TRIVIA QUIZ - INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

1. How to build a goat. In Sweden, a common is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat. Of what material is it made? a. Candy b. Straw c. Uranium d. Fir wood

2. Feeding the wren. What is the Irish custom of "feeding the wren" or "hunting the wren" on December 26? a. Taking one's in-laws out to dinner b. Carrying a wren door-to-door, to collect money for charity c. Leaving a basket of cakes at the door for passers-by d. Putting out suet and seeds for wild birds

3. The 's enemy. In Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker", who is the nutcracker's main enemy? a. A girl called Clara b. The King of the Mice c. Dr. Almond d. Drosselmeyer the magician

4. The which of endor. At lavish Middle Ages' Christmas feasts, swans & peacocks were sometimes served "endored". What does this "endored" mean? a. The feet & beaks were coated with gold b. The guests knelt in adoration as the birds were brought in c. The birds had been raised on grain soaked in brandy d. The flesh was painted with saffron dissolved in melted butter

5. Christmas shear. All through the Christmas season in old England, "lambswool" could be found in the houses of the well-to-do. What was "lambswool"? a. Imitation show used in decorations b. A brew of hot ale with roasted apples floating in it c. The material used for knitting Christmas gifts d. A fluffy confection made from almonds and sugar

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6. Snip, snap, dragon! The ancient game of Snapdragon has been part of English for over 300 years. Players are egged on by a chant, part of which goes "Take care you don't take too much, Be not greedy in your clutch, Snip, Snap, Dragon!" What is the "dragon" in this game? a. A costumed child b. Flames of burning brandy c. The oldest male in the room d. A "snapper" made from fireplace tongs

7. A well-run gaggle? In Victorian times, most Londoners would have been familiar with the "goose club". What was it? a. A troupe specializing in slapstick b. A stout stick used for slaughtering geese c. A banjo-like instrument used while caroling d. Saving to buy a goose for

8. The mystery of the smoking . After Scrooge has reformed his life in the , he invites Bob Cratchitt to join him for some "smoking bishop". What did he mean? a. A fast variation of chess popular in London b. A premium pipe tobacco c. A hot spiced drink d. A , soaked in brandy and set alight

9. Traveling Turkeys. In Victorian England, turkeys were popular for Christmas dinners. Some of the birds were raised in Norfolk, and taken to market in London. To get them to London, the turkeys: a. Were herded by sheep dogs b. Flew c. Rode in huge wagons called "turkey vans" d. Were supplied with boots made of sacking or leather

10. Cratchit if you can. Many movies on Christmas themes have been made for television & movies over the years. Which of the following has NOT yet been made into a film? a. The Jetsons' Christmas Carol b. Popeye's Christmas Carol c. Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol d. Mickey's Christmas Carol

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1 - (b) - Straw. Scandinavian Christmas festivities feature a variety of straw decorations in the form of stars, angels, hearts, and other shapes, as well as the Julbukk.

2 - (b) - carrying a wren door-to-door, to collect money for charity. One explanation for this St. Stephen's day custom refers to a legend in which the saint was given away by a chattering wren while hiding from his enemies. Children cage the wren to help it do penance for this misdeed. Often the children carry a long pole with a holly bush at the top - which is supposed to hide a captured wren. An artificial wren may also be used.

3 - (b) - The King of the Mice. The King of the Mice, usually represented with seven heads, leads his troops against the nutcracker's toy soldiers. He loses the battle when Clara, the heroine, stuns him with a shoe.

4 - (d) - the flesh was painted with saffron dissolved in butter. In addition to their painted flesh, endored birds were served wrapped in their own skin and feathers, which had been removed and set aside prior to roasting.

5 - (b) - a brew of hot ale with roasted apples floating in it. "Lambswool" was the drink that filled the bowl. Sugar, eggs, and spices were added to the ale, and toast floated on top with the apples. Poor people would ring their mugs to the door hoping for a share of the steaming drink.

6 - (b) - flames of burning brandy. When the room is dark, a bowl of raisins soaked in brandy is lit. Who will be brave enough to claim the prize from the fierce dragon flames?

7 - (d) - a method of saving to buy a goose for Christmas dinner. Goose clubs were popular with working-class Londoners, who paid a few pence a week towards the cost of a Christmas goose. The week before Christmas, London meat markets were crammed with geese and turkeys, many imported from Germany and France.

8 - ( c ) - a hot spiced drink. Mulled wines were popular festive drinks in 19th-century London. They were undoubtedly much safer to drink than the untreated water. To make Smoking Bishop, take 6 bitter oranges and stick them with 6 cloves each. Put them in a bowl, cover them with (cheap) red wine, and set in a warm place for a day. Squeeze the oranges into the wine and strain. Add port. Heat, and serve with a stick.

9 - (d) - were supplied with boots made of sacking or leather. The turkeys were walked to market. The boots protected their feet from the frozen mud of the road. Boots were not used for geese: instead, their feet were protected with a covering of tar.

10 - (b) - Popeye's Christmas Carol. The Internet Movie Database lists hundreds of movies with "Christmas" in the title. Among those you may not have seen: A Messy Christmas (1921), An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998), and The Bad Man's (1910).

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