Movies, music, Magi test your Christmas knowledge
The state of the world being what it is, I hate to inflict more stress on any of you, particularly on Christmas Eve. But I’m afraid it’s unavoidable, because for the 22nd year, it’s time to test your knowledge of the holiday season. Hey, it beats shopping.
I saw a shirt advertised for sale on Facebook last week that read, “It’s So Weird Being the Same Age as Old People,” which perfectly expresses how I feel much of the time. On the bright side, being a senior citizen who never grew up has helped me prepare a perfect blend of questions about holiday movies, TV, music and other trivia from yesterday and today. My hips are artificial, but my hipness is genuine.
I know how competitive some families are. I just ask that you treat your lowest-performing quiz-takers with more kindness than my family did when we ran our annual neighborhood college football bowl game pool as I was growing up and required the lastplace finisher to pose for a photo wearing a dunce cap.
That said, if your family feels compelled to adopt this tradition, I’d love to see photos of the losers. Let’s begin. I’ll post the answers at the end. Don’t peek.
1.
This legendary record producer — later turned murderer — applied his Wall of Sound technique to some great Christmas music:
A. John Wayne Gacy; B. Burt Bacharach; C. George Martin; D. Phil Spector
2.
The Bible says he was sent to “bear witness” to Jesus, the light of the world:
A. Abraham; B. Isaiah; C. John the Baptist; D. Moses
3.
The segment involving this character created by Alec Baldwin is a staple in the annual “Saturday Night Live” Christmas specials:
A. Pete Schweddy; B. Donald Trump; C. Dr. Jack Ryan; D. Ed Grimley
4.
Buddy the Elf said the fake Santa smelled like: A. Beer and cheese ; B. Elon Musk; C. Peppermint; D. Beef and cheese
5.
Most disliked Christmas song, according to a 2020 survey: A. “Wonderful Christmastime”; B. “Santa Baby”; C. “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”; D. “The Christmas Shoes”
6.
This president first declared Dec. 25 a national holiday: A. James Garfield; B. James Madison; C. Abraham Lincoln; D. Ulysses Grant
7.
How many reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh in “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (you might know it as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”)?
A.6; B.8; C.9; D.2
8.
He created the first strand of electric lights:
A. Thomas Edison; B. Benjamin Franklin; C. Nikola Tesla; D. Clark Griswold
9.
British Prime Minister Hugh Grant, accompanied by his chauffeur, sang this in “Love Actually”:
A. “Jump”; B. “Good King Wenceslas”; C. “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; D. “Joy to the World”
10.
He smells, according to a popular kids’ variation on “Jingle Bells”:
A. Joker; B. Batman; C. Santa; D. Robin
11.
What Santa told Ralphie:
A. “Have you been a good little boy?”; B. “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid”; C. “How about a nice football helmet?”; D. “Stop pulling my beard”
12.
Little boy’s unhappy discovery on the Polar Express home:
A. Banned from Twitter; B. Bell wouldn’t ring; C. Hot chocolate was cold; D. Lost his bell
13.
First president to light a menorah in the White House: A. Abraham Lincoln; B. Ulysses Grant; C. Bill Clinton; D. Ronald Reagan
14.
“The hopes and fears of all the years” is a line from which Christmas carol?
A. “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”; B. “Away in a Manger”; C. “O Little Town of Bethlehem”; D. “Silent Night”
15.
Died on Christmas Eve in a beloved Christmas movie: A. Mr. Potter; B. Marv and Harry; C. Hans Gruber; D. Scrooge
16.
Once banned observance of Christmas because it was too pagan:
A. Elon Musk; B. Puritans; C. Spanish Inquisition; D. Quakers
17.
When children sing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” this is the appropriate thing to yell out in response to “They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games”:
A. Like George Washington; B. Like Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots; C. Like Hungry Hungry Hippos; D. Like Monopoly
18.
The Magi who came from the East to find Jesus appear in which book of the Bible?
A. Luke; B. John; C. Matthew; D. Mark
19.
Frosty had this in his hand as he led children into the village:
A. Flute; B. Hat; C. Broomstick; D. Snowball
20.
NOT a quote from Margo in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”:
A. “And why is the carpet all wet, Todd?”; B. “If you want to come in, you’ll have to break down the [bleep] door!”; C. “Squirrrrellllllllll!”; D. “Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!”
OK, let’s see how you did: 1. D 2. C 3. A 4. D 5. B 6. D 7. B 8. A 9. B 10. B 11. B 12. D 13. C 14. C 15. C 16. B 17. D 18. C 19. C 20. C.
Merry Christmas. That dunce cap looks good on you.