Christmas Movies
From It's a Wonderful Life to Elf — how well do you know the classics? · 20 questions
Q1In Home Alone, what is the name of the family that leaves Kevin behind?
AJohnson
BMcCallister
CPeterson
DHenderson
Fun fact: The McCallister family was headed to Paris for Christmas. Kevin was accidentally left behind after a head count mix-up caused by a neighbour kid being counted twice.
Q2What is the name of the department store in Elf where Buddy decorates the Christmas section overnight?
ABloomingdale's
BGimbels
CMacy's
DSaks Fifth Avenue
Fun fact: Gimbels was a real department store chain that closed in 1987. The film used it as a period-accurate setting for the North Pole-style Christmas display Buddy creates.
Q3What are the four food groups according to Buddy the Elf?
ACandy, syrup, chocolate, ice cream
BCandy, candy canes, candy corn, syrup
CSugar, spice, sprinkles, frosting
DCookies, cake, fudge, eggnog
Fun fact: Buddy's four food groups are candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup. Will Ferrell reportedly ate roughly 12 jars of cotton ball-sized cotton candy during filming.
Q4What is the name of Scrooge's deceased business partner in A Christmas Carol?
ABob Cratchit
BJacob Marley
CTiny Tim
DFred
Fun fact: Jacob Marley's ghost visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve, warning him about the three spirits to come. Marley's chains were forged from "cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses."
Q5In The Nightmare Before Christmas, what is Jack Skellington's title in Halloween Town?
AKing of Halloween
BThe Pumpkin King
CLord of Nightmares
DThe Halloween Master
Fun fact: The Nightmare Before Christmas was directed by Henry Selick (not Tim Burton, who produced and wrote the story). The stop-motion animation took three years to complete.
Q6Which movie features the line "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"?
AHome Alone
BChristmas Vacation
CA Christmas Story
DJingle All the Way
Fun fact: The 1983 film A Christmas Story is set in the 1940s. The leg lamp (a "major award") and Ralphie's quest for a Red Ryder BB gun are iconic. The house used in the film is now a museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Q7Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
AYes — it's set entirely at Christmas
BNo — it just happens to be December
CDirector John McTiernan says no
DBoth A and C are correct
Fun fact: Director John McTiernan and screenwriter Steven de Souza have both said it is not a Christmas movie. However, Bruce Willis himself has flip-flopped on the question multiple times.
Q8What year was White Christmas (the film starring Bing Crosby) released?
Fun fact: White Christmas (1954) was the first film released in VistaVision, Paramount's new widescreen format. It was the highest-grossing film of 1954.
Q9In Love Actually, which character holds up handwritten signs outside his friend's door to confess his love?
Fun fact: Mark (Andrew Lincoln) shows up at Juliet's door with a boombox and cue cards. The scene is shot near Wandsworth in London. Andrew Lincoln went on to star in The Walking Dead.
Q10What is the name of the mean-spirited, gift-obsessed character played by Tim Allen in The Santa Clause?
AScott Calvin
BNeal Miller
CCharlie Calvin
DBernard
Fun fact: Scott Calvin accidentally causes Santa to fall off his roof on Christmas Eve and is then magically compelled to become the new Santa. The film spawned two sequels.
Q11In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, how many lights does Clark Griswold put on his house?
A10,000
B15,000
C25,000
D50,000
Fun fact: Clark uses 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights. When they finally all light up, the power surge dims the entire neighbourhood.
Q12Which actor plays the villain "Harry Lime" in Home Alone?
ADaniel Stern
BJoe Pesci
CJohn Candy
DRob Schneider
Fun fact: Joe Pesci played Harry, the leader of the "Wet Bandits." He intentionally avoided Macaulay Culkin on set so his irritation would be genuine during filming.
Q13The Polar Express is based on a children's book by which author?
