🎅 "We wish you a Merry Christmas"🎄🎁🍾🥂
- Simon O'Donovan
- Dec 7, 2024
- 18 min read
Here are some suggested activities to dip into for a Christmas themed CST Group.
Start the session by pulling a Christmas cracker together and putting on the hats and reading the jokes.
DISCUSSION TOPICS
Ask members the following questions, to promote discuss and recall.
- Things you most like about Christmas?
- The best or most memorable Christmas you ever had?
- The best Christmas present you ever got?
- The best Christmas present you ever gave?
- Your favourite Christmas food and drink?
- Your favourite Christmas songs?
IDIOMS
Ask members to complete the following phrases ...
Jesus Mary and - JOSEPH (And the wee little donkey!)
Away in a - MANGER
Three wise - MEN
The holly and the - IVY
Mulled - WINE
Underneath the - MISTLETOE
Good King - WENCESLAS
Rudolf the red nose - REINDEER
Robin - REDBREAST
Father - CHRISTMAS
Santa - CLAUS
Jack - FROST
Snow - FLAKE, BALL
White - CHRISTMAS
Ebenezer - SCROOGE
Advent - CALENDAR, CANDLE
Carol - SERVICE
Nativity - PLAY
Midnight - MASS
Cranberry - SAUCE
Sage and onion - STUFFING
Brussels - SPROUTS
Mince - PIES
Chocolate - LOG/COINS
Jingle - BELLS
Fairy - LIGHTS
Wrapping - PAPER/PRESENTS
King's - SPEECH
Christmas - TREE, DECORATIONS, CAROL, CRACKER, PRESENT, PUDDING, CAKE, EVE, DAY
Boxing - DAY
'Tis the season - TO BE JOLLY
We wish you a - MERRY CHRISTMAS (AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR)
Our first song, to get us in the right mood for the festive season is 'It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas', sung by Michael Buble - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUiHsJrRNGE * LYRICS *
CHRISTMAS PAST
Next, discuss Christmas Past. Ask people to list things which remind them of Christmas. Here's a list to get things going:
IN THE RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS (ADVENT)
- Writing and receiving Christmas cards
- Posting letters to Santa
- Opening the Advent Calendar each day
- Decorating the Christmas tree, with tinsel and baubles
- Placing the angel, or robin, on top of the tree
- Putting up the crib
- Making paper chain decorations
- Twisting crepe paper trimmings
- Putting up the fairy lights
- Christmas and New Year Radio Times
- Picking holly and ivy
- Making a Blue Peter Advent Lantern
- Carol singers coming to the door
- Nativity Play in school
- Carol Service
- Peeling shallots for pickled onions
- Making a Christmas cake
- Baking mince pies
CHRISTMAS EVE
- Putting presents under the tree
- Putting the Christmas stocking at the foot of the bed
- Leaving a glass of milk and a minced pie for Father Christmas, and a carrot for Rudolph
- Carols from Kings
- Stuffing the turkey
- Peeling the veg
- Excitement
- Counting the hours
- Praying for snow
- Not being able to sleep
- Midnight mass
CHRISTMAS DAY
- Early mornings, excited children
- Christmas breakfast
- Bucks fizz
- Opening presents
- Selection box
- Christmas Annual
- Christmas jumper
- Socks from Granny
- Laying the table
- Pulling Christmas crackers
- Turkey, ham hock and beef
- Pigs in blankets
- Lumpy gravy
- Cranberry sauce
- Sprouts, and their after effects
- Flaming Christmas pudding
- Queens Speech
- The Christmas film (maybe list some films which people have enjoyed over the holidays * see below)
- Mince pies and Christmas cake
- Tangerines
- Nuts in a bowl and a nutcracker, which were always left over
- After Eights or a Chocolate Orange
- Tin of 'Family Circle' biscuits or 'Quality Street'
- A cup of Christmas cheer, such as warmed Mulled Wine, Hot Butter Rum or Irish coffee
- Common tipples were Baby Cham, Mateus Rose, Black Tower, Blue Nun, Snowball, a glass of Sherry or Port or Cherry brandy
- Too much alcohol and food and everyone asleep after dinner
- A kiss under the mistletoe
BOXING DAY
- Christmas sales
- Cold meats and pickles
- Bubble and squeak
- Turkey sandwiches for days afterwards
- Turkey curry
- Playing with games
- Watching even more TV
- Resting
- Going to the races
- Having drinks or parties
Singalong ...
