Winter Trivia – 12/29/12
1. In which month does the winter solstice occur, that is, the shortest day and longest night
of the year?
December. It usually occurs on December 21 or 22. Dec. 21 in 2012 and 2013.
2. On December 25, Christians celebrate Christmas. What important holiday do Jewish
people celebrate around the same time?
Hanukkah. Commemorating the rededication of the Second Templein Jerusalem at the time
of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and
days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur
at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
3. The three magi, or kings, that visited the baby Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem brought
him three gifts. What were they?
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
4. Tradition has it, if a couple meets under this hanging plant, they must kiss.
Mistletoe
5. According to the popular Dr. Seuss book, what mean-spirited character stole Christmas?
The Grinch. He stole it from the Whos of Whoville.
6. In the1946 film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ an angel shows character George Bailey what
would have happened in his town had he not lived. Which actor plays George Bailey?
Jimmy Stewart.
7. According to his famous song, what is Bing Crosby dreaming of?
A white Christmas. Irving Berlin wrote this song.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the
treetops glisten, and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow …
8. This large log is burned in the hearth as part of traditional Christmas celebrations in
Europe.
Yule log
9. This classic tale by Charles Dickens features as visitors the ghosts of Christmas Past,
Christmas Present, and Christmas yet to come.
A Christmas Carol. Visitors to Ebenezer Scrooge.
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10. What is the name a dome-shaped Eskimo house, typically built from blocks of solid
snow.
Igloo.
11. What famous ballet features Waltz of the Flowers and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?
The Nutcracker. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Nutcracker Suite is an excerpt for orchestra
of the original ballet.
12. Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was credited with helping turn the 2002 Winter
Olympics around into a financial success. Where were the 2002 Winter Olympics held?
Salt Lake City, Utah.
13. During a practice session for the 1994 U. S. Figure Skating Championships, the
boyfriend of this female figure skater and two others arranged to physically assault
competitor Nancy Kerrigan.
Tonya Harding.
14. In this winter sport, two sweepers clear the path for a smooth stone slid across the ice
into a target area.
Curling.
15. This kind of wooden sled, without runners whose entire bottom makes contact with the
snow, was used by Indians of northern Canada to transport things.
Toboggan.
Fur from the winter coat of a stoat (also known as a short-tailed weasel) is white and prized
by the fur trade to trim coats and stoals. What is this winter fur called? Ermine
This Renaissance playwright wrote a play called The Winter's Tale. William Shakespeare
This grain is sewn in late autumn and harvested in the spring. Winter wheat
The winter of this year spelled disaster for Napoleon in Russia. Tchaikovsky's overture
celebrates the date. What year? 1812
This famous Shakespeare villain starts the play named after him with the words "Now is the
winter of our discontent... " Richard III
The film about King Henry II stars Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn: The Lion in
Winter
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A group of 87 American pioneers, starting out in 1846, found themselves trapped by snow
in the Sierra Nevada mountains and had to resort to cannibalism to survive. Who were
they? Donner Party
The coldest temperature in the lower 48, -70 degrees, was recorded in 1954 at Roger’s Pass.
What state was this in? Montana
If it’s cloudy, then spring will come early. If it’s sunny and it sees its shadow, winter will
continue. What animal am I talking about? Groundhog
Bonus: Name the famous one from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania: Phil
The Winter War, fought on the Eve of World War II, took pace between two northern
European countries, one very large and one very small. Name either one. Finland, Soviet
Union
Winter in Zeeland, the Netherlands, starts in the end of December. But winter in New
Zealand starts at the end of what month? June
What is it called when the side of a snowy mountain collapses? Avalanche
Name four kinds of winter precipitation: rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow
This season-long sleep, enjoyed by both rodents and bears, is called what? Hibernation
How many points does a snowflake have? 6
Inches of rain versus inches of snow. Which is closest?
