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  | A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS |  |
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    | On Dec. 25, 1973 U.S. astronauts on this space station photographed comet Kohoutek | Skylab 
 
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    | Recapturing the Holy Land was the goal of these military expeditions of the 11th-13th centuries | the Crusades 
 
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    | It's the star nearest to Earth | the Sun 
 
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    | This ancient sage known for his wise sayings is the most important philosopher in China's history | Confucius 
 
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    | Whether or not a baby is born with this kind of spoon in its mouth, it's a classic christening gift | silver 
 
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    | '"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even" this one | a mouse 
 
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    | This U.S. city's stockyards opened Dec. 25, 1865 on a tract of reclaimed swampland SW of the city | Chicago 
 
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    | Though the Holy Land's borders are indistinct, its western edge is largely provided by this sea | the Mediterranean 
 
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    | It's considered the most important star for navigators | the North Star (Polaris) 
 
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    | "The soul of man is immortal and imperishable", he said in his "Republic" | Plato 
 
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    | Noisemakers, paper hats & other small gifts given to party guests are called these | favors 
 
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    | It completes the line "but I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, 'Happy Christmas to all,...'" | and to all a good night 
 
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    | On Dec. 25, 1941 the British surrendered this colony to the Japanese | Hong Kong 
 
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    | His letters from the Holy Lands to a California newspaper form part of "Innocents Abroad" | Mark Twain 
 
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    | Astronomers often measure the distance of stars in these units, equal to about 5.88 trillion miles | a light year 
 
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    | Around 1516 this artistic genius of the renaissance moved to France at the invitation of king Francis I | Leonardo 
 
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    | This famous piece of furniture was a gift to King Arthur from his father-in-law | the Round Table 
 
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    | "He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with" these 2 items | ashes & soot 
 
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    | In 1989 Bernstein conducted Beethoven's 9th at a celebration of this landmark's destruction | (Jeff: Drawing a blank.) 
 the Berlin Wall
 
 
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    | This synonym for the Holy Land comes from a Greek word derived from Hebrew for "land of the Philistines" | Palestine 
 
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    | 3 stars called Alnitak, Alnilam & Mintaka make up this hunter's belt | Orion 
 
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    | The historian Bede is almost always described by this 9-letter adjective, a traditional term of respect | Venerable 
 
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    | Mamie Eisenhower wore this blue item at her own wedding, & later gave it to Julie Nixon to wear at hers | a garter 
 
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    | St. Nick's nose is described as resembling this fruit | a cherry 
 
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    | This world leader resigned as president Dec. 25, 1991 | Gorbachev 
 
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    | The goal of this Jewish nationalist movement was the creation of a state in the Holy Land | Zionism 
 
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    | The brightest stars of this swan constellation form the figure known as the Northern Cross | Cygnus 
 
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    | This sharp-tongued cynic could be found in the streets looking for an honest man | Diogenes 
 
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    | After Jason deserted this sorceress, she sent his new love a poisoned robe that killed her | Medea 
 
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    | Of Santa's 8 reindeer, it's the last one named | Blitzen 
 
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