'The 12 Days Of Christmas', The Spinners - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX0ehZan4lk
The above picture should serve as a lyric guide ...
How many birds are there in the last verse of the song?
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
By way of celebration, here is a 'Christmas Picture Quiz' to use for a CST group session, with some music suggestions thrown in. The quiz encourages reminiscence about Christmases past. Alternatively, you could use it for a family activity after Christmas dinner.
Happy Christmas to subscribers, followers and friends.
Nadolig Llawen
ROUND 1. Nature
 | Name these two Christmas shrubs? Which Christmas song do they feature in? |
 | Name this poisonous parasite (you should never eat any part of it)? What are you supposed to do with it? |
 | Name this Christmas flower? (Has anyone ever managed to make it flower the following year?) |
 | Which two animals are associated with the Christmas story? Which two carols are they featured in? |
 | Name the bird? Which Victorian workers were named after this bird & hence came the association with Christmas? |
 | How many sides does a snowflake always have? Which carol includes the line "When the snow lay round about, Deep, and crisp, and even."? |
 | A Christmas tree is usually what type of evergreen (three names)? Trees that keep their leaves over winter are called what? |
 | Name this animal? They are one of only three animals in the UK which sleep over winter. What is this process called? (The other two are bats and dormice.) |
 | What bird, pictured here, is after the cream? Which vehicle used to deliver our milk? (They were the first electric vehicles and were well ahead of their time.) |
 | Name this animal? What are they called in North America? (Factoid. If you look at one of these animals through a thermal camera their noses are in fact red.) |
'Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer', The Crystals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-UyRHNwpQ4
What were the names of the nine reindeer in 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'?
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer Had a very shiny nose And if you ever saw it You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer Used to laugh and call him names They never let poor Rudolph Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say "Rudolph with your nose so bright, Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him As they shouted out with glee Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer You'll go down in history
Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say "Rudolph with your nose so bright, Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him As they shouted out with glee Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer You'll go down in history You'll go down in history.
ROUND 2. Christmas Food & Drink
 | How do you make a 'Buck's Fizz'? What is YOUR favourite cocktail? |
 | Name this starter (including the fruit)? What sauce is it served with? |
 | Why do sprouts make you fart? Which nut are they often served with? |
 | How do you tell if a cranberry is ripe? a. How red it is b. How high it bounces? c. Whether it floats in water? |
 | Does eating turkey make you sleepy? Or is it being full? Or the alcohol? |
 | Which part of a turkey or chicken is lucky? Who gets the luck? |
 | What alcohol do you set aflame on a Christmas pudding? Which coin was traditionally baked into one? |
 | What is the yellow layer of a Christmas cake? Which nut is it made from? |
 | How do you make mulled wine? What is the German name for it? |
 | Name the nuts in this selection? Do you eat nuts at Christmas? |
Who invented Champagne and in which century?
Here are some hilarious clips of 'Fanny Craddock At Christmas' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q-_J5-XadM
SINGALONG. 'The Christmas Song', Nat King Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKhRnZZ0cJI
"Folks dressed up like Eskimos..." What is the correct name for the indigenous Eskimo people?
Where would you find them? - OR - What is the name of the snow and ice house they build?
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a choir And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe Help to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight They know that Santa's on his way He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every mother's child is gonna spy To see if reindeers really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from one to ninety-two Although it's been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you
And so I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from one to ninety-two Although it's been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you
ROUND 3. Classic Christmas TV
 | Where does the carol concert come live from every Christmas Eve? What is YOUR favourite carol? |
 | Where does the Royal Family spend Christmas? What time was Her Majesty on TV on Christmas Day?
|
 | Name the Christmas special? Who came out from behind their news desk to dance in 1976? Here is the clip - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00bpkwp |
 | Name the Christmas special? Name the characters? Comedy clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXcMbR_QRZU |
 | Name this Christmas special? Which characters are dressed as Batman & Robin? Comedy clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEVeZU6nLe0&t=10s |
 | Name this Christmas special? Name the characters? Comedy clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aq3DNSF-jc |
 | Name this Christmas special? What was the name of the dog, who was rescued on Christmas Day 1989?
|
 | Name the Christmas special? Name the characters? Comedy clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFc_K2zCst4 |
 | In which American TV Christmas special did Ross dress up for his son? What was he dressed as? (Does anyone remember the episode when Rachel made trifle with minced meat?) |
 | Name the Christmas special? Name the characters? In which Welsh seaside town was it set? Comedy clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcAUKOICPn4 |
SINGALONG. 'Jingle Bells', Frank Sinatra - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLf0-lro8X8
What was Frank Sinatra's nickname?
