Twelve Days of Christmas Trivia

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1. On which day is Twelfth Night celebrated, being the last of the twelve days of Christmas and the day before the feast of Epiphany?

From Quiz On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

Answer: 5th January

Twelfth Night is defined by the Christian calendar even though, in many ways, it is a very unchristian occasion. It falls on the twelfth day of Christmas, counting Christmas Day as the first day, and the day before Epiphany, which always falls on January 6th.

From Quiz Last Guild Day of Christmas - Candlemas

Answer: November 1 (Feast of All Saints)

Although religious celebrations of the Christmas season began officially on the first Sunday of Advent, the secular courts of the King and his nobles began their official celebration on November 1. It was customary on November 1 for the King (followed in order by the noblemen) to announce the location of the royal castle which would house the court during the winter months. Beginning the following day, preparations began in earnest to move the King's court to its winter or Christmas location.

From Quiz My True Love Guild To Me - 7th Day

Answer: Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson's poem "To the memory of my beloved, the author, Mr. William Shakespeare, and what he hath left us" is one of several tributes which form a preface to the First Folio edition of the plays, published by John Heminge and Henry Condell in 1623. Jonson's poem also includes the often-quoted observations that Shakespeare had "small Latin and less Greek" and that "he was not of an age, but for all time."

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 11th Day

Answer: Enter the Haggis

Enter the Haggis is a Canadian Celtic rock band that formed in 1996 in Toronto. You can find their music here: http://www.enterthehaggis.com/ And here: http://www.myspace.com/enterthehaggis (Go on, what are you waiting for? You can listen to them while you finish reading the rest of my Interesting Information! Some personal favorites: "Half Fast Jam," "Maggie's Pancakes" and "Donald Where's Yer Trooser's.") Haggis is ... well, I was going to try and describe it, but this is a perfectly good description from Wikipedia, and I don't think I could come close to this, so here it is: "Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. There are many recipes, most of which have in common the following ingredients: sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally boiled in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours. Haggis somewhat resembles stuffed intestines (pig intestines otherwise known as chitterlings or the kokoretsi of traditional Balkan cuisine), sausages and savoury puddings of which it is among the largest types. As the 2001 English edition of the Larousse Gastronomique puts it, "Although its description is not immediately appealing, haggis has an excellent nutty texture and delicious savoury flavour." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis) (author's note: *bleck!*)

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 1st Day

Answer: Both December 25th and 26th

Christian scripture does not give a specific date for the birth of Jesus. Church tradition supposes that the date was chosen to infuse the Roman Solar Festivals with a new Christian significance. The western church counts December 25th as day one, making January 5th the twelfth and last day of Christmas, before the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. Other cultures mark twelve days of Christmas from December 26th to January 6th, which is referred to as "Little Christmas". In the astrological interpretation of the Christmas season, Virgo appears on the eastern horizon on the night of December 25th, making the following day - December 26th the first day of Christmas.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 2nd Day

Answer: From the onomatopoetic Latin word "turtur"

One can make a case that the journey of the term "turtle dove" begins with a Hebrew word for dove ("tor"). The Latin equivalent "turtur" likely evolved as a reduplication from its pan-Palestinian root which mimics the sound of a dove ("turrrrr..turrrr") during mating season. By the eleventh and twelfth centuries a diminutive form of the Latin "turtur" had evolved in Europe ("turtle" in England - "tortola" in Moorish Spain), possibly as a hypocorism (pet name) between romantic lovers. This may have occurred due in part to the feudal concept of "courtly love" (as exemplified in the Arthurian and other romantic legends). Further symbolic developments of dove imagery during the Middle Ages through troubadours, trouvères (poets), bestiaries, fables and other cultural forms, solidified a pair of "turtle doves" as representative of "true" romantic love and fidelity. It is no wonder, then, that they are the 2nd gift given by true lovers during the 12 days of Christmas.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 9th Day