AShel Silverstein
BDr. Seuss
CChris Van Allsburg
DMaurice Sendak
Fun fact: Chris Van Allsburg wrote and illustrated The Polar Express in 1985. It won the Caldecott Medal. The 2004 film used performance capture technology, which became controversial for creating an "uncanny valley" effect.
Q14In which film does a gremlin hatch on Christmas morning after a boy receives a Mogwai as a gift?
ACritters
BGremlins
CSmall Soldiers
DThe Gate
Fun fact: Gremlins (1984) is set during Christmas in the fictional town of Kingston Falls. Joe Dante directed it. The film's violence — along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom — prompted the creation of the PG-13 rating.
Q15In The Holiday, which two cities are swapped by the two main characters?
ANew York and London
BLos Angeles and Surrey
CChicago and Paris
DBoston and Edinburgh
Fun fact: Amanda (Cameron Diaz) swaps her LA mansion for Iris's (Kate Winslet) cottage in Surrey, England. The cottage was a custom-built set constructed in Surrey.
Q16What colour is the nose of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special?
APink
BOrange
CRed
DBright white
Fun fact: The 1964 Rankin/Bass special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the longest-running holiday TV special in broadcast history. It originally aired on NBC.
Q17In Klaus (the Netflix animated film), what triggers the tradition of sending Christmas letters to Santa?
AA magic mailbox
BA postman befriending a reclusive toymaker
CA child's wish on a falling star
DA royal decree
Fun fact: Klaus (2019) won the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Feature. It was the first Netflix animated film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Q18What is the name of the department store Santa Claus in the 1947 classic Miracle on 34th Street?
ANicholas Cole
BKris Kringle
CEdward Evans
DSanta Johns
Fun fact: Edmund Gwenn won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Kris Kringle — one of the few actors to win an Oscar for playing Santa Claus.
Q19In the Dr. Seuss adaptation How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), which actor plays the Grinch?
ARobin Williams
BSteve Martin
CJim Carrey
DBill Murray
Fun fact: Jim Carrey spent 8.5 hours in the makeup chair each day. He reportedly required psychological coaching to endure the process, using methods borrowed from CIA torture resistance training.
Q20What is the name of George Bailey's guardian angel in It's a Wonderful Life?
AGabriel
BClarence
CMichael
DRaphael
Fun fact: Clarence Odbody, Angel Second Class (played by Henry Travers), earns his wings by saving George Bailey. Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.
Christmas Songs & Carols
Who sang what, when, and the surprising stories behind the songs. · 20 questions
Q1Who wrote "Jingle Bells" and what holiday was it originally written for?
AIrving Berlin for Christmas
BJames Lord Pierpont for Thanksgiving
CJohn Henry Hopkins for New Year
DCharles Wesley for Christmas
Fun fact: "Jingle Bells" was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 and was originally titled "The One Horse Open Sleigh." It was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. It became the first song broadcast from space in 1965.
Q2What year did Bing Crosby record "White Christmas"?
Fun fact: "White Christmas" is the best-selling physical single of all time, with estimated sales over 50 million copies. The recording took just 18 minutes in a Hollywood studio on May 29, 1942.
Q3Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was released in which year?
Fun fact: The song was released on 1 November 1994 as part of the Merry Christmas album. It took 25 years to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which it finally did in 2019.
Q4In "The Twelve Days of Christmas," what is the total number of gifts given across all 12 days?
Fun fact: If you add up all the repetitions (e.g., the partridge is given on every day), the total is 364 gifts — one for every day of the year except Christmas Day itself.
Q5When was "Silent Night" (Stille Nacht) first performed?
Fun fact: "Stille Nacht" was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. The lyrics were written by Fr Josef Mohr and the melody by Franz Xaver Gruber.
Q6Which British band recorded "Merry Xmas Everybody" in 1973?
AT. Rex
BWizzard
CSlade
DMud
Fun fact: Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" entered the UK chart at #1 in December 1973 and has re-charted nearly every year since. It earns the band an estimated £500,000 per year.
Q7"Last Christmas" was recorded by which band?
ADuran Duran
BCulture Club
CWham!