Round 4. Christmas Day Movies
 | Name the 1946 Christmas movie? Name the main character and the angel? Carol link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfBAm-TnPks
|
 | Name the 1951 Christmas movie? Name the four ghosts? Carol link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4MV4RLgFvE
|
 | The 1942 movie this 1953 remake was based on was called what? What were the actors' names? Clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMTd1X9c6kg |
 | Name the 1982 Christmas movie? Who wrote the 1978 book it was based on? Clip 'Walking In The Air' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upH1QZU4Z0Y&t=68s |
 | Name the 1984 Christmas movie? What should you never do, to avoid the Mogwai becoming little demons? |
 | Name the 1990 Christmas movie? Who did the family leave behind and where did they go? Clip 'Oh Holy Night' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hczyxCbVtR8&t=3s |
 | Name the 1994 Christmas movie? Who starred in it? Clip - 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a8fpv8gGhY |
 | Name the 2001 Christmas movie? Name the characters & actors? Clip - 'All By Myself' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8iTZm8-mbA |
 | Name the 2003 Christmas movie? Name the actor? Clip 'Baby It's Cold Outside' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7RMy7Vg0LU |
 | Name the 2018 Christmas movie? Name the actor? |
'White Christmas', Bing Crosby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ZC45Q82pg
Where does snow have to fall for it to be declared a 'White Christmas'?
Who wrote this musical?
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write "May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white
Round 5. Christmas Carols
You could use this music with the readings below to hold a 'Carol Concert'. Make sure to print off lyric sheets.
👼 'Away In A Manger', Claire Crosby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_wRmxQmU_o
What is a model of the stable and manger, that many of us display at Christmas, called?
⭐️ 'Silent Night', Sinead O'Connor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq5FAbdkZg4
What language was this carol written in?
🎅 'The First Noel', Josh Groban - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDeOmxccsD0
Can you name some famous Noels?
❄️ 'In The Bleak Midwinter', Jamie Cullum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ELQ0ZoUkFM
Which name is associated with frost?
'Once In Royal David's City', Libera - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze-Z3j0mErs
Where is 'Royal David's city'?
🍷 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen', Pentatonix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku7ohU1IGls
Name some Christmas drinks?
😇 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing', Carols From Kings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bwn0k0k8xI
What does 'Hark' mean?
🐴 'Little Donkey', The Beverley Sisters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx1_a3vPxL4
What are male and female donkeys called?
🔔 'O Come All Ye Faithful', The Chieftains - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJSMr239C1c
Who will be going to Midnight Mass or a Carol Concert this year?
👶 'When A Child Is Born', Johnny Mathis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCqhX89WV_0
What does the word 'Nativity' mean?
🎄 'Mary's Boy Child', Boney M - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmm1gt_2SkQ&t=42s
What was the name of the angel who nine months before the birth of Jesus tells Mary, "Fear not, thou hast found favour with God”?
('Feast Of The Annunciation')
🥁 'Little Drummer Boy', David Bowie & Bing Crosby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCpXMy5GalI
Name some drums?
🐫 'We Three Kings', The Beach Boys - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiilNhApyQM
What gifts did the 'Three Wise Men' bring to Bethlehem?
What were their names?
('Feast Of The Epiphany')
👑 'Good King Wenceslas', The Irish Rovers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-b4bo4YOvQ
What day is the 'Feast Of Stephen'?
🐑 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks', Trinity College Choir - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ud6BoAE4wI
It is widely thought that the 'Star Of Bethlehem' was in fact which planet?
