The Eggheads' Christmas Cracker Quiz

Answer: Jingle All The Way

The answers are Gin, Gull, Awl, The, Whey.

"Jingle All The Way" (1996) is a film about a grand Christmas tradition - panic stricken last minute present shopping! Howard (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) needs to get hold of a Turbo Man action figure for his son, but it's Christmas Eve, and they're all sold out. Much hilarity ensues as he goes to extreme lengths to try and get hold of the toy.

(Question and additional information submitted by emiloony)

Answer: Last Christmas

The song "Last Christmas" was written by George Michael, and originally released in 1984 by the English pop group "Wham". It was a huge success, not only in the UK charts, but also in many other countries throughout the world.

It continues to reappear in the Christmas charts almost every year, and truly is a perennial favourite.

Merry Christmas!

(Question and additional information submitted by moonraker2)

Answer: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

This lively Christmas carol is also known as "Tidings of Comfort and Joy" and that is one of its main repeated lines throughout. It is believed to be the oldest carol still in existence, dating back to some time prior to the beginning of the 16th century, but it first appeared in print in 1760. Have a lovely Christmas, everyone.

(Question and additional information submitted by Creedy)

Answer: Elf

"Elf" (2003) is a fun Christmas holiday film starring Will Ferrell as an oversized misfit elf whose heart is in the right place, but who often messes things up anyway. It also started Ed Asner, Bob Newhart and James Caan.

(Question and additional information submitted by shuehorn).

Answer: The First Noel

The original version of "The First Noel" dates back to the 17th century. In 1823 William B. Sandys and Davies Gilbert edited and added lyrics to create the version we sing today. The origin of the current melody is uncertain.

It tells the story of the night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, based on the Gospel accounts in Luke 2 and Matthew 2. Noël is the French word for Christmas and is from the Latin natalis, meaning "birthday"!

(Question and additional information submitted by sally0malley)

Answer: O Holy Night

"O Holy Night" is a beautiful Christmas carol by Adolphe Adam. Written in 1847, it was adapted and set to music from a French poem "Midnight, Christians" by Placide Cappeau. Placide Cappeau was a wine merchant as well, so cheers to you all for a great Christmas!

(Question and additional information submitted by sercoed)

Answer: The Cricket on the Hearth

"The Cricket on the Hearth" is a Christmas tale written by Charles Dickens and published in time for the festive season in December, 1845. Unlike many other works by Dickens, this work doesn't feature a cry against social injustice as one of its themes, but is a gentler and more innocent story instead. It features a loving family who have a mysterious lodger, a blind daughter of a poor toymaker, a missing son, and a grating and ghastly miser who tries his best to marry the sweetheart of the missing son. Very melodramatic, but that was the flavour of the times. All it needs is a chorus of "Boos!" and "Hoorahs!" in the background when all is resolved happily at the conclusion of the work. The cricket on the hearth, present throughout the story, acts as a type of chirping, narrating guardian angel for the family. I hope you have a truly wonderful festive season.

(Question and additional information submitted by Creedy)

Answer: Away in a manger

First published in the late 19th century, "Away in a Manger", with its pleasing melody and gentle message, is one of the most popular carols in the English-speaking world.

It was once titled "Luther's Cradle Hymn" and thought to have been written by Martin Luther for his own children and then passed on by German mothers. However modern research has found stanzas one and two first appeared in the Little Children's Book, published in Philadelphia in 1885. The third verse was written by a Methodist minister, John T. McFarland, in the early 1900s when an additional stanza was needed for use at a church children's day program.

(Question and additional information submitted by sally0malley)

Answer: Angel

The hidden word is ANGEL, found in 'slANG ELizabeth'. Ruby Murray was an Irish singer popular in the 1950s and has, probably unwittingly, given her name to a rhyme for 'curry'.

An angel is very much associated with the Christmas story. Luke 2:8-12 in the King James version of the Bible relates the story of an angel of the Lord appearing before a group of shepherds watching their flocks by night, to announce to them the birth of the baby Jesus.

(Question and additional information submitted by brenda_carriti)

Answer: Silent Night

On Christmas Eve 1818, Joseph Mohr, pastor of a church in the small Austrian town of Oberndorf, near Salzburg, asked Franz Gruber, his organist, to write a tune for some words he had written and which he wanted to use at that evening's service. The church organ was broken and he wanted a tune suitable for a guitar accompaniment. The resulting words and music have become one of our most beloved carols.

However, if the Biblical account of the Nativity is true, then surely it would have been anything but a 'silent night'. There were angels singing overhead, the noise of hundreds of people in Bethlehem for the census, the cries of Roman soldiers keeping order, the sounds of animal hooves and the lowing of cattle and bleating of sheep, with no doubt some dogs barking too. Ideal conditions for the birth and nurture of a baby!

Amidst the chaos and noise of this busy season, may you all find the perfect peace of a baby asleep in its mother's arms.

(Question submitted by pinkbunny98, additional information submitted by emiloony)