Christmas Queries Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tesco

Many an eyebrow was raised when this was announced. Fortnum and Masons had been grocers to the royal family for so long that to change to Tesco was seen as a step downwards. It seems the reason for this is that the queen simply prefers the taste of the cheaper puddings, though she still has her mince pies delivered from Fortnum and Masons.

Answer: Winter Wonderland

The Dome was built on the banks of the river Thames at Greenwich. It was intended as a celebration of the millennium but it never caught the people's imagination. After the opening ceremony it lay empty for a couple of years before being opened in 2003 as a Christmas event.

Inside there was an old fashioned fairground, shops, a German market and many other seasonal events. Between 2005 and 2007 it underwent an enormous redevelopment that led to its rebranding as the "O2", becoming a hugely succesfull concert and entertainment venue. During the 2012 London Olympics, it hosted the artistic gymnastic events.

Answer: 5

The first was 'Christmas Alphabet' sung by Dickie Valentine in 1955. The second came eighteen years later in 1973 it was 'Merry Christmas Everybody' by Slade. The following year saw Mud take the top spot with 'Lonely This Christmas'. In 1984 and 1989 Band Aid became No 1 with their song for Ethiopia which of course was 'Do They Know it's Christmas', as it was the same song it only counts once. Finally there was 'Merry Christmas Everyone' by Shakin' Stevens.

Answer: an orange

Christingle means 'Christs Light'. The service originated in eastern Europe to celebrate the light of Jesus coming into the world. The orange being round represents the world and the candle the light of Jesus. A red ribbon circles the orange in memory of the blood shed for us by Jesus, lastly four cocktail sticks speared with small fruits are pushed into the orange to represent north, south, east and west, in other world the four corners of the earth and the fruit in contains.

Answer: Publish the first Christmas card

The Christmas card showed a typical Dickensian scene of a happy family gathered in their living room, a Christmas tree twinkling in the background. All very innocent but the thing that upset the temperance league was that the happy family were drinking wine.

Answer: The Spice Girls

The Spice Girls had their first Christmas No 1 in 1996 with the song "2 become 1". The following year they went to the top again with "Too Much". The next year they sang the prophetically titled "Goodbye": it went to the top spot but the group broke up not too long afterwards.

Answer: cardboard crowns

All the family except the Queen wear cardboard crowns at dinner. The Queen is known to have said she doesn't need a cardboard crown for she has a real one, though she doesn't wear it on that occasion!

Answer: 364

Some people claim that this song was written to teach young children the catechism in England at a time when the catholic religion was banned. Another explanation of the song was that it was contained in a book entitled 'Mirth without Mischief'. The book was published in the mid 18th century in England contained the song as a memory and for forfeit game. Each child took turns in remembering each verse, when one verse was missed the child had to pay a small forfeit.

Answer: Vikings

When the Vikings finally decided to settle in Britain they brought their own gods with them. December was when they worshipped their deity Jul (sometimes known as Yalka) and the month was known as Jultid, hence yuletide. During December the Vikings believed that Odin came to earth on his eight legged horse Sleipner, he would be disguised in a long blue robe and carried a satchel containing bread. During his visit he would enter the homes of the poor and leave a gift of this bread.

Answer: the Christ child

During the time preceding the Commonwealth, mince pies were traditionally decorated with a figure representing Jesus as a babe in a crib. The tiny figure was made of pastry and baked into the top of mince pies. Oliver Cromwell being a puritan saw this as showing an allegiance to Rome.