1 inch of rain = 1 inch of snow
1 inch of rain = 1 foot of snow (correct)
1 inch of rain = 2 feet of snow
1 inch of rain = 3 feet of snow
“A Hazy Shade of Winter” is a song recorded by this New York singer-songwriter duo,
popular in the 1960s. Simon & Garfunkle
What song contains these lyrics? “In the meadow we can build a snowman” and “walkin’ in
a …” Winter Wonderland
What was the name of this character who was “a jolly happy soul, with a corncob pipe and a
button nose, and two eyes made out of coal.” Frosty the Snowman
What song contains these lyrics: Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so
delightful, and since we’ve no place to go….” Let it Snow
This constellation found in the winter sky is a hunter, conspicuous by his belt of three bright
stars: Orion
A type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine is
known as what? Ice wine
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Footwear for walking on top of snow, traditionally made from a hardwood frame with
rawhide lacings, is called? Snow shoes
A rabbit who turns white in winter and has large hind feet for travelling in the snow is
called what? Snowshoe hare
Winter bell ringer’s charitable organization: Salvation Army
What is the condition when the core temperature of the body drops below what is required
for it to function properly? Hypothermia
(Hyperthermia is the opposite, and is present in heat exhaustion and heat stroke)
Who tells you she’s in town by tap, tap, tappin’ at your windowpane? Suzy Snowflake
Where was Mommy when she was kissing Santa Claus? Underneath the mistletoe
Name three reindeer whose name begin with a D? Dasher, Donder, Dancer
Bonus for all nine: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph.
What was the first gift my true love sent on the sixth day of Christmas? 6 geese a-layin.
In what city did the “Miracle on 34th Street” take place? New York
Who kept time with the Little Drummer Boy? Ox and lamb
What is the name of the little girl in the Nutcracker? Clara
What was Rudolph’s punishment for his red nose? Could not play in reindeer games
What holiday drink contains sugar, milk, and eggs? Eggnog
What glittery bits of metal are hung on a Christmas tree? Tinsel
What carol demands figgy pudding? “We Wish you a Merry Christmas”
What song contains the line “Although, it’s been said, many times, many ways”? The
Chrismas Song
What does Alvin want for Christmas? A hula-hoop
What parade was first held January 1, 1886? Tournament of Roses
What carol contains the word “Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la”? Deck the Halls
What color is the Grinch? Green
In the song Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer, what did Grandma go to get? Her
medication
What is the biggest selling Chrismas single of all time? White Christmas
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This spicy Swedish Christmas drink, served warm, is called what? Glogg
The nine-branched Hanukiah candle is a kind of what? Menorha
The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique
candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukiah, one additional light
on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The
typical Menorah consists of eight branches with an additional raised
branch. The extra light is called a shamash (Hebrew: ‫שמש‬, "attendant")
Bonus points if you can say what frankincense and myrrh are. Frankincense is an aromatic
resin (sap) from a Boswellia tree, used like incense. Myrrh is another aromatic resin from
the Commiphora tree and is used in much the same way as frankincense—as a scent.
Name the sport associated with each of these famous Plympians.
Jean Claude Killy - skiiing
Peggy Fleming – figure skating
Bonnie Blair – speed skating
Axles, toe-loops, flips, and lutzes are associated with what Winter Olympic sport?
Figure skating
Name four of the six original sports in the Winter Olympics, first held in Chamonix, France
in 1924?
Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined (ski jumping
combined with cross-country skiing), ski jumping, and speed skating.
What country has won more Winter Olympic medals than any other? Norway
A modern Olympic racing sled, upon which competitors sit, is called what? Luge
Another sliding sport upon which a competitor sleds lying face down is called what?
Skeleton
A novel by American author Mary Mapes Dodge, published in 1865, takes place in the
Netherlands. The title of the book refers to a set of silver sakes to be awarded t the winner
of an ice-skating race. Who is the Dutch skater in the book? Hans Brinker