DA-ha
Fun fact: "Last Christmas" by Wham! was released in December 1984. It notoriously failed to reach #1 in the UK, held off by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" — also a George Michael project.
Q8What was the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" released to raise funds for?
AEthiopian famine relief
BAIDS research
CHomeless veterans
DFlood victims in Bangladesh
Fun fact: Band Aid's 1984 single raised over £8 million for Ethiopian famine relief. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure organised the recording session, which featured dozens of artists from that era's top acts.
Q9Who originally recorded "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"?
AElvis Presley
BBrenda Lee
CNat King Cole
DBobby Helms
Fun fact: Brenda Lee recorded "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 1958 when she was just 13 years old. It did not chart significantly until 1960, when it reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Q10Which Christmas song begins with the line "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas"?
AWhite Christmas
BWinter Wonderland
CLet It Snow
DFrosty the Snowman
Fun fact: The song was written by Irving Berlin, who was Jewish and wrote many of America's most beloved Christmas songs. He reportedly said it was the best song he ever wrote.
Q11What gift does "my true love" send on the fifth day of Christmas?
AFive gold rings
BFive silver rings
CFive calling birds
DFive swans a-swimming
Fun fact: Five gold rings is the most extravagant single gift in the song. Historically, "five gold rings" may have referred to ring-necked pheasants, making the entire song about birds.
Q12In which country did "O Christmas Tree" (O Tannenbaum) originate?
AAustria
BSweden
CGermany
DDenmark
Fun fact: "O Tannenbaum" has German folk origins dating to the 16th century. The modern version was written by Ernst Anschütz in 1824. Several US states use the melody as their state song with different lyrics.
Q13Which Christmas carol was the first song ever broadcast from space?
ASilent Night
BJingle Bells
CRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
DWe Wish You a Merry Christmas
Fun fact: On 16 December 1965, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford on Gemini 6 played "Jingle Bells" on a smuggled harmonica and sleigh bells — the first musical instruments played in space.
Q14What does "Feliz Navidad" translate to in English?
AHappy Holidays
BMerry Christmas
CHappy New Year
DSeason's Greetings
Fun fact: "Feliz Navidad" was written and recorded by José Feliciano in 1970. He wrote and recorded it in one afternoon. It was played every Christmas season for decades before Feliciano received any significant royalties.
Q15Which Christmas song asks "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" — from which film was it originally from?
AHoliday Inn
BWhite Christmas
CMeet Me in St. Louis
DIt's a Wonderful Life
Fun fact: Judy Garland sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis. The original lyrics were much darker — Garland requested they be softened before filming.
Q16Who wrote the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"?
AIrving Berlin
BJohnny Marks
CRobert L. May
DFrank Loesser
Fun fact: The song was written by Johnny Marks based on the story by Robert L. May (his brother-in-law). It was first recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 and became the second best-selling single of all time after "White Christmas."
Q17The song "Carol of the Bells" is based on a Ukrainian folk chant celebrating which pagan tradition?
AThe winter solstice
BThe New Year
CThe harvest festival
DThe first snowfall
Fun fact: "Carol of the Bells" is based on "Shchedryk," a Ukrainian folk chant about the New Year. Mykola Leontovych composed the choral arrangement in 1916. Peter Wilhousky added English Christmas lyrics in 1936.
Q18In "Good King Wenceslas," on what feast day does Wenceslas look out?
AChristmas Day
BBoxing Day
CThe Feast of Stephen
DEpiphany
Fun fact: The Feast of Stephen is December 26, also known as Boxing Day. Good King Wenceslas was a real 10th-century Bohemian duke who was canonised as a saint and is now the patron saint of the Czech Republic.
Q19Which iconic Christmas song was written in less than an hour by Irving Berlin on a Christmas morning?
ABlue Christmas
BWhite Christmas
CI'll Be Home for Christmas
DSilver Bells
Fun fact: Irving Berlin reportedly wrote "White Christmas" quickly, telling his secretary "I want you to take down a song I wrote over the weekend. Not only is it the best song I ever wrote, it's the best song anybody ever wrote."
