Angela's Seasonal Xmas Quiz for travellers

 Where will you find a black cake at Christmas? What does Feliz Navidad mean? 

Do the quiz and check the answers to compare the number you get right with other members of your friends and family.  Learn the answers, and get all completely right by doing the quiz again.

See how many points you get. I hope it is not pointless.

 A The word croissant means

1 Crescent, in French

2 Cooked, in French

3 Cross shaped in French

4 Crescent in Italian 

B Spumante means

1 Sparkling in Italian

2 Sparkling in French

3 Spilled in Spanish

C Rosé means

1 Rose coloured in French

2 Rose shaped in Spanish

3 Rose perfumed in Italian

D Whiskey

1 Comes from Scotland

2 Comes from Ireland and America

3 Comes from Native Indians

E Whisky

1 Comes from Scotland

2 Comes from Ireland

3 Comes from Antarctica

F Christmas Pudding

1 Traditionally contains only a silver sixpence

2 Traditionally contains a three penny bit, sixpence, pea, bean or thimble

3 Traditionally contains a gold coin or gold foil wrapped fruit

Xmas crackers

G Christmas Crackers

1 Are named after the sound they make when pulled

2 Are named after the two creases

3 Are named after their appearance when pulled apart

H Christmas Crackers were invented by 

1 Tom Smith

2 Tom Jones

3 Billy Bunter

I In England at Christmas at tea time you eat

1 Christmas cake

2 Mince Pies

3 Christmas cake or mince pies

J The Yule Log comes from

1 England

2 Scotland

2 France

K Stollen comes from

1 Germany

2 Russia

3 Canada

L Panettone comes from

1 Spain and Italy

2 France and Portugal

3 Australia and New Zealand

M At Christmas in Belize they eat

1 White cake

2 Black cake, sometimes with Yellow cake

3 Green cake 

N Champagne comes from

1 France

2 Spain

3 Italy

4 France, and the USA under license

O Cava comes from

1 France

2 Spain

3 Italy

P Prosecco comes from

1 Spain

2 Italy

3 Portugal

Q Sherry comes from

1 France

2 Spain

3 Madeira

R Madeira comes from

1 Spain

2 Madeira which is Portuguese

3 Italy

S Christmas Day is Dec 25

1 In the lunar calendar

2 In the Gregorian Calendar

3 In the Julian Calendar

T Dec 26 Is

1 Boxing Day only

2 St Stephen's Day only

3 Both Boxing Day and St Stephen's Day in different countries

U A hanukiah is

1 The same as the menorah - 7 branches, for 7 days of the week

2 Has only 8 branches, for the 8 day festival

3 Has 9 branches, 8 plus the helper candle to light the others

V

Champagne is 

1 The shape of the bottle

2 A region of France and name of the drink

3 The name of the man who invented the bubbly drink

4 The name of a grape

W The Star of David (Jewish star, also called the seal of Solomon by Moslems)_

1 Has 5 points

2 Has 8 points

3 Has six points

4 Has any number of points

X Feliz Navidad is Spanish for

1 Happy Birthday

2 Congratulations

3 Happy New Year

4 Happy Christmas

Y Traditionally in the UK you kiss under

1 Holly

2 Mistletoe

3 The Christmas tree

Z What is the official name of the UK royal broadcast on Christmas Day

1 The Queen's Speech or the King's Speech

2 The Christmas message because the Queen's Speech or King's Speech opens Parliament

Answers

A1 B1 C1 D2 E1 F1 G1 H1 I3 J2 K1 l  L1 M2 N1

O2 P2 Q2 R2 S2 T3 U3 V2 W3 X4 Y2 Z2

-ends-

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Kilburn Station's beautiful bridge

 

Kilburn station railway bridge over the road. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The letters spell out Metropolitan Railway. The date is 1914. 

More information from

Websites on Kilburn Station

London Transport

Wikipedia

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The Reason For The Eight Lights and Fewer On the Hanukiahs worldwide

Singapore Hanukah Lights

I remember seeing a giant Hanukiah in central Orchard Road in Singapore. Only three candles were lit. I thought, 'What a shame. They have spent a lot of money making that lovely sculpture, monument, and the electrics have failed.'

I did not realise that it was the third day of Hanukah so three lights are lit. I discovered this when a girl from London arrived to stay and she had brought with her a candelabra, a candle holder, and a set of candles, which she left with me as a gift.

London Lights For Hanukah

 In Central London the best known location is Trafalgar Square. It has the largest Hanukiah in Europe. The lights are lit up from the first day of Hanukah, on December 14 until the last day, eight days later, Dec 22.