Answer: 8½

"8½" is a 1963 film directed by Federico Fellini, the title referring to the total number of films Fellini had previously directed (six full length films, 2 shorts (worth half each), and a collaboration (another half) - making 7½ in total prior to the new one - making it number "8½". The musical's writer, Maury Yeston, explained that he named the musical "Nine" because, if you add music to 8½, it is "half a number more". "10", "Seven" and "300" are, respectively, a 1979 romantic comedy directed by Blake Edwards and starring Bo Derek, Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews; a 1995 serial-killer film directed by David Fincher and starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt; and a 2006 epic about the Battle of Thermopylae, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Gerard Butler and Lena Headey. It is possible to imagine a musical being based on "10"; less so ones based on "Seven" and "300"!

From Quiz Last Guild Day of Christmas - Candlemas

Answer: Snowdrops

Snowdrops are usually one of the earliest blooming flowers, and some hardy varieties have been known to bloom all winter long. Gathering Snowdrops and bringing them into your house on Candlemas is said to 'purify' your home. You shouldn't bring them in before February 2, however, as this will bring bad luck. Snowdrops and Carnations are the 'birth flower' for January babies.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 4th Day

Answer: Jack and Jill

"The Little Mother Goose", published around 1912, is a particularly delightful Mother Goose Collection, due to the illustrations of Jessie Willcox Smith. Miss Smith was a student of Howard Pyle, founder of the Brandywine School. She is best known for her cover illustrations for "Good Housekeeping" magazine between 1918 and 1933.

From Quiz My True Love Guild To Me - 7th Day

Answer: 1875

Webb, a 27-year-old merchant naval captain from Shropshire, attempted to swim the Channel on August 12 1875, but was forced to give up because of strong winds and high seas. Less than two weeks later he successfully crossed from Dover to Calais on August 24/25 1875, using the breaststroke and taking 21 hours 45 minutes. Webb already had a reputation as a daredevil, and he met his death eight years later trying to swim across the Niagara River below the falls. He was drowned in the whirlpool and buried in Oakwood Cemetery on the American side of the border.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 5th Day

Answer: Gold Hallmarks

Hallmarking is one of the earliest English statutes, dating back to 1300 when Edward I started the assaying (testing) and marking of precious metals. Before then, unscrupulous gold and silversmiths could cheat their customers by replacing gold or silver with copper, so the statute was brought in to assay gold and silver and mark it, so you know that those five gold rings are exactly what you paid for!

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 9th Day

Answer: Chris de Burgh

The song appeared on Chris de Burgh's album "Into the Light", and was the UK Number One single in July 1986. The other three each had hits with "lady" in the title: the Beatles in 1968 with "Lady Madonna"; Peter Skellern in 1972 with "You're a Lady"; and the Commodores in 1978 with "Three Times a Lady".

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 4th Day

Answer: Titanium alloy

If not for its exhaust, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird's fuselage shape and radar absorbing paint would have been very hard to detect on radar. It was never hit by missiles, not because of any stealth capabilities, but due to its amazing speed. In 1990, the Blackbird crossed the United States at the record speed of 2,124 mph. Titanium alloy was used in order to survive the heat generated at Mach 3. Aluminum is the most common aircraft skin. ACM is a newer technology not widely in use for aircraft during the SR-71's time of service. Zinc alloy is mostly used in galvanizing steel and iron.

