Grab a cup of cheer and join us as we embark on a festive journey with 'Matt and Friends Drink the Universe.' Alongside my raucous crew—Rob, Chris, Siobhan—and our special guest host, Andy, we're serving up a Christmas Think or Drink trivia. Expect to be enlightened with the history behind classic Christmas songs and the international traditions that brighten our holidays, all while we indulge in Butterscotch shots, a whiskey Shamash, and a Captain Morgan classic!
Ever wondered about the unusual origins of your favorite holiday tunes or the curious customs celebrated across the globe? We're dishing it all out with laughs and surprises at every turn. From the influence of a historical conflict on "Do You Hear What I Hear?" to the tale of the Ukrainian Christmas spider, we're unspooling the festive yarns that bind us together. You'll also get a glimpse into our personal family traditions, proving that holiday warmth is universal.
We've got Santa Claus trivia that will stump even the jolliest elf. We're recalling the actors who've donned the famous red suit, sharing our favorite holiday specials, and wrapping up with classic Hollywood actors who've never played Santa.
So, if you're in the mood for a hefty dose of Christmas camaraderie, jolly trivia, and a sprinkle of festive banter, listen in and toast to the season with us!
Please visit www.mattandfriendsdtu.com for links listen, support the podcast, our merch store, and more!
Check out our sponsor, Poppin's Travel Company, for all of your travel needs! Their highly qualified agents are ready to book your next big adventure or dream vacation!
We'd love to hear from you on social media! Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.
Cheers, and thanks for listening!
Grab a cup of cheer and join us as we embark on a festive journey with 'Matt and Friends Drink the Universe.' Alongside my raucous crew—Rob, Chris, Siobhan—and our special guest host, Andy, we're serving up a Christmas Think or Drink trivia. Expect to be enlightened with the history behind classic Christmas songs and the international traditions that brighten our holidays, all while we indulge in Butterscotch shots, a whiskey Shamash, and a Captain Morgan classic!
Ever wondered about the unusual origins of your favorite holiday tunes or the curious customs celebrated across the globe? We're dishing it all out with laughs and surprises at every turn. From the influence of a historical conflict on "Do You Hear What I Hear?" to the tale of the Ukrainian Christmas spider, we're unspooling the festive yarns that bind us together. You'll also get a glimpse into our personal family traditions, proving that holiday warmth is universal.
We've got Santa Claus trivia that will stump even the jolliest elf. We're recalling the actors who've donned the famous red suit, sharing our favorite holiday specials, and wrapping up with classic Hollywood actors who've never played Santa.
So, if you're in the mood for a hefty dose of Christmas camaraderie, jolly trivia, and a sprinkle of festive banter, listen in and toast to the season with us!
Please visit www.mattandfriendsdtu.com for links listen, support the podcast, our merch store, and more!
Check out our sponsor, Poppin's Travel Company, for all of your travel needs! Their highly qualified agents are ready to book your next big adventure or dream vacation!
We'd love to hear from you on social media! Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.
Cheers, and thanks for listening!
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Rob:We have liftoff.
Matt:Welcome to Matt and Friends Drink the Universe. Alright, everybody, welcome back to Matt and Friends Drink the Universe. This is our Christmas special. We are very excited today to bring you some Christmas think or drink trivia. As I never get to play think or drink and never win anything on this podcast, I wanted another shot, so Andy will be joining us today as the host.
Siobhan:Amazing.
Andy:I did not plan that.
Siobhan:I'm not sure why you would.
Rob:I loved everything about that as did I.
Matt:So we're going to have Andy explain the rules for think or drink. Today it's going to be just a little bit different. We're going to have our first drink and then I'm going to dominate round one.
Siobhan:Woah alrighty, that's quite a difference from usual. Then also, we should probably tell everybody who's here as well.
Chris:I'm Andy hey guys, it's Rob, I'm Chris, it's Siobhan.
Andy:Matt's here too.
Matt:I'm also here as well, in the voice that you hear in your ears.
Siobhan:Capacity this time.
Andy:So, matt, what's going on with these shots that we're looking at here?
Matt:Okay, so these are Butterscotch shots, otherwise known as the buttery nipple. I tried to stick with the Christmas theme here. My next door neighbor, dave, who didn't want me to talk about him on the podcast Hi, Dave, whoops. Dave and I normally get together for beer every once in a while, especially around Christmas time, and he made these I think two Christmases ago for the first time, and it kind of became a Christmas thing when him and I get together. I wanted to share them with all of you. He does minor in a shot glass. He serves in a nice little DAS boot shot glass.
Siobhan:That's cute.
Rob:I'm so concerned.
Matt:It's worth noting that Rob had a wedding that he attended last night.
Andy:I'll take that short one there.
Matt:Rob looks like he attended a wedding last night.
Andy:All right we doing this. All right, merry fricking Christmas.
Matt:Merry Christmas Happy holidays you filthy animals Jingle your bells.
Rob:Oh, that was quite delightful.
Chris:All right, gets the party going.
Matt:Grandma's Werther Originals there, because that's what that tastes like. Yeah.
Andy:I was thinking the Werther Originals.
Chris:And Grandma was right, those things are delicious. The package is way too long.
Andy:Yeah, stick to the wrapper when you try and take them out.
Matt:They're the best they got to sit at the bottom of Grandma's purse for at least three weeks before you have one. That's how you age them. Shout out to Werther.
