Holidays

Now that the end-of-year holiday rush is past, you have time to think back and reflect. How good is your memory? Most of the following refer to holidays celebrated here in the United States.

PART I: Holidays on the Big and Small Screens

Peanuts

The following questions refer to Peanuts holiday specials on TV (now on video & DVD); some/all are also in book form...

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

1. How did Charlie Brown mess up his Halloween costume?

2. What does Lucy dress up as, and why?

3. According to Linus, how does the Great Pumpkin decide which pumpkin patch to visit?

4. Who wasted her evening waiting for the Great Pumpkin with Linus, and why is this extra pitiful?

5. What does Charlie Brown model at the party?
   

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

6. What does Snoopy set up to serve the food on?

7. What five items make up the Thanksgiving dinner menu?

8. Who are the uninvited guests who are being served such delicacies?
   

A Charlie Brown Christmas

9. Which three animals does Lucy ask Snoopy if he can play in the pageant?

10. What two species does Snoopy temporarily become in "A Charlie Brown Christmas"?

11. The first time "A Charlie Brown Christmas" aired on network TV, which show did it preempt?

12. The first year A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS aired, it finished second in the Nielson ratings for that week. What was FIRST in the ratings?

13. How did animator Bill Melendez end up as the voice of Snoopy?
    

14. In "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown," why can't Charlie Brown enjoy his holiday vacation?

15. Describe the tragic use of echo in "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown."

16. What mistake does Sally Brown make in her school report on Arbor Day, sparking gales of mocking laughter?

Olive, the Other Reindeer (book and TV movie)

These questions refer to the movie unless otherwise noted.

17. Who wrote/illustrated the book?

18. In the book, what almost happens to a sleeping bunny?

19. The book and movie are totally different other than the basic "Olive helps Santa" idea. Name three major differences between the book and the movie. Name seven or more for extra credit.
    

20. How does Olive fix Rhoda's Christmas tree problem?

21. What makes Olive think that Martini is selling fake watches?

22. What are the other hot goods that Martini tries to sell, and where did these come from?

23. What is the name of Olive's pet flea?

24. When the postman tries to take Olive into custody at the bus station, how does Martini (reluctantly) save her?

25. When Martini and Olive finally get onto the bus, who is their driver? Who are the other two characters in the movie with similar names, and what are the derivations of all three characters' names?

26. How do Martini and the Eskimo couple speculate that reindeer are able to fly?

27. What do Martini, Richard, and Olive order at the restaurant?

28. While captive in the mail truck, Olive finds a package addressed to herself that enables her to escape. Who is it from, and what does the package contain? Do the contents function as advertised?

29. When Richard calls the post office to complain about the evil postman, he hangs up in disgust. Why?

30. There's a nice PC addition to the North Pole Village in the movie. What was added that wasn't in the book?

31. What does the sign just inside the entrance to the Top of the World bar say?

32. What's written on the drum kit (ie. which band is playing)?

33. What's wrong with Schnitzel?

34. What does John want for Christmas? The postman?

35. How does Martini get Olive past the Security Elf?

36. Where is Rudolph?

37. Olive tires very quickly when she tries to fly. What does Comet offer her, to perk her up?

38. What does Santa give the Pope?

39. At the end of both the book and the movie, what does Santa give Olive?

From the movie, complete the following and ID the speaker/singer:

40. "What I wouldn't give for ..."
41. "Check out the Marzipan Shack's pre-...!"
42. "Tonight on Fox: the world's wildest ...!"
43. "What's one more pain in my ...?"
44. "Stay away from the North Pole, or I'll ...!"
45. "First, a message from Grandma's..." -- for this one, explain the reference also.
46. "Stow it, ...!"
47. "We're not so bad, 'xept for ..."
48. "Now that we know you: if you ever come again, we promise ... "

49. In the movie, who does the voice of Olive? How about Schnitzel?

Miracle on 34th Street

50. Who is that precocious little girl, anyway?

51. Why did Kris Kringle step in as Santa in the parade?

52. Why didn't Susan want to stand in line with the other kids?

53. How did Kris Kringle get out of trouble?

54. Describe the ending.

Little House on the Prairie

These questions refer to the first few Little House on the Prairie books and the original TV movie (which is now on video)

55. Who or what is Charlotte? Describe/explain.

56. In the book "Little House on the Prairie," why did Laura and Mary think Santa wouldn't visit them?

57. 'Santa Claus is too old and fat. He couldn't make it, where a long, lean razor-back like me could do so.' Who tells Laura this in "Little House on the Prairie," and why is this person at their house?

58. At the beginning of the book "On the Banks of Plum Creek," the Ingalls family has a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner: [p. 81:] "Pa had shot a wild goose for it. Ma had to stew the goose because there was no fireplace, and no oven in the little stove. But she made dumplings in the gravy. There were corn dodgers and mashed potatoes. There were butter, and milk, and stewed dried plums. And three grains of parched corn lay beside each tin plate." But if things were going so well, then why - a little later in that book - do the girls think Santa won't visit them?

Grab Bag

59. What is Rosita doing?
    

60. What was almost the worst year Jingle and Jangle ever had?

61. In "Here Comes Peter Cottontail," who beat Peter Cottontail in the egg-giving competition? What was the final score?

62. What is the last thing the Grinch takes from Cindy Lou Who's house?

63. What three words best describe the Grinch?

64. In "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," how does Kris Kringle turn the Winter Warlock good?

65. The grumpy old Burgermeister Meisterburger bans toys in "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." What's the name of the village he does this in?

66. What does Frosty the Snowman say when he comes to life?

67. In "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," why is the water gun on the Island of Misfit Toys?

68. Conan O'Brien recently revealed that Chanukah is a very difficult time for the only Jewish movie monster. Who is the only Jewish movie monster? And what problem does he have while celebrating the holiday?

69. Which two groups of people compete for the manger, in a cartoon from "TV Funhouse"?

70. Who plays the baby Jesus in the Christmas pageant from "TV Funhouse"?

71. What is this?
    

PART II: Major holidays and memorable dates

72. Was 2002 a Leap Year? Why or why not?

73. What do bunnies and eggs and candy have to do with Easter?

74. Why is it called Passover?

75. What is this? What's it for? Remember, this is a holiday question - we're not talking The Illuminati.
    

76. What is this? When, very specifically, is it used?
    

77. What is the parade that's traditionally shown on TV every year on Thanksgiving day? Where is it held exactly?

78. Draw a full chanukiah. Label it.
    

79. Draw a full kinara.
    

80. Translate: "Ness gadol hayah sham"

81. Identify this item. Then assemble and complete it, and show us how it's used when you turn in this bonus.
    

82. With what food/drink is the Ramadan fast traditionally broken?

83. What is this mark for? What's used to make the mark?
    

84. We all get fat on Thanksgiving. On what other holiday do Americans celebrate FATness?

85. Sweet potato pie, southern fried okra, peanut soup, benne cakes, groundnut stew, just about anything with coconut - when would some combination of these traditionally be eaten together?
    

Identify each image as completely as possible and specify the holiday represented therein. You don't have to give the year.

86.   or 
87.  
88.  
89.  
90.  
91.   and 

    ...and the last one for this section...

92. Are Santa's reindeer male or female? How do you know? What about Rudolph?
    

PART III: Extra credit - TONGAn holidays

93. What 3 days in 2003 are Tongan holidays for the Future, Current, and a Past King?

94. Which of their holidays is similar to our Memorial Day?

95. What is their predominant religion? Who is in charge of it?