The Forty-Seven Days of Christmas Quiz

Answer: Dean Martin

Although all four answers were members of the "Rat Pack" or "Summit", Dean Martin (1917-1995) was the one known as "The King of Cool". Earlier in his career (the 1940s and 1950s) he was teamed with Jerry Lewis. Later he was a successful singer and later still the host of of his own successful variety show, "The Dean Martin Show" (1965-1974). Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti) died on December 25, 1995, of emphysema after decades of heavy smoking. Martin, who was a significantly lighter drinker than his onstage persona would suggest, was also known for the quote, "You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on."

Answer: Romania

Nicolae Ceausescu (1917-1989) was the Communist leader of Romania from 1965 until 1989. Despite reducing press censorship early in his rule, he soon became known for leading the most repressive government in Eastern Europe. He would later issue one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the world.

In the 1970s, he would attempt a neo-Stalinist offensive against Romanian culture. With the Romanian government collapsing, Ceausescu and his wife were arrested on December 25, 1989, with the trial (for economic sabotage and genocide) and execution by firing squad following on the same day.

Answer: Hong Kong

During World War Two, Japan would launch an attack against Hong Kong (then a British colony) on December 8, 1941. Eighteen days later (on December 25), Sir Mark Young, governor of the Hong Kong colony, officially surrendered to Japanese forces. During the occupation over half of the population would be forcibly deposed to mainland China. Food rations were strictly enforced and many atrocities occurred.

The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong would not end until the end of the war in August 1945.

Answer: Robots

Karel Capek (1880-1938) was a well known Czech writer and playwright, whose works included his 1936 novel, "War with the Newts", and the 1920 play, "The Outlaws". To science fiction fans, however, his most important contribution might be the idea of "robots", introduced in his 1920 play "R.U.R." (Rossum's Universal Robots").

The term robot comes from a Czech word that means "serf labor". In the play, however, the human-looking appearance of the robots might make them closer to androids. Capek died of pneumonia on December 25, 1938.

Answer: China

The December 25, 1932, earthquake had an epicenter near Gusan, China (near Tibet). With a magnitude of 7.6, physical damage included the destruction of 1,167 houses, with a loss of life of 275 people (with 320 more injured). The earthquake occurred near the meeting point of the Indo-Australian Plate of the Earth's crust with the Eurasian Plate.

Answer: 1914

Strictly speaking, the "Christmas Truce" of 1914 was unofficial and generally occurred between December 24 and 26. Activities between the two sides included exchange of food and souvenirs, joint burial details for burial of soldiers whose corpses had been lying in "no-man's land" between the trench lines, and impromptu games of football (soccer). High-ranking officers of the armies on both sides clamped down in the following years of World War One to largely prevent a recurrence of this event. Failing that, one wonders if such a truce would have occurred in the same way later in the war after additional months of suffering.

Answer: Pakistan

Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) would serve as the first British Governor General of Pakistan from August 14, 1947, until his death on September 11 of the following year. Before that, he had served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League, beginning in 1913.

A lawyer by training, Jinnah felt that Muslims in the Indian subcontinent should have their own country to avoid possible mistreatment in a multi-religious state. Jinnah was born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai on December 25, 1876.

Answer: Andrew Johnson

While all four men were at one time or another President of the United States, Lincoln was dead by 1868, and Grant and Hayes would not become President until after 1868. Johnson's "unconditional pardon" on December 25, 1868, was the end of a process that began in 1863 while the US Civil War was occuring. Johnson, who became President after the assassination of Lincoln, was initially seen as a hard-line opponent of the Confederacy. Over time, however, his attitude became more lenient. Before the general amnesty, individuals could appeal to Johnson personally for a pardon.

Answer: Pud Galvin

James Francis "Pud" Galvin (1856-1902) was born on December 25, in St. Louis, MO. During his baseball career (1875-1892), he played for National Association and National League teams in St. Louis, Buffalo (NY), and Pittsburgh (PA). With a record of 365-310, he was the first 300 win pitcher in professional baseball. (Mathewson, Young, and Johnson, would each get their 300th win after Galvin.) He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame after his death in 1965.

Answer: New Zealand

Samuel Marsden (1765-1838) was a Church of England minister who served primarily in Australia, but also in New Zealand for the Church Missionary Society. At his own expense in 1814, he purchased a ship for the journey from New South Wales to New Zealand. Having learned the rudiments of the Māori language from Ruatara, a chief, Marsden delivered what is believed to be the first Christian sermon on December 25, 1814, at the Bay of Islands in the northern part of the North Island.

The service from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer was likely delivered in English, with Ruatara translating for those who did not understand English.