Some Christmas Readings
READING. 'A Child's Christmas In Wales', Dylan Thomas (Read by Michael Sheen) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVunVzveQd4
READING: 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'. Read by Clement Clarke Moore - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hilcNtDjr8c
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering sight should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof—
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlfull of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill'd all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."
Round 6. Christmas Hits
⛄️ 'Merry Christmas Everyone', Shakin' Stevens - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-PyWfVkjZc
In his other hit, what colour door was he behind?
🎁 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day', Wizard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJPc7esgvsA
Who founded 'Wizzard' and was their lead singer (he also co-founded E.L.O.)?
🎄 'Merry Christmas Everybody', Slade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTslBTBl1X8
What was the name of the lead singer?
🚘 'Driving Home For Christmas', Chris Rea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBhlA1Kmys
He had another hit about a road to where?
🎅 'Do They Know It's Christmas', Band Aid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3fSknbR7Y4
Which two pop stars formed 'Band Aid'?
🔫 'Stop The Cavalry', Jona Lewie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HkJHApgKqw
In another hit, in which room would you always find him?
🎄 'Wonderful Christmastime', Paul McCartney - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Ye-3C1FC8
What his other Christmas hit with 'Wings'?
🍷 'Mistletoe And Wine', Cliff Richard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZCEBibnRM8
What was his 1990 Christmas number 1?
👮♀️ 'Fairytale Of New York', The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
What does 'N.Y.P.D.' stand for?
💋 'All I Want For Christmas Is You', Maria Carey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY
This song featured in the film 'Love Actually'. Who played the newly elected Prime Minister and his girlfriend in that film?
✌️ 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over)', John Lennon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_kj60DIq2M
Who co-wrote this song?
🦌 'Last Christmas', Wham - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI
Name the two singer-songwriters in 'Wham'?
👩🚀 'A Spaceman Came Travelling', Chris De Burgh - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmZg7tvGN9o
What star sign was Jesus?
🎅 'I Believe In Father Christmas', Greg Lake - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfY4b1NszpY
What are Father Christmas's other names?
BEST EVER CHRISTMAS ADVERTS
Next run the following YouTube Playlist and ask members to choose the 'Best TV Christmas Advert Ever'. Rank them as you go along.
- 2013 John Lewis ‘The Hare And The Bear’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW2EmATcb6o
- 2014 Sainsbury ‘Christmas Truce’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWF2JBb1bvM
- 2014 John Lewis ‘Monty The Penguin’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kkfYYB0Rao
- 2014 Mulberry 'Win Christmas' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK0fKEvgXJo
- 2015 Sainsbury 'Mog's Christmas Calamity' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuRn2S7iPNU&t=72s
- 2016 John Lewis ‘Buster The Boxer’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8hXrsOx-cs
- 2017 M&S ‘Paddington And The Christmas Visitor’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfaSxIkLslE
- 2017 BBC ‘Single Dad’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PstSiTCk74
- 2017 Waitrose ‘Christmas Together’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in8XhKocXlM
- 2019 John Lewis 'Edgar The Dragon' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xGW_M0O4xI
- 2022 John Lewis 'The Beginner' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z0jfP2gCIs
- 2018 'He Nicked My Irn Bro' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yZOab5gl-4
- 2020 Coca Cola 'The Letter' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARGMY28oBto
("I seem to have something in my eye" 🥹)
BEST EVER CHRISTMAS CRACKER JOKES
To continue the tone of good humour and festive spirit, ask members to complete or rate the following 'Best Ever Christmas Cracker Jokes'.
