the matchmaking misadventures of Emma Woodhouse in the fictional town of Highbury.

Two

Who, born in 1933, became the 125th emperor of Japan in 1989, and how did his reign end in 2019?

Answer: Akihito; abdication

Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, reigned from 1989 to 2019. He abdicated in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.

Three

In 1888, what two artists were involved in ‘the incident at the Yellow House’, and what injury happened to one of them?

Answers: Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin; Van Gogh cut off part of his left ear

Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his ear in 1888 after a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. The incident, possibly linked to van Gogh’s mental health struggles, led to his hospitalisation and Gauguin’s departure from Arles.

Four

In 2001, which South American nation announced the suspension of payments on its external debt marking the largest debt default in history?

Answer: Argentina

Argentina’s economy experienced a severe recession from 1998 to 2002, culminating in a US$93 billion debt default in 2001. This led to a rapid devaluation of the peso, soaring inflation, and a significant drop in GDP.

Five

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in 1805. Which US state was his birthplace?

Answer: Vermont

Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, translated golden plates into the Book of Mormon. His teachings, including revelations and polygamy, were recorded and published.

Matchmaker

Today’s questions are all connected to December 23rd.

Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Toni Collette.
Image © 1996 Miramax Films via Encyclopædia Britannica. See answer post for image information.

One

In 1815, Jane Austen published her fourth novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1996. What was the title of the book?

Two

Who, born in 1933, became the 125th emperor of Japan in 1989, and how did his reign end in 2019?

Three

In 1888, what two artists were involved in ‘the incident at the Yellow House’, and what injury happened to one of them?

Four

In 2001, which South American nation announced the suspension of payments on its external debt marking the largest debt default in history?

Five

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in 1805. Which US state was his birthplace?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

Fly the Flag—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed in my earlier post.

These questions are all related to today’s date, December 22nd.

Flag of Croatia.
Image Wikipedia

One

In 1990, the country whose flag is shown above put into effect its constitution. What is that country?

Answer: Croatia

The Republic of Croatia’s Constitution was promulgated today in 1990. It grants civil rights, including freedom of speech, religion, information, and association, as well as guaranteeing equality of nationalities.

Two

What gate in Berlin was reopened in 1989, having been obstructed and inaccessible during the Cold War?

Answer: Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate, a Berlin landmark, symbolises both Germany’s division and reunification. Built in the late 18th century, it was closed off during the Berlin Wall era and reopened in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in German history.

Three

In 1965, Doctor Zhivago premiered. Who played Larissa Ameliava Antipova in the film and whose 1957 novel was the film an adaption?

Answers: Julie Christie; Boris Pasternak

Doctor Zhivago, a 1965 American film directed by David Lean, is a sweeping adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel. The film, set against the backdrop of World War I and the Russian Revolution, follows the love story between physician and poet Yury Zhivago and Larissa Ameliava Antipova, ‘Lara’. Despite mixed reviews, the film became a box-office success, known for its grand scale, cinematography, and Maurice Jarre’s score.
Boris Pasternak’s novel, Doctor Zhivago, although published in 1957, was banned in the Soviet Union until 1987.

Four

In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a French army officer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason and sent to Devil’s Island, a remote penal colony, to serve his sentence. Four years later, his case was the subject of a now-famous letter, *J’Accuse…!, *which was published in the French press. Where was Devil’s Island, and who wrote J’Accuse…!?

Answers: French Guiana; Émile Zola

The Devil’s Island penal colony, officially the penal colony of Cayenne, in French Guiana operated from 1852 to 1952. It was notorious for harsh treatment, high mortality rates, and the exile of political prisoners like Captain Dreyfus. Émile Zola’s open letter, J’Accuse…!, published in 1898, accused the French government of antisemitism and the unlawful jailing of Alfred Dreyfus. The letter, published in L’Aurore, sparked international outrage and led to Zola’s prosecution for libel. The letter heightened support for Dreyfus

Five

In 1941, two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the US president and British prime minister met in Washington DC to discuss World War II. Who were these two men?

Answers: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill

The First Washington Conference, attended by Roosevelt and Churchill, prioritised defeating Germany and established the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Allies committed to the Declaration by United Nations, vowing no separate peace and full resource utilisation.

Fly the Flag

These questions are all related to today’s date, December 22nd.

Image Wikipedia

One

In 1990, the country whose flag is shown above put into effect its constitution. What is that country?

Two

What gate in Berlin was reopened in 1989, having been obstructed and inaccessible during the Cold War?

Three

In 1965, Doctor Zhivago premiered. Who played Larissa Ameliava Antipova in the film and whose 1957 novel was the film an adaption?

Four

In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a French army officer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason and sent to Devil’s Island, a remote penal colony, to serve his sentence. Four years later, his case was the subject of a now-famous letter, *J’Accuse…!, *which was published in the French press. Where was Devil’s Island, and who wrote J’Accuse…!?

Five

In 1941, two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the US president and British prime minister met in Washington DC to discuss World War II. Who were these two men?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

Heigh Ho—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.

Heigh Ho.
Image YouTube

Today’s first question relates to the date December 21st and the subsequent questions follow a theme established by the initial one.

One

In what year did Walt Disney’s classic animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiere?

Answer: 1937

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a 1937 American animated musical fantasy film, was the first cel-animated feature film. It was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1938 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.

Two

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was loosely based on a story from whose collection of fairy tales?

Answer: Brothers Grimm

It was loosely based on Snow White a German fairy tale published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.

Three

Which one of the seven dwarfs connects a Barbra Streisand film and Bugs Bunny?

Answer: Doc

The connection to Doc was Streisand’s 1972 film What’s Up, Doc? with Bugs Bunny’s catchphrase.
What’s Up, Doc? is a 1972 screwball comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. It was a success, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 1972 and winning a WGA award for Best Comedy Screenplay.

Four

Continuing with the theme of dwarf names, the film Happy Feet featured Mumble, a tap-dancing penguin, and his friends ‘the Amigos’. What species of penguin is Mumble, and what species are ‘the Amigos’?

Answers: (Mumble is an) Emperor penguin; (the Amigos are) Adélie penguins

Happy Feet is a 2006 animated musical comedy film about a tap-dancing penguin named Mumble. The film was positively received and grossed $384 million worldwide.

Five

The 1993 film Grumpy Old Men who starred as the title characters John Gustafson Jr. and Max Goldman?

Answers: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

Grumpy Old Men is a 1993 American romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie. John and Max, neighbours in Wabasha, Minnesota, engage in a feud characterised by ice fishing, insults, and practical jokes. Their rivalry bothers their friends and families.

Heigh Ho

Heigh Ho.
Image YouTube

Today’s first question relates to the date December 21st and the subsequent questions follow a theme established by the initial one.

One

In what year did Walt Disney’s classic animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiere?

Two

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was loosely based on a story from whose collection of fairy tales?

Three

Which one of the seven dwarfs connects a Barbra Streisand film and Bugs Bunny?

Four

Continuing with the theme of dwarf names, the film Happy Feet featured Mumble, a tap-dancing penguin, and his friends ‘the Amigos’. What species of penguin is Mumble, and what species are ‘the Amigos’?

Five

The 1993 film Grumpy Old Men who starred as the title characters John Gustafson Jr. and Max Goldman?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.