Siobhan:Originals. That was good yeah.
Andy:Contact us about the sponsorship.
Matt:I'll take Werther Originals' sponsor, even if it's just one bag of them.
Andy:We'll take it. Yeah right, that's right. All right, Are we ready to dig into the rules on this?
Matt:Let's do it.
Andy:All right. So this is the season of giving, so we have thrown out match rules and everything is completely different. So we have a little presence here in front of us and when you get a answer correct, you are going to write somebody else's initial on the present, to give them a present At the end of the game. You want to be the person with the fewest presence? All right, so golf rules Not only are you going to write somebody's name on the present, but then you're going to put it in Santa's sack here, which is obviously a brown paper bag from Wine Spirits, because that's how Santa rolls A little wrinkly sack. Well, you know, he's old, he's old. So you can try your best to keep track of who's got what score, but we're just going to find out at the end If you get the answer wrong. We all drink. Oh, I see. So for round one we are drinking one of my favorite Christmasy drinks. It's nice and simple, it's Captain Morgan and some cherry Coke.
Rob:Okay.
Andy:Yeah.
Rob:What are?
Siobhan:my favorites Fizzy, fizzy, fizzy.
Andy:It's simple but it's just got a Christmasy taste to me Tastes like joy in my tummy.
Rob:Spicy Mm, hmm, caliente.
Andy:All right, here we go. We're rolling to see who gets the first question. Two it's going to Siobhan. All right so round. One the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for Aldi here.
Andy:This round is all about songs. So, siobhan, what is? Let's carefully to the question what is the best selling Christmas song of all times? What is the best selling Christmas song of all times? Is it a Mariah Carey, all I want for Christmas is you. Is it B Gala Peevee, I want to hit Popotamus for Christmas. Is it C Bing Crosby, white Christmas? Or is it D Jean Autry, rudolph the red nose reindeer?
Siobhan:Ooh, I know Mariah is like a number one with something, but I feel like, because you said listen to the question, I shouldn't say that as an answer. So now I'm like you know when I was thinking like chestnuts roasting on an open fire, because that's such a popular one but not an option. I'm going to go with white Christmas.
Andy:Final answer yes, is the correct answer Bing Crosby. Bing Crosby's white Christmas, best selling Christmas song of all times. All right Going around the table, chris. Question two who wrote white Christmas? Was it A Charles Ives, b Oscar Hammerstein, c Bing Crosby or D Irving Berlin?
Chris:Shoot so again.
Andy:Those choices are A Charles Ives, b Oscar Hammerstein, c Bing Crosby or D Irving Berlin.
Chris:I'm going to go, charles Ives.
Andy:Final answer yeah Is incorrect. I thought it was.
Matt:Irving Berlin.
Andy:As much as I would love a Charles Ives version of it.
Siobhan:Because of a Christmas carol.
Andy:D Irving Berlin.
Rob:Irving Berlin. As per the rules wrong answer.
Chris:Ready drinks, everybody drinks. All right, I was just parched. There you go. Oh, I put a lot of rum in that. It's not nearly weird enough.
Siobhan:No one to blame but yourself.
Andy:To be Charles.
Siobhan:Ives, it's not weird enough.
Andy:I'm here for it, though. All right, how you feeling there, bert?
Rob:I'm great, we go, we go.
Andy:Question three goes to you. Yeah, I'm ready. What beverage does the singer tell the audience to have a cup of in a Holly, jolly Christmas? Is it a cup of hot cocoa, a cup of cheer, a cup of joy or a cup of beer? It's definitely a cup of cheer. A cup of cheer is the correct answer.
Matt:Very well, Normally he's the one belligerently angry at the easy questions, but now you know what.
Andy:I got a nice mix of easy ones and hard ones here. Do we need to fold?
Rob:these before we sack them.
Andy:No, you can just toss them in Santa's sack there.
Matt:I folded mine, sorry, that's all right, I could see my initial through the bottom of that present.
Siobhan:It is not helpful that it's a black sharpie on a white piece of paper.
Andy:That's all right, you got to keep in mind who's on what score, though. All right, all right, here we go. Well, sir, question four who first recorded? Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Was it A Judy Garland, b Frank Sinatra, c Bing Crosby or D Lewis Armstrong, bing Crosby, is that your final answer?
Matt:I can see Siobhan shaking her head. I had a feeling I'm wrong.
Andy:But Go with Judy Garland, oh which is your final answer, judy Garland. Judy Garland is the correct answer, last minute saved there, you better not put my initials on that.
Matt:I was back and forth between those two.
Andy:All right.
Matt:Next Javon. I will not forget your kindness.
Andy:Thank you what is the most published Christmas hymn. Is it Joy to the World? Hark the Herald Angels Sing Silent Night for Oka-Mokami Manuel. The most published.
Siobhan:I feel like I'm going to just go with. Joy to the World Feels very. You know everybody loves that one. Go ahead. Joy to the World. Final answer.
Andy:Joy to the World is the correct answer. Oh, very well.
Siobhan:Very well.
Chris:Giving out presents.
Andy:Much good Hurrah. It was a remarkable. It's something like 1500 hymnals have joined Joy to the World in it. I may have guessed, I didn't realize there was that many hymnals.
Rob:Yeah, that would have been A close second.
