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Fun and foolish old-world traditional parade that's being held annually in New Foundling.
MUMMERS FESTIVAL - the fun and foolish tradition unique to Newfoundland is feted annually in the city over 2 weeks with a parade, workshop and talk about its dark past. It's an old-world tradition where people dress in outlandish getups to go visiting over the holidays. For small communities where people relied on fishing to survive, summering was a way for people to make their own fun ahead of a long dark winter, oftentimes without money or enough food. (a mummer: a person who wears a mask or disguise for fun)
What flower is associated with the Canadian Cancer Society?
DAFFODIL -Cancer organizations around the world use the daffodil as a symbol of hope for all people affected by cancer. Daffodils mark the return of spring and new life. It was first used in Toronto, Canada in the 1950s during volunteer organized coffee mornings to raise money for cancer awareness and research. Guests were given a daffodil as thanks for their support. The daffodil eventually replaced the sword which had been the Cancer Society emblem since establishment in 1929.
U.S. President that succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt.
HARRY S. TRUMAN - Harry S. Truman's tenure as 33rd president of the United States began in April of 1945, upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and ended in January of 1953. Truman didn't shirk the hard decisions. He ordered the atomic bomb dropped on Japan to end the WWII and led the way to help the war-ravaged countries, ally and enemy alike.
Company that sold its first chocolate bar in 1900.
HERSHEY'S - The man who started it all, Milton S. Hershey was great humanitarian and philanthropist. His love for confection started at a young age and flourished when he established The Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894. By 1900, they sold the very first candy bar. Today the portfolio of brands has expanded beyond the beloved iconic Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar (Kit Kat, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Hersheys Kisses and more)
What is Earth's largest continent?
ASIA - Among the seven continents, Asia is the biggest continent by land size. Asia stretches from the East Mediterranean Sea to the Western Pacific Ocean, with an area of approximately 45 million square kilometers, Guinness World Records report. The continent holds more than 40 countries, including China and India which are world’s two most populous countries.
December 23rd marks the anniversary of a tragedy that took place when a Dutch artist cut off part of his own ear.
VINCENT VAN GOGH - The exact details of what happened on the night in 1888 are sketchy at best but the tragedy that unfolded forever marked Vincent Van Gogh ad the world's most tortured artist. Van Gogh, who had a long history of mental health illness, used a razor to cut off part of his left ear. He documented the event on the painting "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear".
Flower that has been known mainly as the source of saffron.
CROCUS - The Crocus is a perennial flower that is planted in the fall for an early spring delight and is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Saffron is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus, and autumn blooming species. It is valued as spice and dyestuff, and is one of the most expensive spices in the world.
Best Actor Oscar was won by whom in 1941.
JAMES STEWART - James Stewart was honoured with many awards and nominations for acting during his career in motion pictures, television, and on stage, spanning over 60 years. These include an Academy Award of Best Actor for The Philadelphia Story in 1941. This romantic comedy of remarriage, a genre popular in the 30s and 40s in which a couple divorce, flirt with outsiders, and the remarry. The movie also starred Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.
Candy that was invented in 1912 and the name resembles that of a traditional ring-style life preserver.
LIFE SAVERS - Life Savers is an American brand of ring-shaped hard and soft candy. Its range of mints and fruit-flavoured candies is known for its distinctive packaging, coming in paper-wrapped aluminum foil rolls. They were conceived as a 'summer candy' that could withstand heat better than chocolate. Since the mints looked like miniature life preservers, the manufacturer called them Life Savers.
Area 51 is located in which US state?
NEVADA - According to the CIA, the name Area 51 comes from its map designation. It was also previously referred to as “Paradise Ranch” in order to make the facility sound more attractive to those that would be working there. “Paradise Ranch” was then shortened to “the Ranch.” Other nicknames include “Watertown” and “Dreamland.” Area 51 has long been a topic of fascination for conspiracy theorists and paranormal enthusiasts who believe it to be the location where the US government stores and hides alien bodies and UFOs.
Major eruption that broke out this week and evacuated 4,000 people from this small fishing town.
GRINDAVIK - residents living in and near Grindavik described "crazy" and "scary" scenes on Monday night when the eruption broke out on the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland. The length of the crack in the volcano is about 3,5km, and the lava flowing at a speed never seen before.
A pollution warning for the capital city Reykjavik, 100 km away, was sent out immediately.
It's the national flower of India
LOTUS - The lotus is the national flower of India, and is seen as a symbol of spiritual enlightement, wealth and triumph, a sacred flower that occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India. The lotus has a lifecycle like any other plant. With its roots latched to mud, it submerges every night into river water and miraculously re-blooms the next morning, sparingly clean. As a result, this has led the lotus to have associations as the flower with rebirth and spiritual enlightenment.
What new fashion was introduced in 1946?