 Hanukah is a Jewish festival, celebrating the lighting of the candles in the temple in Jerusalem, when Jews were able to rededicate the temple after the Roman leader had tried to install Roman Gods. The story goes that there was not enough pure oil, the Romans had sacrificed a pig, deliberately to desecrate the temple. I don't know why it was so difficult to get a supply of oil. However, it seems that it took eight days, but the little oil they had which should have lasted only one day, lasted eight days, a miracle.

The Candles of  Hanukiah

The festival is also called the Festival of Lights. On the first day, one candle is lit. One the second day a second candle. Until on the last day all eight are lit.

Sets of Candles

If you buy hanukiah and a set of candles, you will have a box of 44 candles. Not just eight. Why so many? I automatically tried to add them up, 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8, plus 8 more for the central, more rarely on the side, candle used to light the others. The usual way of counting is starting with two on day one, the first candle and the helper candle, called a shamach. 1+1=2,  ... 8+1=9.

Oil Based Food

In synagogues and other places where celebrations are held. oil based food, usually donuts, is served. Greeting cards will show oil and oil based food.

 Often children are supplied with kits to make a hanukiah during the 8 days, on the first day. You may have to go early and sign up in advance, because the number of kits may depend on the budget for the number of children expected.

Did Jesus Celebrate Hanukah?

Yes. Jesus celebrated the festival, the Feast of Dedication, as it was then called, as recorded in the New Testament in the gospel of John 10.22.

Useful Websites About Hanukah

Wikipedia Hanukah

Haukah candles

Hanukah history

Update on Dec 15 2025

https://www.thetimes.com/world/australasia/article/sydney-shooting-antisemitism-attack-jewish-holiday-chanukkah-zkk6dvt7d

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Where Can You See Hanukah Symbols And Lights In London?

 In Central London the best known location is Trafalgar Square. It has the largest Hanukiah in Europe.

The lights are lit up from the first day of Hanukah, on December 14 until the last day, eight days later, Dec 22. 

Out in the suburbs, I saw lights 

1 In front of Edgware station, 

2 In Stanmore, approaching from the station, on the right as you reach the shops.

3 On a roundabout near Brent Cross Shopping Mall.

Nine branch hanukiah and Happy Chanukah sign. Near Brent Cross Shopping Mall. Photo by Angela Lansbury. The large device is electric. The smaller sign on the poster is stylized  but suggests wax candles with flames.

Six point star on mine tart at The Plaice To Eat in John Lewis department store, Brent Cross shopping mall. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

4 You will see several displays inside shops. For example, John Lewis in Brent Cross, in the crockery department. 

Happy Hanukah, at John Lewis department store, Brent Cross shopping mall. Table display. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The Hanukiah And Menorah - What's The Difference?

The menorah is used on Friday nights, with seven candles for the seven days of the week.

The Hanukiah is used during the eight day festival of Hanukah. It has more candle holders, eight, plus the central or end holder for the candle which lights the others.

How Do You Spell Hanukah?

I have seen the simplest spelling, Hanukah, also Hannukah, and Chanukah. When the word is translated from Hebrew into English, there is not standard spelling, the same as translating names and words from Indian languages and other languages.

Hanukah is the festival. Hanukiah is the candelabra.

Useful Websites For Hanukah Lights In London

Brent Cross

Edgware

Golders Green

John Lewis

Stanmore

See next post for the history of Hanukah.

Update on Dec 15 2025

https://www.thetimes.com/world/australasia/article/sydney-shooting-antisemitism-attack-jewish-holiday-chanukkah-zkk6dvt7d

Pillar box yarn bomb topper showing Santa

 Santa yarn bomb topper on pillar box at Royston Grove. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

On the corner of Royston Grove, near The Avenue, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex, England, UK, in North West London. The nearest station is Hatch End on the Lioness line, from Euston to Watford.

You can also see an example on the post box by the bus stop in Long Elmes. Another is visible from the Uxbridge Road on the north side.

See my other posts on pillar box toppers.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box_topper

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Post_box_toppers_in_England

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More Wine Society Delight

 

Free coffee for drivers and other non drinkers. 

All sorts of wine related gifts to buy such as the six bottle wine carriers.

Wine Society - maps of wine areas, wine aromas set, Rothschild bottle labels by famous artists, free tasting

 It costs forty pounds a year to join, and you get free delivery on their wines.

The showroom in Stevenage is a fun place.

A free tasting of a wine they are promoting.

Light fittings featuring upside down wine glasses.

Events listed on the notice board.

The Vintage Room. Has a poster of the Rothchild wine labels designed by famous artists such as Dali and Picasso.

The glass reveals the spiral staircase down to a wine cellar. Fascinating for adults and children.

Wine aromas set.

Maps of wine areas. Photos by Angela Lansbury