Tag: literature

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.

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.

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.

First—Answers

All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
Image Wikipedia

One

((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

(Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

(Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

(Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

(Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

(Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

(Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

(Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

Answer: It’s a Wonderful Life

It’s a Wonderful Life, a 1946 Christmas film directed by Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as George Bailey. Initially a box office disappointment, the film later became a Christmas classic and is now considered one of the greatest films of all time.

Two

The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

Answer: Brothers Grimm

German folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known for Grimm’s Fairy Tales, significantly contributed to folklore study and popularised classic tales. Jacob also made notable contributions to historical linguistics and Germanic philology.

Three

On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

Answer: South Carolina

South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860, joining the Confederacy and sparking the Civil War. After the war, Reconstruction brought military occupation and disenfranchisement, leading to the rise of Wade Hampton and the ‘Bourbon era’. The conflict between the Up Country and Low Country culminated in the election of Benjamin R. Tillman, who championed agrarian reform, white supremacy, and the disenfranchisement of African Americans.

Four

In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

Answer: 1970s

On 20 December 1974, Mengistu Haile Mariam, an Ethiopian army officer, overthrew the monarchy and established a communist regime. He ruled with an iron fist, implementing the ‘Red Terror Campaign’ and facing armed rebellions, droughts and famines. Facing mounting challenges and dwindling support, Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe in 1991.

Five

In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

Answers: Wes Craven; Neve Campbell

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The film, which satirises slasher genre clichés, was a critical and commercial success, grossing approximately $173 million worldwide. It revitalised Craven’s and Drew Barrymore’s careers and spawned a successful franchise.

First

All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
Image Wikipedia

One

((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

(Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

(Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

(Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

(Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

(Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

(Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

(Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

Two

The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

Three

On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

Four

In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

Five

In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

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

Little Sparrow—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

See question 5. Artist pression of ESA’s Gaia satellite observing the Milky Way, with a background image of the sky compiled from data from more than 1.8 billion stars.
Image ESA via Wikipedia

One

… was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

Published for the first time on this date in 1843, what begins with the quote above and whose surname is missing from the start?

Answer: A Christmas Carol; Marley

A Christmas Carol, a novella by Charles Dickens, recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation after visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella, published in 1843, was inspired by Dickens’s experiences and the Victorian revival of Christmas traditions. It has never been out of print and has been widely adapted.

Two

Born on this day in 1906, what Soviet leader, along with US President Jimmy Carter, signed the unsuccessful SALT II treaty in Vienna in 1979?

Answer: Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev, a Soviet statesman, led the Soviet Union for 18 years. He prioritised foreign and military affairs, implementing the Brezhnev Doctrine to justify Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia and expanding the Soviet military-industrial complex. While achieving parity with the US in nuclear weapons and space programmes, Brezhnev’s focus on defence led to economic decline, impacting agriculture, consumer goods and healthcare.

Three

A singer born in Paris, France, on 19 December 1915, came to be known as ‘little sparrow’. Who was she?

Answer: Edith Piaf

Edith Piaf, a French singer and actress, gained international fame for her interpretation of the chanson. Her life, marked by tragedy and hardship, deeply influenced her music, which often reflected themes of loss and love. Despite her struggles with health and addiction, Piaf’s powerful voice and dramatic style captivated audiences, leaving a lasting legacy.

Four

On this day in 1606, Christopher Newport, in command of the Discovery, the Godspeed, and the Susan Constant, sailed from London, England. The following April, they entered a bay—the largest estuary in the United States—and went on to set up the first permanent English settlement in North America. What was the name of the bay and the colony?

Answer: Chesapeake Bay; Jamestown

Newport, a member of the colony’s governing body, led a total five voyages between Virginia and England, bringing supplies and settlers to the Jamestown colony between 1606 and 1611.

Five

In 2013, the European Space Agency launched a spacecraft that could be described as a space telescope or astronomical observatory. Named after the personification of Earth in Greek mythology, what was its name?

Answer: Gaia

Gaia, the Greek personification of Earth, is the mother of Uranus, Pontus, the Titans, Cyclopes and Giants.

From 27 July 2014 to 15 January 2025, Gaia has made more than three trillion observations of two billion stars and other objects throughout our Milky Way galaxy and beyond, mapping their motions, luminosity, temperature and composition. Gaia’s extraordinarily precise three-dimensional map will provide the data needed to tackle an enormous range of important questions related to the origin, structure and evolutionary history of our galaxy.

— European Space Agency