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ENGLISCH/923: Brainteasers (207) Merry Christmas-Quiz (SB)


B R A I N T E A S E R S - Quizzy Questions (intermediate)


Quizzes and puzzles for learners of English

207 Merry Christmas-Quiz



Father Christmas

Today is Christmas Eve and you as well as other English speaking people will probably be having a cozy evening at home with your families and friends playing games or putting your legs up in front of the telly.

But there's one poor person who has to work overtime tonight: "Father Christmas". Because the English Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in the British Isles and many other English-speaking Countries outside the United States, he has to make sure he gets all those presents to the children before they get up early on this special occasion. Fortunately he has some helpers...

1. Which members of the animal kingdom help Father Christmas to deliver the presents?

2. a) Who is their leader?

b) What is his distinguishing feature

3. Where do they come from?

Raute

Congratulations, you've done it

Solution:

1. Which members of the animal kingdom help Father Christmas to deliver the presents?

reindeer - Rentiere

2. a) Who is their leader?

Rudolph

b) What is his distinguishing feature

He has a glowing red nose

Nearly everybody knows Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer being the hero of the well-known Christmas song. In the United States he is popularly known as "Santa's 9th Reindeer." He first appeared in a 1939 children's booklet written by Robert L. May and published by Montgomery Ward. In the story told there Rudolph is the lead reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. The luminosity of his nose is so great that it illuminates the team's path through inclement winter weather and ensures a save journey.

The story describes Rudolph, a youthful reindeer buck (male) who possesses an unusual luminous red nose, being harassed mercilessly and excluded by his mates for being an outsider. Rudolph manages to prove himself one Christmas Eve after Santa Claus catches sight of Rudolph's nose and asks Rudolph to lead his sleigh for the evening. After this he has gained his mates respect.

In fact in those times the bright red nose was closely associated with chronic alcoholism and drunkards, and so the story idea was rejected at first. The author asked his illustrator friend at Wards, Denver Gillen, to draw a very "cute reindeer". The lovely bouncy character Gillen developed seemed to be socio-cultural acceptable enough so it convinced the management to support the idea of the booklet.

3. Where do they come from?

The North Pole

By the way and in case you wonder: Although he has a quite different origin, in the English-speaking world Father Christmas is now associated with the development in the United States of Santa Claus. Most people consider them to be different names for the same person.

In case you wonder or are getting confused: Although he has a quite different origin, in the English-speaking world Father Christmas is now associated with the development in the United States of Santa Claus, and most people consider them to be different names for the same person.

They both are expected to come down the chimney to put presents under the Christmas tree or in children's rooms, in their stockings. So traditionally a glass of sherry or mulled wine, mince pies, biscuits, or chocolate and a carrot for his reindeer are left near the stocking as a present for him. And that is the most important thing!


24 December 2013