- Presepe in Italy refers to what Christmas tradition?
- Which of the Wise Men was said to have brought the gift of gold for the baby Jesus?
- The Christmas period of 1813-14 saw the last what in London?
- In Victorian England what people were popularly called robins because of their red uniforms?
- What animal is Snowball in George Orwell’s book Animal Farm?
- Yorkshireman William Strickland is believed to have brought the first what to Britain from North America in 1526?
- What is the biggest selling Christmas single of all time?
- Every year in November Sinterklaas, the Dutch Father Christmas, arrives in Holland. Where does he come from and how does he get to Holland?
PARWICH.ORG 
A few guesses:
3. The River Thames froze over for the last time.
5. A pig.
7. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid.
Mike, how on Earth did you know the answer to question 7? Have you some how seen a pre-print copy of a certain national newspaper?
Is that the correct answer though….?
In relation to Q.7, it’s not the answer on our question list.
(NB Also Mike’s answer to Q.3 is not quite there. The Thames did freeze over that Christmas, but it is not the answer we are looking for.)
That mouse is like something off Dr. Who.
(- not an answer to a question, just an observation).
1. Preseppi refers to the crib or nativity which is the centre of attention in all Catholic countries. They are often set up in the village square as well as in homes and churches. Traditionally the figures have been carved out of wood and these specialist wood carvers are respected as important artist/craftsmen. The carved animals and figures can cost hundreds of euros each and handed down through the generations.
7. Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’
8. Sinterklass ( St Nicholas) comes from Spain on a white lusitano horse.
I think!
2. Melchior
4. postmen
6. I was tempted by potato, but as this is a seasonal quiz I’ll go for turkey
The correct answers so far:
1. A CRIB (NATIVITY SCENE)
2. MELCHIOR
3. –
4. POSTMEN
5. A PIG
6. TURKEY
7. WHITE CHRISTMAS
8. FROM SPAIN ON A ? (He may bring a horse with him, certainly it is an appealing image, but it is not the prime means of transport)
So just one and a half questions still to get.
8. Okay Quiz Master – whose being picky? He comes with a white horse and his helper ( can’t remember his name but he is a bit scary) and they all get on a steam ship to get to Holland -but he then rides into town on his white horse.
3. As you are in the mood for perfect answers Quiz Master- is it something related to Mike’s answer? For instance because the Thames froze over people could walk under the bridges? Or is something more obscure?
Question 3: Was it the last time that a fair was held on the frozen Thames?
Yes, for (3) we were looking for the last fair held on the frozen Thames and for (8) the steam ship.
I was being picky about the steam ship because of the wonderful image of Sinterklaas traveling from his palace in Madrid by steam boat, and curiosity about how this had developed. Does anyone one know why the Dutch Santa Claus lives in Holland and has a relatively modern means of transport?
Don’t know about that but having been there about three years ago, I do know that the whole of Holland seems to use it as an excuse for three weeks of partying and pranks ending in a final orgy of dressing up, playing tricks and eating. Shop assistants, waiters,taxi drivers et al seem to enter into the spirit of things. By sheer coincidence we found ourselves in a themed pancake house (at least forty different kinds of pancakes – starters, maincourse and pudding) on December the 5th and were taken joyfully to heart by about fifty children and their parents dressed up in fancy dress, playing pranks and exchanging silly presents. The pancake house gave everyone a silly soft toy which has now travelled the world in the horsebox.