Chris:Christians love making a book filled with songs.
Andy:That is a thing, and then slightly editing it and putting out another edition.
Siobhan:Yeah, In like three months yes, right, all right, chris.
Andy:Question number six comes to you. Which of these songs was not originally written for Christmas? Was it A Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson B. The Christmas Song by Mel Torme C Let it Snow, let it Snow, let it Snow by Connenstein, or D. All of the Above?
Siobhan:Oh, no, he threw it in a D.
Rob:He threw it in all of the D. You want that D oh?
Chris:I want to go with it just because it's the only one. Why would you have it all?
Andy:D is the correct answer. Those were all written in the summer. That makes sense when it was hot in the summer to make you think about winter.
Chris:I knew that about the Christmas one, so that was going to be my actual the Christmas one.
Siobhan:No, no, no, the Christmas song. Sleigh Ride Song, the Christmas song, the Christmas yeah.
Chris:Yeah.
Siobhan:The one with Christmas in the title. Yes, how loud. Sleigh Ride's a classic. I've played the Whip Crack in college. It was very fun. Great, I was better than that, though.
Rob:I'm sorry A bit old quick draw.
Matt:I'm missing two big pieces of wood, but that wouldn't have ended well, Alright.
Andy:Rob. Yes, question seven comes to you.
Siobhan:He's awake, he's here.
Andy:The first song ever played on the radio was a Christmas song Back in 1906. What song was it? Was it A oh Holy Night, B oh Little Town of Bethlehem, C Joy to the World or D Silent Night?
Rob:Okay, as poetic as I would like it to be. Oh, little Town of Bethlehem. As that is very close to where we are sitting right now recording this, I'm going to go with George the World because it's the most published of all the songs. I'm going with that as my final answer.
Andy:Joy to the World is not the correct answer.
Chris:The correct answer Silent Night.
Andy:Nope.
Siobhan:Oh, Holy Night Holy.
Rob:Night was the first song ever played on the radio
Andy:according to the source that I have. Wow, so everybody drinks.
Chris:Got it, man, good luck, I keep drinking.
Matt:I'm going to be singing Christmas songs by the end of this.
Siobhan:The goals Yikes.
Andy:Alright, Matt. Last question for round one what was the song? Do you hear what I hear? Inspired by A fart. Do you hear what I did?
Siobhan:I did hear that that was a dog, yeah.
Matt:Fresh From the music educator freshman strings prepping for a Christmas concert. Oh no, that's good Alright. So what was the song.
Andy:Do you hear what I hear? Inspired by Was it a the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Siobhan:Yikes oh no, I know.
Andy:Clearly this is already starting strong B the Cold War.
Siobhan:Okay, well, yeah.
Andy:C, the fall of the Berlin Wall or D, the Korean War. Wait, which of these inspired? Do you hear what I hear?
Siobhan:All of the above? No, got to E, I'm so confused. Well, it's Matt's question. So Do you hear what I?
Rob:hear the Russians are start piling nuclear weapons and they're in silos, holy shit.
Siobhan:Look at that iron curtain and they're getting ready for a fight.
Matt:Wow, the lights in Moscow are really bright this year. Korean.
Andy:War. Is that your final answer? That is incorrect.
Siobhan:Should have gone with Russia the correct answer is the Cold War.
Matt:Wow, I thought it would be do you spy or? Would I spy.
Andy:No, all right, so that is the end of round one. We got some answers in Santa's hack here. Who knows who's wearing the points, but my money's on Matt's not doing well.
Siobhan:Oh.
Matt:I don't know, I'm one in one.
Andy:All right, so it is time for round two. How's everybody doing on drinks?
Chris:We switch into new cocktails.
Siobhan:That means we got to finish our first ones. Okay, we'll do that.
Andy:Here's a cheers to the first night of Christmas. Wow, oddly in two. Are you ready for round two?
Siobhan:Yes, All right. Well, this is Chris's drink, so I think he should lead it up.
Chris:This is a bourbon chamash, and it is bourbon with a fig syrup, a little bit of lemon, and do we slap some mint on top of there?
Siobhan:No, not yet. But that's fine, we're okay without it Just imagine some mint.
Chris:You can slap some mint on your own at home, dear listeners.
Siobhan:Indeed.
Rob:All right, I'm going to chamash this, Try it and then we'll talk a little more about it.
Siobhan:I also sliced a fresh little fig.
Chris:Oh, that's fantastic, that's yummy.
Matt:I'm getting a lot of bourbon, though I'm getting a lot of bourbon.
Andy:I'm not going to hold a lot of.
Siobhan:Pour some of that in there, you know what so?
Andy:I like to do bourbon and apple cider, and this tastes very similar, it's adjacent right, it's a little sweet, we made the fig syrup.
Rob:It is very tasty, though, so this is named.
Siobhan:The chamash of it is named after the chamash candle in the menorah for Hanukkah. The chamash candle is the big candle, the ninth candle that lights all the other eight candles. So it's a cool take because the figgy stuff is Hanukkah adjacent. So we figured bring a little ecumenism to the board on the holiday time. There we go. That's a perfect lead-in to this round of honestly.
Andy:Who does that? What's that? This is?
Matt:weird.
Andy:Christmas traditions from around the world. We're going to go the other way around the table this time. Let's find out who's going first. That's a three. That's going to Chris.