BIKINI - In the summer of 1946, Western Europeans enjoyed their first war-free summer in years, and two French designers sought to deliver fashions that matched the liberated mood of the people. Jacques Heim designed a two-piece swimsuit that he called the atome, after the smallest known particle of matter, promoting it as the "world's smallest bathing suit."
The slogan " The Milk Chocolate that melts in you mouth, not in your hand" refers to what candy.
M & Ms - this candy originated in the United States in 1941 and have been sold in over 100 countries. The sugar coating of M&Ms made it possible to carry around chocolate in warm climates without it melting. The company's longest lasting slogan reflects this: "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand".
The Ms for M&M stand for Mars and Murrie, the candy's creators.
What's the city with the most diversity in terms of language?
NEW YORK CITY - It’s actually New York City. This city of immigrants is also the most linguistically diverse city in the world. There are over 800 languages spoken in New York City. For reference, the most linguistically diverse country in the world is Papua New Guinea, with 820 languages. New York crams almost that many into a single city. Nowhere else comes close. Even London “only” has around 300 different languages.
Winter Solstice celebration that took place at sunrise in England , last Friday December 22.
STONEHENGE WINTER SOLSTICE - Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, which is claimed to be the oldest occupied settlement in Great Britain. Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices. On Friday, thousands turned up on Salisbury PLain to mark the solstice at Stonehenge relish the moment that the sun climbed again after the longest night. The 5,000-year-old monument is a World Heritage Site, which attracts over a million visitors a year.
It's probably the rarest and most expensive flower.
JULIET ROSE - the most luxurious rose is the David Austin Juliet Rose. This particular rose variety is well-loved in weddings due to its delicate beauty. It took 15 years for rose breeder David Austin to cultivate the rarest rose in the world. He showcased it to the world at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2006 and it's now David Austin's most instantly recognizable roses.
Communication device that was first designed in 1947
MOBILE PHONE - Mobile phones were invented as early as the 1940s when engineers developed cells for mobile phone base stations. Te very first mobile phones were not really mobile phones at all. They were two-way readies that allowed people like taxi drivers and emergency services to communicate. It wasn't until 1973 that Motorola mass produced the first handheld mobile phone.
Which country consumes the most chocolate per person each year?
SWITZERLAND -Annually, Switzerland consumes the most chocolate per capita at about 19.4 pounds per person. Austria is a close second with around 17.9 pounds of chocolate consumed per person each year.
Which Central American country has a name which translates to English as “The Saviour”?
EL SALVADOR - El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and is smaller than the state of Massachusetts. This mountainous country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras. Known as the Land of Volcanoes, El Salvador has frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. It is the only country in Central America that does not have a coastline on the Caribbean Sea.
Canadian politician who is off to Jamaica for a post-Christmas vacation.
THE TRUDEAUS - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading to Jamaica next week for a family post- Christmas vacation. Justin will be travelling with his wife Sophie and 3 children, after the pair announced earlier this year they were separating following 18 years of marriage. The office said that the family will cover the cost of its stay as well as reimburse the cost of travelling on a government plane.
Christmas flower that symbolizes strength and determination.
AMARYLLIS - the flamboyant blooms of amaryllis are a stunning sight. In Victorian times, amaryllis came to symbolize strength and determination, due to its tall height and sturdiness. Over the last several years, amaryllis have become increasingly popular Christmas plants, due to their willingness to bloom indoors in winter and their bright colourful flowers. Amaryllis is an Ancient Greek name, meaning "sparkle, shine".
Which singer had the most Billboard No. 1 singles during the 1940s?
BING CROSBY -The first multimedia star, Bing Crosby was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1930 to 1954, and led all artists during the 1940s with nine No. 1 singles. The biggest hit of Crosby's career was his recording of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," which he introduced on a Christmas Day radio broadcast in 1941. It would go on to become the best-selling single of all time, but Crosby was dismissive of his role in the song's success, saying "a jackdaw with a cleft palate could have sung it successfully".
True or false: A dentist invented cotton candy.
TRUE - Airy spun sugar, cotton candy—AKA Fairy floss—is a pink, fluffy cloud that kids’ dreams are made of. But who invented cotton candy? Surprisingly, the inventor of cotton candy was actually a dentist! In 1897 William Morrison teamed up with Tennessee candy maker, John Wharton, to create the concoction. The duo premiered cotton candy in 1908 at the World’s Fair. The price was only 25 cents.
What is the only country that borders the United Kingdom?
IRELAND - Ireland is the second largest island of the British Isles. Politically, it is divided between the Republic of Ireland, a sovereign nation, and Northern Ireland, which is a territory of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland is the only sovereign country that shares a land border with the United Kingdom, through Northern Ireland. The country is separated from the island of Great Britain in the east by the Irish Sea, the North Channel, and St. George’s Channel, at distances ranging from 11 to 120 miles.