Not sure about you folks, but I am thoroughly sick and tired of the shenanigans of Dear Leader as he tries to turn the US into the an oligarchy with him as the biggest Ollie. I still like Oliver Hardy as the best Ollie ever – take that Dear Leader! So let’s just lean back and hopefully have some fun today and forget about old what’s-his-name.
I have a friend whose culture celebrates “longest night” on the 21st. That sure seems to me to be a holiday that should be looked into.
How about some offbeat trivia and Christmas and Holiday trivia today?
- Here’s one for the Boomers out there. Kids ask Grandma and Grandpa about this one. On Iowa’s old license plates where counties were listed by number (alphabetically) what was county 82?
- What does the word “wassailing” as in “Here we come a-wassailing” mean?
- According to most historians what time of the year was Jesus most likely born?
- Gingerbread houses became popular in the 19th century after what story was released by the Brothers Grimm?
- Five years ago what Fox Newser faced a big backlash when she asserted Santa Claus was white?
- The famous “Christmas Truce” happened during what major war?
- What Catholic saint is credited with bringing carols into church services? (Hint: think the saint of animals)
- The first mention of a Mrs. Clause was in a short story “A Christmas Legend” by John Rees. About what year was this story published?
- Women began taking the job of department store Santa Claus when what caused a shortage of manpower in the US? (Hint: women also became riveters etc.)
- The week of December 21st, 1968 (50 years ago) the top rock and roll record was what?
- Do the 12 days of Christmas come before or after December 25th?
- What does the word Advent mean?
- James Edgar was the first known person to dress as Santa Claus for his own department store in Brockton, Massachusetts. Any idea when he first did this?
- When did NORAD start tracking Santa Claus? (they needed to know where he was so they didn’t try to shoot him down)
- How long has that little narc, Elf on the Shelf, been around to rat out bad kids?
- Robert May wrote the book “Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer” and Johnny Marks wrote the song. What was their relationship in real life?
- “While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.” What is a sugar plum anyway?
- Christmas night 1776, What American general launched a sneak attack across the Delaware River into Mew Jersey?
- Christmas Day 1968 we got to see some our of this world television from where?
- In Japan, what is the most popular food for Christmas Day?
OK – mostly Christmas trivia. Hope you are enjoying it
The real war on Christmas:
Answers:
- Scott (Davenport)
- It is a walking, caroling party that would sometimes include pranks if a house was not generous enough with goodies.
- Springtime
- Hansel and Gretel
- Megan Kelly
- WWI or t what was then known as The Great War
- St. Francis of Assisi
- The story was published in 1849
- WWII
- “I heard it through the grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
- After
- The coming of a great person or event
- 1890
- 1955 – it is a fascinating story that begins with Sears accidentally publishing NORAD’s telephone number as Santa’s number.
- Since 2005
- They were brothers-in-law
- It is a comfit – a seed or nut or bit of spice – with layers of herd sugar on it. Usually only for the rich.
- George Washington!
- Apollo 8 as it orbited the moon
- KFC. You have to get your order in days ahead of time or plan on waiting in line for hours to get some.
Some old guy and David Bowie:
Merry Christmas!