Rob:Ooh, okay.
Andy:Alright, round two. Question one Hit me. In what country do misbehaving kids need to worry about being whipped, licked or even kidnapped by Santa's goat-like demonic sidekick? Is this A Spain, b, austria, c, england or D Ireland?
Chris:Okay, I've heard this before but I might get it wrong. But is it Ireland?
Andy:Is that your final answer?
Chris:Yes.
Andy:That is incorrect.
Chris:No, what is it?
Siobhan:We're talking about Krampus, krampus from.
Chris:Ireland, krampus from Ireland Krampus. He's German Krampus. Well, that was my original thought, and then I was like well, that's a wrong answer.
Matt:So everybody drinks Germany.
Siobhan:Adjacent Curses.
Matt:So there's a Pennsylvania Dutch offshoot of that known as the Belchnickl, and if you don't know that one, there's a delightful children's story about it.
Siobhan:Yes, is it me.
Andy:It's your turn.
Siobhan:Sean.
Andy:This is a fun one. What country has the pooping log?
Siobhan:Which is a Can't keep the Christmas poop.
Rob:He loves you and I love you. Howdy Harsha, that would be Kriplapa stand what country?
Andy:has the pooping log, which is a small stick with a smile on its face that lives under the dinner table in December. It is fed every day with nuts and sweets and kept warm with a blanket, then gets beaten with sticks on Christmas Eve to poop out presents. Shavon, is this A Spain, b England, c Ireland or D Iceland? I love everything about whatever this is, so I know that Spain is a country that has a lot of pooping logs.
Siobhan:I know that Spain is a country that has lots of houses, so I know that Spain has a guy that's pooping on a log for Christmas.
Andy:You're talking about the major scene thing?
Siobhan:Yes, so I feel like this is similar, so I'm going to go ahead and go with Spain. Your logic is very sound.
Andy:Correct answer.
Siobhan:Make it present for Santa's snack, and we also have the newest.
Matt:Christmas snacks in the sack? His snacks what? And here we have the newest Christmas tradition that we have in the sack.
Rob:That pooping log ready.
Andy:That's right, I want to know the Spanish name. There is a name for it.
Matt:Yikes. I'm sure it's not that.
Rob:Definitely not, that You're right.
Andy:It's probably La Pupo, lago La Pupo.
Siobhan:Lago.
Rob:La, la, la, la, la, la la.
Siobhan:It's Christmas.
Rob:Amazing Please do not.
Andy:He was looking for the button. We knew something was coming.
Rob:Who's that to? Is that just a collective?
Andy:party.
Matt:So for the record, we have so many sound effects going now on the board it takes me a minute to find one.
Rob:That's fair.
Andy:All right, mr Welster, are you ready for your question? No, oh well. What countries? Kids don't just get one Santa Claus, but 13 mischievous trolls roaming the country in the fortnight before Christmas. Each takes turns visiting children who leave their shoes in the bedroom window, dropping off presents for the good kids and rotting potatoes for the bad ones. Is this A, England, b, ireland, c, iceland or D?
Matt:I'm real mad if I get this wrong, but I'm hedging my bets on the potato here. That's got to be Ireland.
Rob:No, this is Nordic country incorrect.
Andy:This is Iceland.
Siobhan:Because nothing is more offensive to an Irish person than a rotten potato.
Chris:Is obsessed with trolls, by the way. Yeah, so it's norway.
Rob:It's, it's. It's definitely a Nordic yeah.
Chris:Everybody drinks and hilarious, we are smashing through these.
Andy:yeah, man Santa's present or Santa's really a little empty looking alcoholic fig Newton fig.
Matt:Newton's are like the best cookie ever.
Siobhan:See good stuff.
Andy:All right, rob, are you ready for your question? Hit me, which Celtic nation has an undead horse? They carry an undead horse around their villages to celebrate the happiest time of year. This custom involves draping a white sheet over a pole with a horse skull attached and knocking on town folk stores, no doubt giving them the fright of their lives. The party Carrying the morbid effigy then sings to the residents who are supposed to sing back before relinquishing some food or drink. Is this from Scotland B, ireland C, whales or D.
Rob:Brittany, I'm going with whales because I've never heard of it in my life.
Andy:This is a Welsh tradition.
Siobhan:This is so metal the Marilu and it's.
Andy:It's pretty cool. There's some variations on it, but it's a very much a Wasling style tradition. That's amazing. There's some, some riddles where the host can tell riddles, riddles to the bearer of the marilu, and then they have to answer it Correct, yeah, good stuff.
Chris:Here's our dead horse. Give us some food, food.
Matt:Sounds like.
Rob:Halloween, christmas sea biscuit. Also Brittany, not a country I'm familiar with.
Andy:It's on the coast of France, is the Brittany region. Oh, okay, sir, one of the Celtic nations. And now you know, and now you know.
Matt:You are hungover though.
Chris:Right your hungover. Chris hit me.
Andy:Where is it a tradition to have a big old bucket of Kentucky fried chicken on Christmas Eve? Is this a in South Africa, b Brazil, c Japan or D Egypt?
Chris:Okay, even before you read the options, I was thinking Japan randomly in my head, so I'm just going with that anyway.
Andy:Japan is the correct answer.
Siobhan:Yes.
Chris:I'm nicely done.
Siobhan:So weird thinking my head was like no way they're doing that in Brazil.