Q20What instrument is prominently featured in the intro to "All I Want for Christmas Is You"?
APiano
BSleigh bells
CAcoustic guitar
DTrumpet
Fun fact: The sleigh bells in the intro are one of the most recognisable Christmas music sounds in modern pop. Mariah Carey co-wrote and co-produced the song with Walter Afanasieff in just fifteen minutes.
Christmas Traditions Around the World
From Japan's KFC Christmas to Iceland's 13 Santas — the world gets festive in unexpected ways. · 20 questions
Q1Which country is credited with inventing the Christmas tree tradition?
AEngland
BNorway
CGermany
DSweden
Fun fact: The Christmas tree tradition originated in Germany, where decorated evergreen trees were brought indoors. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Queen Victoria's husband) popularised it in Britain in 1848.
Q2What do many Japanese people traditionally eat on Christmas Day?
ASushi
BRamen
CKFC fried chicken
DTempura
Fun fact: KFC Japan launched a "Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii" (Kentucky for Christmas) campaign in 1974. It was so successful that Japanese families now pre-order KFC Christmas meals months in advance.
Q3How many Santas (the Yule Lads) does Iceland have?
Fun fact: Iceland's 13 Jólasveinar (Yule Lads) are mischievous troll-like figures who each arrive on the 13 nights before Christmas, leaving gifts or rotting potatoes for children. They are accompanied by the terrifying Yule Cat.
Q4In which country is Christmas celebrated on January 7th (in the Eastern Orthodox tradition)?
AGreece
BRussia
CBulgaria
DSerbia
Fun fact: Russia, Ethiopia, Serbia, and several other countries with Orthodox traditions celebrate Christmas on January 7th, following the Julian calendar. The date difference arises because the Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar.
Q5What is the Christmas season called in Australia, where December falls in summer?
AThe Festive Season
BChristmas is Christmas
CA Christmas unlike yours
DBarbie Christmas
Fun fact: Australians still call it Christmas — there is no special name. Many Australians celebrate with outdoor barbecues, beach gatherings, and cricket matches on Christmas Day rather than cosy indoor dinners.
Q6In Spain, the Christmas lottery "El Gordo" (The Fat One) takes place on which date?
ADecember 22nd
BChristmas Eve
CChristmas Day
DJanuary 6th
Fun fact: "El Gordo" (The Fat One) on December 22nd is the world's largest lottery by total prize money. It has been running since 1812. Nearly everyone in Spain participates — entire villages often win together.
Q7In Venezuela, it is traditional to attend Christmas Mass — but how do many people travel to church?
AWalking with candles
BOn horseback
CRoller skating
DBy bicycle
Fun fact: In Caracas, Venezuela, it is traditional to roller skate to early morning Christmas Mass (Misa de Aguinaldo). Streets are closed to traffic until 8am so that roller skaters can travel safely.
Q8What does the Finnish tradition of "Christmas Sauna" (Joulysauna) involve?
AA sauna party with friends
BA ritual cleansing before Christmas
CBuilding a sauna as a gift
DA sauna competition
Fun fact: In Finland, the Christmas Sauna is taken on Christmas Eve as a ritual purification before the holiday. Traditionally, the spirits of deceased family members were believed to use the sauna on Christmas Eve.
Q9In the Czech Republic, what do single women traditionally throw over their shoulder on Christmas Eve to predict if they will marry?
AA coin
BA shoe
CA pine cone
DA piece of mistletoe
Fun fact: Czech women throw a shoe over their shoulder on Christmas Eve. If the toe points toward the door, marriage is imminent. If it points inward, they will remain single for another year.
Q10What Christmas tradition do Norwegians follow involving their brooms?
ADecorating brooms with holly
BGiving brooms as gifts
CHiding brooms before Christmas Eve
DSweeping the house at midnight
Fun fact: In Norway, it is traditional to hide all brooms on Christmas Eve. The superstition dates from pre-Christian times — it was believed that witches and mischievous spirits came out on Christmas Eve and would steal brooms.