From Quiz My True Love Guild To Me - 7th Day

Answer: Jaques in "As You Like It"

Not surprisingly for a man of the theatre, Shakespeare frequently uses the image of life as a play. Antonio in "The Merchant of Venice" calls the world "a stage where every man must play a part", and the doomed Macbeth sees life as "a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage." Jaques goes into the metaphor in more detail, likening the successive stages of life to the acts of the play in which we must perform a series of parts. The seven ages are those of the infant, the schoolboy, the lover, the soldier, the justice, the "lean and slippered pantaloon," and finally second childhood "sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." The Globe Theatre, at which many of Shakespeare's later plays were performed, is said to have sported the motto "Totus mundus agit histrionem", the Latin equivalent of the opening words of Jaques' speech.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 10th Day

Answer: Cricket

Lord's is colloquially known as "The home of cricket" and was founded by Thomas Lord, a Yorkshireman who made his living as a cricketer. As well as his career as a bowler, Lord worked as an attendant at the London gentleman's club, The White Conduit Club. Two of the members of the club, the Earl of Winchelsea and the Duke of Richmond, encouraged Lord to build a ground to house the newly-formed Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and gave him a guarantee against any losses he might incur in doing so. Lord set up his first ground just off Dorset Square in London in 1787 and the MCC played there until 1810 when the lease on the land expired. By this time a second ground had been built in St John's Wood in 1809 with an 80-year land lease but just five years later, the UK government requisitioned the land in order to build the Regents Canal, which was due to run right through the ground's outfield. Lord found a new site just a few hundred yards away and since 1814 this ground, with its famous slope, has been the MCC's exclusive home. The ground is now completely unrecognisable from that which Lord established. The oldest remaining part is "The Long Room", a grade II-listed building which is the exclusive reserve of members of the MCC and, during Middlesex home matches, members of Middlesex County Cricket Club. The ground, which now holds 32,000 spectators, was first used as a Test venue for England matches in 1884 and has hosted more than 100 since then. As the most famous venue in cricket, it seems to inspire the visiting teams more than it does England; at the time of writing, England has not won a test match against its greatest rival, Australia, at Lords since 1934. As well as being the home of cricket, Lord's was also host to the main Archery events when London hosted the summer Olympic Games in 2012.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 8th Day

Answer: Cinder maid

A scullery maid was the lowest-ranking of the female servants. She would do demanding tasks in the kitchen such as cleaning the stoves and the floors. Before central heating was invented, she would have been expected to light the fires and bring hot water to her employers. A male servant who performed the duties of a scullery maid was called a scullion.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 11th Day

Answer: Lemon Pipers

The song, "Green Tambourine," was a number one hit in the US in 1968. The band, formed in Oxford, Ohio in 1966, really didn't want to record this piece. It was written specifically to try and get them a hit record. Because it WAS a hit, they were pressured to record another one, similar in style, to try and duplicate the success. They did record another one because they felt that they would be dropped from their label if they didn't. Their albums show both sides of the group - the light, pop music and their deeper rock 'n roll roots.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 1st Day

Answer: it depends on the bird's age

More than likely, your True Love has given you a Grey Partridge which is a game bird in the pheasant family. While the bird is a relic species, nesting in wheat fields, it's the bugs they're after when they're young chicks. Their diet changes over to seeds when they reach adulthood.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 5th Day

Answer: Ring

These four operas comprise Wagner's 'Ring' Cycle ("Der Ring des Nibelungen"). Composed by Richard Wagner between approximately 1848 to 1874, it comprises a mammoth 15 hours of music, designed to be listened to over four successive performances. The story is an epic about gods, heroes, and mythical beasts, fighting over a magic Ring, created by the dwarf Alberich, that grants domination over the entire world. Hmm, remind anyone of anything? Wagner was a notorious anti-Semite and his music was greatly loved by Hitler. Some of you may remember the helicopter scene in 'Apocalypse Now', set to 'The Ride of the Valkyries'.