Chris:Not normally Christian and I was like why? Where did I? Where?
Andy:did I remember hearing that. Kentucky fried chicken ran like a massive Advertising campaign around Christmas and it just became a tradition. They all get Kentucky fried chicken Christmas Eve.
Chris:That's amazing.
Matt:So I am happy to inform everybody that next month I'm going to be moving to Japan so I can take part in that Damn it.
Siobhan:Where are we gonna host these podcasts? I?
Andy:hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure you can get a bucket of Kentucky fried chicken here, right, I'm like you could just do that. Please don't feed it to me, right, but I'm pretty sure.
Siobhan:Try.
Matt:You might try and forget you are the reason this is a.
Siobhan:That's that hangover sound. Right there it's happening. Guarantee.
Andy:All right, shavon, are you ready for your next one? Do it. What country has the Christmas witch 12 days after santa's visit, on the eve of epiphany, january 5th, families leave out a glass of wine and a plate of sausages for this witch who pops down the chimney on her berm stick. Onto the sausages onto the sausages apparently which way?
Andy:try on the sausages, yes according to the folk I saw that movie once according to folk, or the old lady knocked back an Indivitation from the three wise men to witness the birth of Christ and was so devastated about missing it. She spends every Christmas time gliding around the country searching for baby Jesus and doling out presents to good kids and Colton naughty ones. So is this country a Italy? Be France, see Brazil, or D Spain?
Siobhan:Man, I love this actually I man because it's like still Christian but like adjacent, and we're trying to put some like maybe paganism in there, or I'm scared of the way my favorite part about this tradition.
Andy:Right, If you listen to the answers a Italy be France, see Brazil. Or D Spain. None of them were anywhere close to where the nativity happened right, well, yeah. So this story doesn't, yeah, but she's a witch, so it's kind of like she could just show up, even if they weren't close by. I guess you know so the tradition goes off of? She said no to the wise men.
Matt:She didn't want to go and now she regrets it.
Siobhan:How unwise 17th century this is some epic FOMO.
Matt:Epic.
Andy:FOMO. She's like yo. Fomo the Christmas tradition y'all um.
Siobhan:There's a witch that's gonna make sense got Italy, france, brazil, brazil or Spain um, let's go with Italy.
Andy:Italy is the correct answer. Wow, which? Is name was La Bifana whoa love that.
Siobhan:That's a great piece of Christmas trivia. Nothing I love more than good trivia All right, matt Yep.
Andy:What country takes a different approach to Christmas decorations? Swap ring fairy lights for spiderwebs. The legend of the Christmas spider explains that a Poor widow and her kids cultivated a Christmas tree from a pine cone but couldn't afford any decorations. Then, on Christmas morning, they woke to see that their tree was blanketed in cobweb, which the sunlight then transformed into gold and silver. Nowadays, trees across this country are decorated with little spider ornaments and fake spiderwebs, which is said to be the origin of sparkly tinsel that shimmers at Christmas time all around the world. Is this tradition a from Iceland, b from Lithuania, c from Ukraine, ukraine or D from France, iceland, lithuania, ukraine or France?
Matt:I've heard this story before and for the life of me I can't remember which country it is is one of those four.
Andy:Yeah, he's narrowing it down for you Iceland, lithuania, ukraine or France.
Matt:I'm doing my fish impression over here, thinking real hard Okay, all right, chris, I mean Matt. I'm going with Ukraine.
Andy:Is the correct answer? Whoa, that is a tradition.
Matt:I thought I was going to trip you up with throwing the.
Siobhan:Lithuania in the air, being that.
Andy:I just visited. Yeah, but the correct answer is Ukraine. Nice Put some of these initials on a present.
Siobhan:Rude, don't make the mind, thank you, just saying Trying to be protective.
Andy:Rude, you have to write it on the present he also has to know my initials, so. Rob, yes, in this country's folklore, christmas Eve is the day when mischievous spirits and witches take to the skies for general mischief and Tom Fullery. Tom Fullery, as witches often use brooms as their preferred mode of transportation. It's tradition for families to hide away any sweeping sticks where the witches won't be able to find them. Is this from A France, b Spain? Sorry, a France, b England, c Spain or D Norway?
Matt:Higesticks, Higewives. They're taking everybody up in here, that's right.
Rob:Oh my God, france, england, spain or Norway. I'm going to go with.
Andy:France. Is that your final answer? It is. That is incorrect. The correct answer is Norway. Oh, I thought it was France too.
Siobhan:Norwegian witches, yeah you know what I feel like all this is telling me is that everybody else's Christmas stuff is cooler.
Rob:Like ours is like yeah, santa comes, hey, we can invent. We don't have like witches and like trolls and like my shoe goes out.
Siobhan:I mean, I don't want a rotten potato.
Matt:You have never been to one of Matt's family Christmases, do you have?
Siobhan:rotten potatoes or shoes, I mean, while I do take my shoes off to come here. So, to be fair, it already feels like Christmas.
Matt:Yeah, that's my mother-in-law. We had Flamin' Perugies last year.
Andy:So what's everybody's favorite Christmas tradition? What's your favorite family Christmas tradition.
Chris:I don't really have one. Oh what I don't know, that makes me sad.