Q11In Ethiopia, where Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, what is the holiday called?
AGenna
BTimkat
CFasika
DMeskel
Fun fact: Ethiopian Christmas is called Genna (or Ledet). Celebrations include attending church services and playing a field hockey-like game also called Genna. The game is said to have been played by shepherds when they heard of the birth of Christ.
Q12Which country has the tradition of KFC-inspired "Christmas Cake" — meaning a strawberry shortcake sold at Christmas?
ASouth Korea
BJapan
CTaiwan
DPhilippines
Fun fact: In Japan, the Christmas cake (a white sponge with strawberries and cream) is sold by bakeries in vast quantities from mid-December. It was popularised in post-war Japan as a symbol of Western prosperity.
Q13What is "Sinterklaas" and when does he arrive in the Netherlands?
AA Christmas elf who arrives December 24th
BA Saint who arrives by steamboat in mid-November
CA reindeer who arrives December 1st
DA Christmas wizard who arrives on the winter solstice
Fun fact: Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) arrives in the Netherlands by steamboat from Spain in mid-November. Children leave their shoes out to be filled with gifts. His feast day, Sinterklaasavond, is December 5th — before Christmas.
Q14In Sweden, a giant traditional Advent symbol is burnt every year in the town of Gävle. What is it?
AA Christmas star
BA Yule log
CA straw goat
DA pine tree
Fun fact: The Gävle Goat (Gävlebocken) is a large straw goat erected in Gävle's Castle Square every Advent. Since 1966, it has been repeatedly destroyed by arson, usually before Christmas Day. It has survived roughly half the years since then.
Q15In Ukraine, Christmas tree decorations traditionally include a spider web — because of what legend?
AA spider spun gold thread to decorate the first Christmas tree
BA poor widow's children found a spider web turned to gold on Christmas morning
CSt. Nicholas disguised himself as a spider
DSpiders were believed to be good luck at Christmas
Fun fact: Legend says a poor family could not afford decorations, and on Christmas morning found that spiders had covered their tree in webs which sunlight turned to silver and gold. This is the origin of tinsel on Christmas trees.
Q16In which Latin American country do families traditionally burn an "Año Viejo" (Old Year) effigy on New Year's Eve, which begins during the Christmas season?
AMexico
BColombia
CEcuador
DPeru
Fun fact: In Ecuador, families build and burn effigies of the Old Year on December 31st to symbolise burning away the bad and welcoming the new. The effigies often represent political figures or pop culture characters.
Q17Which European city traditionally starts the Christmas market season, with one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world?
AVienna
BStrasbourg
CNuremberg
DDresden
Fun fact: The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (Christ Child Market) has been held since 1628, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world. It runs for four weeks before Christmas in the city's medieval old town.
Q18In Mexico, what are "Las Posadas" and how long do they last?
AChristmas Eve Mass lasting all night
BA 9-night celebration before Christmas
CA 12-day celebration after Christmas
DA single Christmas feast on December 23rd
Fun fact: Las Posadas (The Inns) is a 9-night celebration from December 16–24 that re-enacts Mary and Joseph's search for shelter. Participants travel door to door in procession, with singing and piñata-smashing.
Q19What is "Advent" and how many Sundays does it include?
AThe 12 days of Christmas — starting Christmas Day
BThe four Sundays before Christmas — a period of preparation
CThe eight days of Hanukkah — coinciding with December
DThe three weeks after Christmas — a period of celebration
Fun fact: Advent spans the four Sundays before Christmas. The word comes from the Latin "adventus," meaning "arrival." The Advent wreath (with four candles lit progressively) dates from 19th-century Germany.
Q20In the Philippines, Christmas celebrations begin as early as which month?
AOctober
BNovember
CSeptember
DAugust
Fun fact: The Philippines is famous for having the world's longest Christmas season — unofficially starting in September when "-ber" months begin. The traditional star lantern (parol) lights homes from September through January.
