Dovi's Digest Volume 32
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual and physical needs
Hi All, and welcome to Volume 32 of Dovi’s Digest.
I love the holiday season. Well, at least the idea of it. And by that I mean how the holidays are portrayed in the movies and on Hallmark greeting cards. Decorating the tree, running down to get the presents, the family all laughing and drinking eggnog, and of course all of this is supplemented by a crackling fire inside and the perfect silence of fresh white snow outside. And even though I know that all of this is a fallacy, that families land up fighting, that uncle Jeff has one too many drinks and starts ranting about the commies; and even though I know I’m an orthodox Jew who lives in the Southern Hemisphere, there is still a small part of me that feels left out. So, I’ve compiled a special bumper holidays edition of the Digest that allows me to finally scratch that itch. Enjoy!
There were three correct answer to last week’s riddle. Well done David Flax, David Greenway, and Myer Brom! The answer and this week’s brainteaser are below.
This festive week brings us all things associated with the yule season. You’ll learn about the nutcracker and where certain Christmas songs came from. And how can I even write something in the holiday period without so much as a mention of the person who is inextricably linked with it, Mariah Carey.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming, and never forget, Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
All the best
Dovi
And now, the articles:
The Surprisingly Sad True Story Behind ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’
Despite its fantastical holiday elements, the story was partly based on some of author Robert L. May’s past experiences.
Band Aid: The Charitable—and Controversial—History of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'
While “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” would prove to be a monster hit, it would also stand as an example of the lesson that no good deed ever goes unpunished.
Still Saving Us From Tears: The Inside Story of Wham!'s Last Christmas
From George Michael hogging the sleigh bells in the studio to pratfalling on the snowy video set, the beloved Christmas song is testament to the late pop star’s talent – and insecurities.
Why Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas’ Aches With Sadness
Berlin might not have understood the tune’s true power at first because he may not have fully realized what it meant to him.
Jingle Bells’: A Racy Drinking Song (for Thanksgiving)
On the uncertain history of the first song to be broadcast from space.
Silent Night: How a beloved Christmas carol was born of war and disaster 200 years ago
The song debuted on Christmas Eve in 1818 in an Austrian church.
The Surprising Origins of Famous Christmas Carols
The familiar tunes never fail to get us in the festive mood – but many of them have remarkably un-Christmassy roots.
The Story Behind “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (Audio)
Songwriters Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine wrote the classic song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for Judy Garland's 1944 movie, Meet Me in St. Louis.
Toy story: Chewing over Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker
Those who dismiss the composer's Christmas favourite as a throwaway should consider the sad events behind its creation.
Die Hard Writer Settles Christmas Movie Debate with Unique Argument
Yippee ki yay, White Christmas.
You Don’t Know Her
Thirty years into an epic career, Mariah Carey is still trying to explain herself.
Quote of the Week:
“The one thing women don’t want to find in the stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.” – Joan Rivers
Facts of the Week:
After noticing that she washed up bare-handed, Margaret Thatcher sent the Queen rubber gloves for Christmas.
The fake snow in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and White Christmas (1954) was made of asbestos.
Harper Lee’s friends gave her a year’s wages for Christmas 1956 so she could take time off to finish To Kill a Mockingbird.
Cary Grant and Clark Gable met once a year to exchange unwanted monogrammed Christmas gifts.
Santa Clause’s first commercial appearance was in a 1923 advert for ginger beer.
To visit every child in the world, Santa would need to travel at 3000 times the speed of sound.
92% Of shopping mall Santas have had their beard pulled to see if it was real.
30% of shopping mall Santas have been urinated on by a child.
Christmas crackers were originally called “bangs of expectation”.
The first Christmas tree erected in Trafalgar Square was transported at night because it exceeded the legal weight limits on British roads in daytime.
Cartoons of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Christmas and New Year’s Day occur exactly one week apart. So a New Year’s that occurs right after Christmas should be on the same day of the week. But in the year 2020 Christmas will occur on a Friday and New Year’s on a Wednesday. Why is this?
Last week’s Brainteaser and answer:
What numbers should replace the question marks?
14 – 70 – 19
23 – 92 – 27
19 – 57 – 22
48 – ? – ?
Answer:
96 and 50.
Row 1: 1st number x 5, 1st number + 5.
Row 2: 1st number x 4, 1st number + 4.
Row 3: 1st number x 3, 1st number + 3.
Row 4: 1st number x 2, 1st number + 2.
Did someone forward you this email?
Lucky you, they obviously think you’re clever. Sign up here
Is there something you particularly liked or didn’t like? Just reply to this email!