🎄 How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas? 🎁 One that's deep pan, crisp and even! | 🎄 What did Adam say to his wife on the day before Christmas? 🎁 It's Christmas, Eve! |
🎄 How many letters are in the Christmas alphabet? 🎁 25. There’s "no EL"! | 🎄 What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? 🎁 Tinsilitis! |
🎄 What does the Queen call her Christmas Broadcast? 🎁 The One Show! | 🎄How did Mary and Joseph know that Jesus was 7lb 6oz when he was born? 🎁 They had a weigh in a manger! |
🎄 What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? 🎁 Frostbite! | 🎄 What do you call a blind reindeer? 🎁 No eye deer! |
🎄 Why was the snowman looking through the carrots? 🎁 He was picking his nose. | 🎄 Why did Santa's helper have to see the Psychologist? 🎁 Low elf esteem. |
🎄 Why did the scarecrow get a promotion? 🎁 He was outstanding in his field. | 🎄 How will Christmas dinner be different after Brexit? 🎁 No Brussels. |
🎄 What’s round and bad tempered? 🎁 A vicious circle. | 🎄 Why are pirates called pirates? 🎁 Because they arrrrrrr! |
🎄 What goes "Oh, Oh, Oh"? 🎁 Santa walking backwards. | 🎄 What do you call a woman who stands between two goal posts? 🎁 Annette. |
🎄 Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? 🎁 A mince spy. | 🎄 Why did no-one bid for Rudolph and Blitzen on eBay? 🎁 Because they were two deer. |
🎄 Why couldn’t the skeleton go to the Christmas party? 🎁 He had no body to go with. | 🎄 What do you call a train loaded with toffee? 🎁 A chew chew train. |
🎄 Why are Christmas trees very bad at knitting? 🎁 Because they always drop their needles. | 🎄 Why did the pony have to gargle?
🎁 Because it was a little horse.
|
🎄 What do snowmen have for breakfast? 🎁 Snowflakes. | 🎄 What does Miley Cyrus have for her Christmas dinner? 🎁 Twerky. |
🎄 What did Cinderella say when her photos didn’t arrive on time? 🎁 One day my prints will come. | 🎄 What did Santa do when he went speed dating? 🎁 He pulled a cracker. |
🎄 What do you call a boomerang that does not come back? 🎁 A stick. | 🎄 My wife rearranged all the herbs in the cupboard. I asked "how do you find the time?" 🎁 She said "Next to the sage." |
🎄 What do you call a line of men waiting for a haircut? 🎁 A barber queue. | 🎄 Who is Santa's favourite singer? 🎁 Elfis Presley. |
🎄 Why has Santa been banned from sooty chimneys? 🎁 Carbon footprints. | 🎄 How did King Charles III sign his Christmas cards to his family? 🎁 The Artist Formerly Known As Prince. |
🎄 Why are the Government having problems with their own version of the Christmas Nativity? 🎁 They can’t find three wise men. | 🎄 What do people heating their homes and wrapping paper have in common this Christmas? 🎁 Both of them are getting ripped off. |
Final song ...
'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zflY5K63-wM
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES
Buy small Christmas presents, for example selection boxes, and some sellotape and wrapping paper. Wrap presents together, so that everyone takes a gift home with them to give to their loved one.
Make Christmas Cards, purchasing the card, coloured pens, stickers and stamps etc to help people along the way. Hobby Craft or a similar shop is a great resource.
Sing Christmas Carols together. Prepare music sheets.
Refreshments. Make a Mulled Wine (with non alcoholic red wine, sliced oranges, a teaspoon of five spice and some lemonade to sweeten - warm it in a pan) and enjoy a glass of this with a mince pie.
Ice a ready made Christmas cake. Use a coating of apricot jam, a layer of marzipan, ready made icing and cake decorations. Share this later in the session, or have people take a slice home with them.
Make some old fashioned Christmas decorations, out of crepe paper or paper chains.
7 swans-a-swimming, 6 geese-a-laying, 4 colly birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (23 birds)
Round 1 Answers
Holly & Ivy / 'The Holy And The Ivy'
Mistletoe / Kiss under it
Ponsettia
Sheep & Donkey / 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks' & 'Little Donkey'
Robin Red Breast / The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in Victorian times. Royal Mail Postmen, who wore bright red uniforms, delivered these cards. This earned them the nickname of 'redbreast'. Hence the association with Christmas was made.