Christmas History
How December 25th became the biggest holiday on Earth. · 20 questions
Q1When was Christmas first officially celebrated as a Christian holiday?
A1st century AD
B2nd century AD
C4th century AD
D6th century AD
Fun fact: The earliest recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in AD 336 during the reign of Emperor Constantine I, the first Christian Roman emperor.
Q2Why was December 25th chosen as the date for Christmas?
AIt was definitively proven to be Jesus's birthday
BIt coincided with existing pagan winter festivals
CA Roman council voted for it as the most convenient date
DPope Julius I declared it based on scripture
Fun fact: December 25th was chosen partly to coincide with existing Roman festivals including Saturnalia and Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun). Absorbing existing festivals helped spread Christianity.
Q3Who is credited with inventing the Christmas card?
ACharles Dickens
BPrince Albert
CJohn Calcott Horsley
DHenry Cole
Fun fact: The first commercial Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and designed by John Calcott Horsley in 1843 — the same year Dickens published A Christmas Carol. About 1,000 cards were printed and sold for one shilling each.
Q4When were Christmas trees first lit with electric lights?
Fun fact: Edward Johnson, a colleague of Thomas Edison, hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue bulbs and strung them on a Christmas tree in 1882. He reportedly did it as a publicity stunt for the Edison Electric Light Company.
Q5In what year did Christmas become a US federal holiday?
Fun fact: President Ulysses S. Grant signed Christmas into law as a US federal holiday in 1870, along with New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day.
Q6What was originally put inside Christmas stockings?
AToys and sweets
BGold coins
CFruit and nuts
DSmall handmade gifts
Fun fact: The tradition of hanging stockings comes from the legend of St. Nicholas throwing bags of gold coins through the window of a poor man's house to provide dowries for his daughters. The coins landed in stockings drying by the fire.
Q7Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol was published in which year?
Fun fact: A Christmas Carol was published on 19 December 1843. It sold out its first edition of 6,000 copies by Christmas Eve. Dickens wrote it in just six weeks and is widely credited with reviving many Christmas traditions in Victorian England.
Q8The tradition of sending Christmas cards became widespread in Britain after which innovation?
AThe railway system
BThe penny post (uniform penny postage)
CThe telegraph
DThe printing press
Fun fact: The introduction of the Penny Post in 1840 made sending letters and cards affordable for ordinary people. Combined with cheap printing, Christmas card sending exploded through the 1860s and 1870s.
Q9What was "Christmas" originally called in Old English?
AYule-tide
BCristes Maesse
CNatalis Domini
DWinter Feast
Fun fact: "Cristes Maesse" (Christ's Mass) is the Old English origin of the word Christmas. "Xmas" is not a modern abbreviation — the X represents the Greek letter Chi, the first letter of Christos (Christ), used since the 16th century.
Q10Who was the first president to put a Christmas tree in the White House?
AGeorge Washington
BAbraham Lincoln
CFranklin Pierce
DTheodore Roosevelt
Fun fact: Franklin Pierce set up the first White House Christmas tree in 1856. Theodore Roosevelt famously banned Christmas trees from the White House on environmental grounds — though his children reportedly smuggled one in.
Q11What ancient Roman festival is often cited as a precursor to Christmas?
ASol Invictus
BSaturnalia
CBoth A and B
DLupercalia
Fun fact: Both Saturnalia (a festival of Saturn involving feasting and gift-giving) and Sol Invictus (birth of the Unconquered Sun on December 25th) are cited as precursors. Early Christians absorbed elements of both.
Q12Boxing Day (December 26) gets its name from what tradition?
AA boxing match held on that day
BChurch alms boxes opened to distribute to the poor
CThe day servants packed boxes of leftover food
DBoxing up and returning Christmas gifts
Fun fact: Boxing Day is named after the practice of opening "alms boxes" placed in churches during Advent to collect money for the poor, which were opened and distributed on December 26th. It became a UK bank holiday in 1871.