Siobhan:Being with family is the best. I mean we have Christmas day is fun with my family. We go to visit and like, hang out, and then we always sing Christmas carols at the end of the night. Nice and my cousin's grandmother which sounds like it should be mine, but it's not but she's almost a hundred and she plays the piano every year. That's awesome, it's very cool, and she loves playing Charlie the Christmas tree. There's a couple other things.
Matt:It's a good time.
Matt:We have a couple. There's two that mean a lot to me. The first one is the Christmas brunch breakfast that my dad started years ago and I've tried to keep going, even though he moved down to Florida, and we still have to have the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in there. The other is, for as long as I've been alive, sometime prior to Christmas my mom's whole side of the family gets together and we have a family Christmas celebration, and now that my grandmother is 86, it means quite a bit at this point and looking forward to that again.
Andy:So so my family always loved like Christmas displays and seeing like displays and stuff like that. So as a kid we would always pick literally the coldest day of the year to go to Christmas Village, which is not too far from us here in the Lehigh Valley, and it is just, it's the best, it's the best Christmas display you can find, but it had to be the coldest day of the year, like I distinctly remember asking dad if we could go and he'd say no, it's not cold enough yet. Like it had to be the coldest day of the year. So we've adapted a little bit. Now Rachel and I usually run the lights in the Parkway 5K to kind of get that same idea.
Rob:But yeah, yeah, and I think for me two things come to mind. But one we started tradition a few years ago where, close to Christmas time, we all pile in a car with my sister and her husband and now there are two boys and we drive around local neighborhoods and try to pick out who has the best Christmas display out. There's a couple of places around here that definitely go over the top with stuff and we like to take the boys to that. But also one thing that my family always does is puts on Christmas vacation. Oh, that's my mom's favorite.
Siobhan:She loves it so much, it's so great. The keeps on giving.
Matt:Jen and I can quote that whole movie. We'd watched that at least three times this season.
Siobhan:You guys have the shirts, don't you? We absolutely do.
Matt:The Home Alone shirts. I thought we have Home Alone shirts, but I have Christmas vacation shirts.
Siobhan:Yeah.
Matt:I have Christmas vacation pants, I have Christmas clothes or Christmas traditions.
Siobhan:Yeah, stelers Good call.
Matt:And also for this drink, which is really fantastic, by the way, I ate the fig.
Rob:It was good, it was a good fig Hitting spot.
Andy:Good, it is a great fig.
Siobhan:It seems like a good balance.
Andy:Are we ready for round three?
Siobhan:I think so let's stick with what we got as long as everybody's good.
Rob:Yeah, let's keep on keeping.
Andy:Round three we're calling Is that you Santa Claus? Nice, if you're not familiar, you need to look up that song. It's by Lewis Armstrong. So good, let's see if I can do it. Is that you Santa Claus? It's not bad. It's not bad. Let's see who's going first. That's a two, it's going to Siobhan Dang.
Siobhan:again, we're going back around the original direction.
Andy:this time All right.
Matt:Siobhan for many Sean Sean.
Siobhan:Is your question, sean Sean.
Matt:Vaughn, sean Vaughn, let me grab my phone and change your name. I've heard worse.
Siobhan:I've heard worse.
Andy:For many, santa Claus is based on St Nicholas. In what present-day country did St Nicholas live? Turkey, england, poland or Germany? I know we're giving the geography question to Siobhan here. It's not really fair. Pretty sure it's Poland. It's the capital of the country. You mean the rest of deputy xiobans are taken. They can't start theirGовtuk unless you still have your phone.
Siobhan:I wonder who's going now. Final answer is not.
Andy:Is it turkey?
Siobhan:Listen, I had to.
Rob:I you know, buddy drinks, they changed it. They changed it. It's not turkey anymore, is turkey yeah or maybe how do you actually say it?
Andy:like turkey, like Philadelphia, turkey, turkey. Yeah.
Siobhan:I was gonna say, maybe I did that on purpose. So you all didn't think I was cheating.
Rob:Or that, cuz I do like guys. That was a Thanksgiving question.
Chris:But um.
Andy:As well. Sir processes the jokey. It's the button I will stuff.
Rob:I will stuff one of these drinks down my face.
Chris:You need the trombone.
Matt:Yeah, we don't, you have we.
Siobhan:There you go. Okay, but I that's my favorite meal, so I'm okay with.
Rob:Turkey. A Turkey for me? Yeah, okay, for you man, okay, good.
Siobhan:Well, at least I was close, right, I didn't say like it's Spain.
Andy:Something.
Siobhan:I.
Matt:Feel like I need the D and I don't know what show it's from. I wish I did. But the the famous turkey drop Like clip. If you haven't heard that one, it is hysterical. It's like an old radio TV show where they're talking about dropping turkey and somebody's like, okay, it's time for the W, something, something turkey drop. There's a bunch of people in the parking lot. They're like okay, and then you hear like the turkey start to hit the cars. Like maybe we should have thought the turkeys.
Rob:No, it's not, that's like that's like 70s, 80s.
Matt:I gotta find that for you guys. It's really funny.
Andy:All right. Question two to Chris, let's do it. Who played Santa Claus in the Santa Claus? Is it a, oh, john Goodman or D Brian?
Chris:Cranston, tim Allen, although I would have fully watched a Brian.
Rob:Cranston.
Andy:Walter White look it up. What was he? All of those, all four of those, have played Santa Claus at one point.
