Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. I have wonderful childhood memories of Christmas. I can still hear my grandmother offering guests “marsh-whorts.” Everyone would giggle at her silliness, and then the feast would continue. I don’t know why I cannot remember what marsh-whorts were. I don’t know why I never asked any family members before they passed on. Do you know?

R.B., Shiprock, N.M.

A. “Marsh-whort” is one of many early names for the cranberry. European settlers also called cranberries fen-whorts, marsh-berries and moss-berries. “Fen” is another word for a boggy wetland, similar to a marsh, and “whort” is an Old English term used to describe plants or herbs that grow prolifically and spread rapidly.

There are many theories as to how the cranberry got its common name. One is that the plant was originally called “crane-berry” because its flower resembles the head of a crane.

Q. Who was the father of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Was he ever identified?

C.K., Elkton, Md.

A. The original story of Rudolph was written by Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward department stores in 1939. In the original story, Santa happened upon Rudolph one foggy Christmas Eve and asked, “Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

This encounter with Santa was a turning point in Rudolph’s life. Later, when Rudolph went down in history, a movie about him was released in which Donner was named as his father.

Q. Why was Christmas Island so named? Was it discovered on Christmas Day?

H.L.L., Santa, Rosa, Calif.

A. You are right. On Christmas Day 1643, Capt. William Mynors passed by the island and gave it that name. Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean about 1,600 miles northwest of Perth, Australia. About 1,400 people live on the island, which is an Australian territory.

Q. Looking at a map of Alaska, I noticed there is a city called North Pole about 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks. Is there a reason this name was selected?

W.S.S., Weston, Fla.

A. According to city officials, the name was selected in hopes it would attract toy manufacturers wanting to capitalize on the slogan, “Made in the North Pole.” It was a great idea, but it didn’t work. For now, North Pole is content with being a theme city with streets bearing holiday names: Santa Claus Lane, Snowman Lane, Kris Kringle, Mistletoe, Holiday Road, Saint Nicholas Drive and North Star Drive. There are even Blitzen and Donner streets. In 2009, the U.S. Census estimated that 2,226 people live in North Pole, “where the spirit of Christmas lives year-round.”

Q. The song “White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin and used in the 1942 movie “Holiday Inn,” starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. Was the song written for the movie, or did it exist before the film was made?

H.C., Bennington, Vt.

A. Bing Crosby first performed “White Christmas” on his NBC radio show “The Kraft Music Hall” on Christmas night, 1941. On May 29, 1942, he recorded the song for Decca Records with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra. The movie “Holiday Inn” was released in August 1942.

Q. One of the “Sesame Street” characters once sang an anti-Christmas song. What was the title? Was it ever released?

E.Z., Cape Coral, Fla.

A. Oscar the Grouch singing “I Hate Christmas” was released in 1975 on the “Merry Christmas From Sesame Street” album. A CD with the same title was released in 2011. The song was also released in 1995 on the CD titled “A Sesame Street Christmas.”

Q. What is the difference, if there is one, between “The Nutcracker” and “The Nutcracker Suite”?

J.T., Cape May, N.J.

A. “The Nutcracker” is the name of the popular Christmastime ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, which premiered in December 1892. “The Nutcracker Suite” describes a shortened orchestral version of the ballet that contains the ballet’s eight most popular songs.

Q. I was no older than 10 when my folks took me to a Christmas movie. It was about a woman who, just before Christmas, was caught trying to shoplift a piece of jewelry. A police officer involved in the case posted her bail, and the romance began. I have tried for many years to recall the movie. Do you know it?

S.K., Brandon, Minn.

A. The title of the movie is “Remember the Night” (1940). It starred Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. The movie is available on DVD.

Q. Christmas was once banned in England. Why? When?

V.G., Emporia, Kan.

A. Christmas festivities were banned by Parliament in the mid-1600s because it was believed that Christmas should be a solemn day and not a day of merriment.

Q. After Charles Dickens’ success with “A Christmas Carol,” what did he do?

J.S.T., Glasgow, Ky.

A. He continued to write. After “A Christmas Carol” was published in 1843 and met with critical acclaim, Charles Dickens wrote several other Christmas stories, but none was as successful as his first.

Q. When was the National Christmas Tree on the White House lawn established?

H.G., Wernersville, Pa.

A. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the annual tradition.

Q. I’ve enjoyed mulled wine and cider for many years. What does the word “mull” mean?

J.J.N., Cortland, N.Y.

A. “Mull” comes from Middle English and means to “heat and spice a beverage,” such as wine or ale.

Q. Reindeer are as much a part of Christmas as any other character. Why?

N.M., Baton Rouge, La.

A. Give credit to Clement Clarke Moore, who created eight flying reindeer in his “A Visit From Saint Nicholas” (also known as “The Night Before Christmas”) in 1823.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2011 Gary Clothier