Six / 'In The Bleak Midwinter'
Christmas Trees are usually Spruce, Fir or Pine / Evergreen
Hedgehog / Hibernation
Blue Tit / Milk Float
Reindeer / Caribou
Rudolf, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donna & Blitzen
Round 2 Answers
Orange juice & Champagne, in equal measure
Prawn Cocktail & Avocado / Marie Rose
Sprouts make you fart because they contain a type of carbohydrate (raffinose) that your body can't easily break down. Bacteria in the large intestine work hard to, but this process creates a lot of gas. (Blame the dog, I always do!) / Chestnuts
The 'Bounce Test', 4 inches without splatting is ideal
True. Turkey contains a natural sedative called 'Tryptophan', although the alcohol consumed probably also contributes to the effect
Wishbone (The person getting the luck is the one who after breaking it gets the larger piece)
Brandy / Sixpence (Tanner)
Marzipan / Almonds
According to 'BBC Good Food', the ingredients for 'Mulled Wine' are
- 750ml bottle red wine
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 4 cloves
- 2 strips lemon zest, pared using a vegetable peeler
- 4 tbsp caster sugar
- orange slices
The German name is 'Gluhwein'
Hazel Nuts, Almond, Walnuts & Brazil nuts
The French monk Dom Perignon, in 1697
Innuit / Greenland / Igloo
Round 3 Answers
King's College, Cambridge
Sandringham / 3pm
'Morecombe And Wise' / Angela Rippon
'The Good Life' / Tom & Barbara Good and Jerry & Margo Leadbetter
'Only Fools And Horses' / Del Boy & Rodney Trotter
'Vicar Of Dibley' / Geraldine Grainger & Jim Trott ("Yes yes yes, No!")
'The Simpsons' / Santa's Little Helper
'The Royale Family' / Jim, Barbara, Denise, Dave, Anthony & Nana
'Friends' / Ross dressed up as an Armadillo for his son Ben
'Gavin & Stacey', with Nessa & Smithy / Barry Island
'Old Blue Eyes'
Round 4 Answers
'It's A Wonderful Life' / George Bailey (James Stewart) & Clarence Odbody
'Scrooge' / Alastair Sim / Jacob Marley, Christmas Past, Present & Future
'Holiday Inn' / Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Mary Ellen & Danny Kaye
'The Snowman', Raymond Briggs
'Gremlins' / Do not expose the mogwai to light, especially sunlight, which will kill it; do not let it come in contact with water; and above all, never feed it after midnight
'Home Alone' / Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) / Paris
'Miracle On 34th Street' / Richard Attenborough
'Bridget Jones's Diary' / Rene Zellwegger & Colin Firth (Mark Darcy)
'Elf' / Will Ferrell
'The Grinch' / Benedict Cumberbatch (Jim Carrey starred in the first 2000 movie)
The definition that the Met Office used to use to define a white Christmas was for snow to fall on the Met Office building in London. Today though only one snowflake has to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.
Irving Berlin
Round 5 Answers
A model of the stable and manger is called a CRIB
'Silent Night' was written in German
Some famous Noels - Gordon, Edmonds, Gallagher & Fielding
The name associated with frost is JACK FROST
'Royal David's city' is BETHLEHEM
Some Christmas drinks - MULLED WINE, SNOWBALL, EGGNOG, CHAMPAGNE ETC
'Hark' means 'LISTEN'
Male and female donkeys are called JACKS & JENNIES
'Nativity' means 'BIRTH'
The angel at the 'Feast Of The Annunciation' was GABRIEL
Some drums - SNARE, BONGO, TIMPANI, BASE, TOMTOM
The three gifts were GOLD, FRANKINCENSE & MYRHH
The 'Magi' were MELCHIOR from Persia, GASPAR from India & BALTHAZAR from Arabia
The 'Feast Of Stephen' is BOXING DAY
It is widely thought that the 'Star Of Bethlehem' was in fact JUPITER
Round 6 Answers
Behind the GREEN DOOR
ROY WOOD founded 'Wizzard' and E.L.O.
'Slade's' lead singer was NODDY HOLDER
Road to HELL
Midge Are & Bob Geldof formed 'Band Aid'
Always in THE KITCHEN at a party
His other Christmas hit with 'Wings' was 'MULL OF KINTYRE'
His 1990 Christmas number 1 was 'SAVIOUR'S DAY'
'N.Y.P.D.' stands for 'NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT'
HIGH GRANT & MARTINE MCCUTCHEON starred as the newly elected Prime Minister and his girlfriend
YOKO co-wrote this song
The two singer-songwriters in 'Wham' were GEORGE MICHAEL & ANDREW RIDGELEY
Jesus's star sign was CAPRICORN
Father Christmas's other names are SANTA CLAUS, SAINT NICHOLAS & KRIS KRINGLE
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