Siobhan:Oh yeah cool.
Chris:Yeah, but I want the satirical Brian Cranston to play you and Brian Clancy to play bad Santa Clancy no bad Santa great. Only be done by Billy. Bob in the way, billy Bob, yeah, oh my god, if you didn't hear that is the correct answer.
Siobhan:Tim Allen. Tim Allen oh pure Noel.
Chris:We were joking about it earlier. It's so good I was biting my tongue.
Siobhan:If you all think Pope Osijio is funny, just come to our house at any time in December and that's all you will hear all day is Booshie Joe that Brian Cranston gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
Matt:Gonna bring you that white crystal light. Oh oh.
Rob:Hit the button for yourself. My turkey joke was better. All right, rob.
Andy:Yes, who played Santa Claus in elf? Was this John Goodman, ed Astner?
Rob:Ed as Brian Cranston or Santa Russell at Asner.
Chris:Ed Asner is the correct answer once again, I would like to see a Kurt Russell.
Siobhan:Oh yeah. Russell is Christmas Chronicles on.
Andy:Netflix. It's really good.
Rob:Okay, I would like like a roadhouse, kurt Russell.
Siobhan:Santa Claus, roadhouse kick yeah.
Rob:Go ahead and make a present a kick.
Andy:All right, matt. No, who voiced Santa Claus for the fantastic Rankin and Bass? Santa Claus is coming to town and a year without Santa. Is that Hal Smith, art Carney, bob Holt or Mickey Rooney?
Siobhan:This is a deep choices are a Al.
Andy:Smith B, but we all watch these every year.
Siobhan:Oh yeah, yeah for sure, but it's such a good playmation ones right.
Rob:Yeah, the ranking ambassador the best.
Andy:A hey how Smith, b art Carney, c Bob Holt or D Mickey Rooney, bob Holt. Final answer.
Rob:Incorrect. Damn, is it Mickey Rooney, mickey Rooney.
Andy:Everybody drinks.
Rob:Guys, I'm not gonna lie, I poured just a little bit of the, the rum and cola Drink mm-hmm.
Siobhan:Hey, yeah, it's great. I feel you could, you could probably do this with this. Did you go full outcast?
Rob:right there, smash Take it shake, drink it, drink it, drink it, drink it, drink it like a drink.
Andy:Okay, all right, chavon. Yeah, which of these classic Hollywood actors never played Santa Claus? A dick Van Dyke, b Fred Astaire, c James Earl Jones or D Paul Giamatti? Which of the only one of these never played Santa Claus?
Siobhan:I might strike out this round, hmm, a.
Andy:Dick Van Dyke, b Fred Astaire, c James Earl Jones or D Paul Giamatti.
Siobhan:You know I might go with dick Van Dyke because I feel like dick Van Dyke's the one that everyone probably thought played Santa Claus and like I could be wrong. But I'll just go with dick Van Dyke dick Van Dyke is the correct answer.
Chris:Although I feel like did he never do a bit as Santa Claus in the dick Van Dyke show?
Siobhan:According to what I found, right, there you go.
Andy:I went for. I googled list of everyone who's ever played Santa Claus. Yeah, and dick Van Dyke was not on the list. So yeah, the other. The other three were I. Want to look up the James Earl Jones.
Chris:Probably fantastic, darth Santa that may have just been a voice acting, that's that's.
Siobhan:Probably cool. That's the guy I want to wish me a merry Christmas.
Matt:I want James Earl Jones to do it.
Siobhan:Yeah, my parents met him One day at a Chinese restaurant your parents have the most random connections to people like no, I wasn't even alive him and, like everybody, from the sound of music, so they were with my cousin at a Chinese restaurant like British or in Connecticut, and he was like at a table over and my dad was like this James Earl Jones.
Matt:Isn't that a legit Big Bang Theory episode like?
Siobhan:that they meet him.
Rob:Oh yeah yeah, Chinese restaurant yeah it's weird that happened copyright claim it and yeah, I know.
Andy:All right, chris. Some site Santa Claus being based off this Nordic God, the a Thor, b Zeus, see Odin or D Heimdall.
Chris:I'm gonna go Odin final answer.
Andy:Odin is the correct answer. Thank you for not picking.
Chris:I was like afraid it was him, like you said Heimdall, and I was like wait what?
Andy:I mean that, would that I put that one on purpose? Heimdall, supposed to be like the all watcher.
Chris:Everybody. No, it's like, oh no, but we're going, looks a little.
Andy:I hate my brain based off Odin, so go ahead and make a present.
Matt:I hate my brain because my brain, as you were naming people, just saw MCU actors faces through that entire question.
Siobhan:I mean it for sure, anthony Hopkins. Yeah, like was right in my head. Yeah, all right.
Andy:All right. Question seven this goes to Ert ready. The modern image of Santa Claus was created from the poem twice the night before Christmas. What was the original title of the poem? Was it a a Christmas visitor, b while visions of sugar plums, c up on the house top, or D a visit from Saint Nick?
Rob:I believe it is a, a Christmas visitor. Is that your final?
Andy:answer.
Matt:Yes, E untitled.
Andy:Incorrect Is a visit from Saint Nicholas.
Siobhan:Oh you are so close.
Andy:A visit from Saint Nicholas.
Siobhan:Oh, she'd have gone with the D.