From Quiz On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

Answer: The Lord of Misrule

"First of all, the wilde heades of the parish flocking togither, chuse them a graund captaine of mischiefe, whom they innoble with the title of Lord of Misrule; and him they crowne with great solemnity, and adopt for their king. ... This done, they tie aboute either legge twentie or fourtie belles, with riche handkerchiefes in their handes, and sometimes laide acrosse over their shoulders and neckes, borrowed, for the most part, of their pretie mopsies and loving Bessies. Thus all thinges set in order, then have they their hobby horses, their dragons, and other antiques, together with their baudie pipers, and thundring drummers, to strike up the devil's daunce with all." (Source : "The Anatomy of Abuses" by Philip Stubbs, 1586) Note the references to pipers and drummers who are, of course, found at the end of the traditional song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas". The Lord was appointed either for the day of Twelfth Night or for the twelve days of Christmas, or in an older custom, for the entire period from All Saints Day (November 1st) to Twelfth Night. His alternative titles include Abbot of Unreason, Prince des Sots and Christmas Prince.

From Quiz Last Guild Day of Christmas - Candlemas

Answer: Nunc Dimittis

The Nunc Dimittis is usually sung during Vespers, or the Night Prayer Service. Latin Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel English (New International Version, 1973) Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. 'Agnus Dei' means 'Lamb of God.' It is spoken or sung as part of the Mass during the fraction of the Host. The 'Requiem' Mass is a Mass for the dead. Many famous composers have written Requiems, including Mozart, Verdi and Fauré.

From Quiz My True Love Guild To Me - 3rd Day

Answer: A bachelorette party for the bride and her friends

The feminine version of a stag party is no longer the scene of drunken debauchery so much as a dinner out amongst the women friends of the bride but in the UK, you will still find establishments advertising some pretty dicey types of parties and advice. The Red Hat Society is a group of women who have decided to embrace their entry into middle age with flair and wear red hats during their get togethers. Local Chapters exist all around the globe but primarily in English speaking countries. The poem by Jenny Joseph about getting older and wearing a red hat furnished the apparel idea. Believe it or not, there are many gatherings of chicken aficionados, and they have kept some of the French breeds of poultry mentioned in this quiz alive over the years through their efforts. As to the notion of French lingerie and Tupperware at the same party, I don't believe this has happened yet, but perhaps it's an idea to pursue for one stop shopping.

From Quiz My True Love Guild To Me - 7th Day

Answer: immediately before they die

Unlike the trumpeter swans of North America, European swans are mute. We are unwilling to accept that such a beautiful creature doesn't have a voice to match; and so the belief has evolved that the swan sings one song, of surpassing loveliness, when it is at the point of death. The use of "swan-song" for an author's last work or a performer's last appearance strikes me as inappropriate, since it is usually the last of many and not a long-awaited sole example; but the usage is established.

From Quiz On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

Answer: An alcoholic punch

"Next crown a bowl full With gentle lamb's wool: Add sugar, nutmeg and ginger, With store of ale too; And thus ye must do To make the wassail a swinger." (Source : "Twelfth Night: Or, King and Queen" by Robert Herrick) Lamb's wool was a mixture of ale, pureed apples and spices. Twelfth Night and the drinking of alcohol were closely intertwined. Whatever the origins of the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", it is probable that it gained a lot of popularity as a drinking game on this occasion, with forfeits handed out to those unable to remember the words.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 4th Day

Answer: A device for venting pies

Pie birds are hollow ceramic devices, traditionally from Europe. Pie birds are used to prevent a pie from boiling over by allowing steam to escape while the pie is baking. Early versions were plain funnels, but later ones were made into birds, inspired by the nursery rhyme "Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie". Eventually, they developed into all sorts of animals, characters and objects.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 8th Day

Answer: Annatto

Annatto is used to produce a red food colouring and also as a flavouring. It is commonly found in Latin American and Caribbean cuisines.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 11th Day

Answer: Pìobaireachd

There are many types of bagpipe, but the best known is the Great Highland Bagpipe (A' Phìob Mhòr). The GHB is a woodwind instrument, with 4 reeds that are enclosed in the wooden 'stocks.' Ceòl Mòr is the 'great music' played by the Great Highland Bagpipe. Ceòl Beag is the 'light music' (marches and dance tunes). Bòrd na Gàidhlig is a Board appointed by the Scottish Government for promoting the Gaelic language and to increase the number of Gaelic speakers.

