Dear Santa Trivia Quiz

Answer: Beanie Babies

Beanie Babies were introduced to the American toy market in 1993 by Ty, Inc., a company based near Chicago, Illinois. They were small animals stuffed with tiny plastic beans. Some of the original designs were Patti the Platypus, Squealer the Pig and Flash the Orca.

A few years later, Beanie Baby fever spread across the United States. People all over the nation would be on the hunt for the little critters in the hopes that they would fetch them a nice profit one day. One of the most expensive was a bear commemorating the late Princess Diana which is rumored to be worth $500,000 in mint condition.

Answer: Optimus Prime

The Transformers were first introduced to American toy shelves by Hasbro in 1984. Hasbro had imported many of the character designs from a Japanese company named Takara. Hasbro then hired Marvel to give them names and personalities. One of the most popular characters was Optimus Prime, the leader of the good guys (Autobots) who transformed into a red tractor trailer.

He became so popular that many kids were heartbroken when the character was killed off in "Transformers: The Movie" released in 1986. Since then there have been many figures of Optimus Prime to hit store shelves.

His signature catchphrase is, "Transform and roll out!"

Answer: Tickle Me Elmo

Tickle Me Elmo was introduced to toy shelves in 1996. The toy was a stuffed representation of the red monster Elmo from "Sesame Street" that would laugh when he was tickled. It was designed by American toy company Tyco and became one of the hottest toys on the market during that year's holiday season. Toy stores across the country would encounter mobs of parents trying to get a Tickle Me Elmo before the inventory ran dry.

The toys became so popular they would be resold for thousands of dollars more than what they retailed for.

Answer: Microsoft Xbox

In 2001, software giant Microsoft would enter the video game market that had previously been dominated by names like Nintendo and Sega. Microsoft entered the competition by introducing the Microsoft Xbox. It was designed to compete with the Sony PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube. Since then, Microsoft has remained entrenched in the video game market offering successors such as the Xbox 360 in 2005 and the XBox One in 2013. Game franchises "Halo" and "Gears of War" have traditionally been sold exclusively as Xbox only titles.

The founder and CEO of Microsoft is Bill Gates.

Answer: Furby

Furby was a small robotic animal designed by American company Tiger Electronics. It was first introduced to toy shelves in 1998. Furbies had the ability to talk to their owners, as well as to other Furbies as the toy's were designed to interact with one another.

At first, Furby would speak in his own made up language, but would eventually learn English phrases the more it was played with. As with Tickle Me Elmo, Furby also became a popular Christmas toy with parents running around from store to store looking to score one.

Answer: Cabbage Patch Kids

Cabbage Patch Kids were introduced in 1978 by the toy's inventor Xavier Roberts. At first, the dolls were handmade and known as simply "The Little People". Instead of simply being sold as toys, they were meant to be adopted by children (for a price). The design was sold to American toy company Coleco who began mass production of the dolls in 1982. Cabbage Patch Kids became one of the hottest toys for Christmas in the 80's. Since then rights to make the dolls has changed hands several times over the years.

Answer: The Shredder

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began as a comic book series created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1983. The popularity of the comics led to the launch of an animated series and toy line in 1987. The toys would be produced by Playmates Toys. The first series of the toys featured the four turtles, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo as well as the Turtles' arch-enemy The Shredder.

The Shredder was a powerful ninja warrior who wore spiked arm guards and shoulder pads, as well as a helmet and face mask.

Answer: Sorry

Sorry! is a board game marketed by Hasbro under the Parker Brothers brand. The game was invented by William Henry Story in England in 1929 and was brought to the United States in 1933. The object of the game is to be the first to get four colored pieces to travel around the game board from the 'start' position to the 'home' position using various cards. If another player happens to land or bump into another, the stationary piece goes back to the 'start' position and has to begin the journey all over again.

Answer: Easy-Bake Oven

The Easy-Bake Oven was introduced by Kenner in 1963. It was a small, yet fully functional oven designed for children. Originally the toy would use incandescent light bulbs in order to heat up the food inside it, but recent versions have replaced the light bulbs with an electric heat source.

The Easy-Bake Oven came with prepackaged cake mix, but could be utilized in making other items such as cookies and pizza.

Answer: Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples is a board game that up to ten people can play. It was originally introduced by Hasbro in 1999, but the game would be acquired by Mattel in 2007. It is seen as a party game. Each person is dealt seven red cards containing a person, place, thing or scenario.

A green card is then chosen with a different word. Each player contributes one of their red cards that they feel best goes with the green card. One player will then have the opportunity to select what he/she feels is the best match, who will then be awarded the green card.

The person with the most green cards at the end of the game is declared the winner.