Andy:Drink up. Go with the D.
Siobhan:Bomber dude.
Andy:Good guess, though Not my style I know I would, I would.
Siobhan:that was in my head too.
Rob:No, I thought it was a Christmas visitor. That sounded very familiar to me.
Siobhan:Probably because it still had visit in the real name Me. Perhaps you know.
Andy:The last question for round three goes to Matt.
Matt:No.
Andy:Who wrote Lies A visit from Saint Nicholas? Was it A Clement Clark Moore, dr Seuss, b Charles Dickens, c Robert Frost or D Archibald McLeish?
Rob:Bobby Frost.
Andy:A.
Rob:What's it?
Andy:called Bobby Bobby Boucher Frost.
Siobhan:Is it?
Andy:A Clement Clark Moore, b Charles Dickens, c Robert Frost or D Archibald.
Matt:McLeish Back and forth between A and D, I'm going with A final answer A is the correct answer Well done.
Andy:More go ahead and write the present out there.
Matt:Man. Last one Sounded like a right, proper Englishman and I hope.
Siobhan:I'm right on that, but wait what there's more.
Andy:It is time for the greatest gift.
Rob:Oh, the greatest gift.
Andy:This question correct, gets to make a five point gift. This could swing the game. So this is going to be the first gift of Christmas closest without going over. So grab a scrap of paper to write your answer down. So when was the first Christmas tree lit up at Rockefeller Center? Oh wow, what year, just the year the closest, without going over. When was the first Christmas tree lit up at Rockefeller Center?
Siobhan:Seven the year seven. $1,. Please, I'll take $1. Bob Barker, spay into your animals.
Andy:Price is wrong, bob, not your thing, you hold it.
Chris:It would be a pretty hilarious way to win this, just guess one, go for the one. And everybody else is over, All right no more bets we need some jeopardy, Chris what did you put down?
Andy:for the first year, the Christmas tree was lit in Rockefeller Center. I did 1951.
Chris:1951.
Andy:Chavon, what did you put?
Siobhan:Listen, I did 1895 because I'm low balling it Okay 1895.
Rob:I did 1885.
Matt:And Matt 1932.
Andy:Matt is extremely impressed. It's 1933. Off by one year.
Siobhan:Damn, I tried to think like turn of the century, like I don't know man. Okay, no, I was thinking like choose wisely Matt.
Andy:You get to make a present, put a plus five on that present. Choose wisely and we're going to tally up and see who won this.
Chris:I can't believe I went just too far. I was thinking post World War two, not pre World War two.
Andy:But originally I was thinking pre.
Chris:World War two and I.
Rob:Curses, curses. Indeed, a lot of W's in there, or M's. It was a joke, oh.
Siobhan:Because, I put double, so double nationals.
Matt:I felt like nobody would write his name down, I hate you, son of a B. I was going to say I was going to say I was going to say, can we not do?
Siobhan:the T F rules when it was true, false and you kind of make the tea look like an F. The winner with three points is Siobhan yes, I also got the most questions right, I think with four points is Mr Staley?
Chris:I believe I would have won If Matt didn't screw me here at the end.
Siobhan:Well, do you get anything right Wrong?
Andy:With five points is Mr.
Siobhan:Well sir. And with five, six, seven, eight points, Chris Doremer oh no, so Chris is the big loser, siobhan is the big winner of.
Andy:Mary fricking Christmas everybody.
Siobhan:We would have been tied for first there we would have had to do some kind of a he done, put the welter scale on you.
Rob:You know who didn't completely lose.
Matt:I didn't completely lose, that's right.
Rob:Right in the middle.
Matt:Congratulations.
Siobhan:For your first time playing Party time.
Rob:Stuff that in your stocking, I will.
Matt:Andy, thank you for preparing a stellar thinker drink.
Rob:My pleasure yeah.
Matt:That was a lot of fun. And to everybody listening. I hope you have a safe, happy and healthy Christmas with your family.
Siobhan:Happy holidays, happy all the holidays.
Rob:Happy Hanukkah Mary.
Siobhan:Kwanzaa Indeed.
Matt:We will be back very soon. This episode's boozy quote is not attributed to anyone, but it is one of my favorites. Happy holidays, merry Christmas. It's the most wonderful time for beer. I'd like to recognize and thank all those who made season two of Matt and Friends Drink the Universe possible, starting with the cast Aaron, Andy, Andy M, Big Z, Chris, Christa, Dan, Emma, Rob, Siobhan and The Fish. Without all of you, this wouldn't be possible and Matt and Friends Drink the Universe wouldn't be nearly as much fun.
Matt:Jean and Masaki from Lost Tavern Brewing. Thank you, guys, very much for joining us. To Harrison Smith, thank you so much for being this season's honored guest. We're hoping to have you back in the future. On behalf of all of us here at Matt and Friends Drink the Universe, a huge thank you to the Poppins Travel Company, our sponsor for this season, and, last but not least, to my wife, Jen. Thank you very much for all of your love and support On social media. Please like, follow and push all the buttons for us. That's Matt and Friends DTU at Facebook, Instagram Threads and TikTok For more information about the podcast, as well as links to our merch store, social media and all the places you can listen to us. Visit our website mattandfriendsdtu. com. That's mattandfriendsdtu. com. Thank you again for listening to Matt and Friends Drink the Universe.