From Quiz My True Love Guild to Me - 1st Day

Answer: Barding

Barding consists of laying strips of bacon or other fats over a roast, typically a game bird such as the Christmas partridge that go better in your tummy than in that pear tree jammed into the corner of your front room. In a moment of genius, you seize your plump partridge, cleave it to a respectable serving size, pluck and clean it, then rub it inside and out with a mixture of brandy, lemon juice, salt and ground thyme. You rub your bird with butter, wrap several strips of bacon around it and secure the bacon with toothpicks. Foisting the partridge on a spit, you roast it for 20 to 30 minutes (depending on its size) as your mouth waters. Next, you remove the bacon for the last few minutes so that the partridge browns up nicely. You plop the bird on a plate garnished with parsley or watercress, crisp croutons of bread sautéed in butter, and mushrooms simmered in water with a little lemon juice and sautéed. Dripping the pan juices over the bird and serving with wild rice and red currant jelly, you phone up your chum that gave you the bird and say "fanx" with your mouth full.

From Quiz On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

Answer: William Shakespeare

"Twelfth Night" was written to fit the spirit of the occasion with plenty of drinking, dancing and foolery and was first performed at Candlemas (February 2nd) 1602, the formal end of the Epiphany season in the church calendar. Samuel Pepys first saw the play in September 1661 and was not impressed: "I walking through Lincoln's Fields observed at the Opera a new play, "Twelfth Night" was acted there, and the King there; so I, against my own mind and resolution, could not forbear to go in, which did make the play seem a burthen to me, and I took no pleasure at all in it; and so after it was done went home with my mind troubled for my going thither, after my swearing to my wife that I would never go to a play without her" (Pepys' Diary, September 11th 1661). The latter fault was put right when he saw the play again, in his wife's company, in January 1663. His opinions, though, hadn't changed much: "So to my brother's, where Creed and I and my wife dined with Tom, and after dinner to the Duke's house, and there saw "Twelfth Night" acted well, though it be but a silly play, and not related at all to the name or day" (Pepys' Diary, January 6th 1663).

From Quiz Last Guild Day of Christmas - Candlemas

Answer: Pancakes

There are many traditions to do with pancakes - how to make them, how to cook them, how to flip it in the pan, etc. http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/traditions/candlemas/ Here's a recipe for some American style Buttermilk and Pecan Pancakes: Flavors of the USA Total time: 15 to 30 minutes Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: A few minutes Difficulty: Easy Chef's Note American-style pancakes are served very hot with maple syrup and a knob of butter. Depending on the region, a few drops of vanilla may be added. Hint: Roll the pecans in flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the batter. Ingredients - 500 ml (2 cups) flour - 250 ml (1 cup) buttermilk - 65 ml (1/4 cup) sugar - 125 ml (1/2 cup) pecans or walnuts - 2 eggs - 1/2 tsp. salt (very important) - 3 tsp. baking powder - Vegetable oil - Butter - Brown sugar Method -Place the flour in a bowl; toss 65 ml (1/4 c.) of the pecans in the flour; add the sugar, salt and baking powder; add in the liquid ingredients and stir; do not whisk the mixture; -oil a large cast iron skillet or crêpe pan; heat it; off the heat, pour in half a ladle of the batter, immediately tilting the pan with your other hand to spread the batter evenly; -return to the heat and cook; once the edges begin to colour and you see small bubbles appearing all over the surface, flip the pancake; -cook for a few moments on the other side and slide onto a plate. Keep warm until all the pancakes are cooked; -meanwhile, sauté the remaining pecans in a skillet with a little butter; -serve hot with butter and pecans and sprinkled with brown sugar. http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/recipes/buttermilk-pecan-pancakes/

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Last Updated Jul 04 2024 8:21 PM

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