Q13The modern image of Santa Claus was heavily influenced by which 19th-century poem?
AThe Night Before Christmas
BA Visit from St. Nicholas
CBoth (they are the same poem)
DThe Christmas Story
Fun fact: "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (commonly known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas") was published anonymously in 1823. It is the same poem — it established Santa's sleigh, eight reindeer, chimney entry, and portly appearance.
Q14Carolling (going door to door singing Christmas songs) evolved from which medieval tradition?
AChurch choir performances
BWassailing
CMinstrelsy
DMystery play performances
Fun fact: Carolling evolved from wassailing — a tradition where villagers would travel to homes of the wealthy singing songs in exchange for food, drink (wassail), and coins. The wassail bowl was central to the celebration.
Q15Which country banned Christmas for a period in the 17th century?
AFrance
BEngland
CSpain
DGermany
Fun fact: Christmas was banned in England by the Puritan Parliament in 1647. It was seen as papist excess and associated with disorder. The ban was unpopular and widely ignored. Christmas was restored with Charles II in 1660.
Q16When did the US Post Office first overwhelm by Christmas mail, forcing additional postal workers to be hired?
Fun fact: By the 1880s, the explosion in Christmas card and gift sending had overwhelmed the US postal system. The tradition of Christmas shopping season and Christmas postmarks dates from this era.
Q17The first Christmas broadcast by a British monarch was made by whom, and in which year?
AQueen Victoria in 1888
BKing George V in 1932
CKing George VI in 1939
DQueen Elizabeth II in 1952
Fun fact: King George V delivered the first royal Christmas broadcast on BBC Radio on 25 December 1932, with a speech written by Rudyard Kipling. It was heard by an estimated 20 million listeners around the world.
Q18What was the original colour of Santa Claus's robes before the Coca-Cola advertisements of the 1930s?
AHe was always red — Coca-Cola didn't invent this
BGreen
CBrown
DBlue
Fun fact: The red Santa predates Coca-Cola's famous 1930s advertisements by decades. Thomas Nast's 1881 illustrations in Harper's Weekly depict a red-suited Santa. Coca-Cola popularised this image globally but did not invent it.
Q19The tradition of the Yule log originates from which culture?
ARoman
BNorse/Scandinavian
CCeltic
DFrench
Fun fact: The Yule log tradition comes from Norse/Scandinavian cultures, where a large log was burned during the midwinter festival of Yule. The log was chosen ceremonially and expected to burn through the full 12 days of Yule.
Q20Mistletoe at Christmas is associated with kissing. This tradition originated in which culture?
ARoman
BViking/Norse
CCeltic
DGreek
Fun fact: The kissing tradition under mistletoe likely derives from Celtic and Norse beliefs that mistletoe had magical properties including fertility and protection. The Druids considered it sacred when found growing on oak trees.
Christmas Food & Drink
Eggnog, mince pies, and the dishes that only appear in December. · 15 questions
Q1Mince pies were traditionally made with real meat. When did they stop containing actual meat?
AAfter the Black Death (1350s)
BAfter the English Civil War (1650s)
CDuring the Victorian era (1850s)
DDuring World War I (1910s)
Fun fact: Mince pies originally contained minced meat, suet, dried fruits, and spices. The meat was gradually reduced during the Victorian era until they became the all-fruit-and-suet version we know today.
Q2What is mulled wine called in Germany?
AHeiswein
BWinterwein
CGlühwein
DFestwein
Fun fact: Glühwein (literally "glow wine") is a staple of German Christmas markets. The name refers to the glow of hot metal used to heat the wine in medieval times. Germany's Christmas market tradition dates from the 14th century.
Q3Eggnog is traditionally associated with Christmas in North America. Where did it originate?
AEngland, from a drink called "posset"
BGermany, from a milk and wine drink
CFrance, from a Norman cream drink
DScotland, from a whisky cream mixture
Fun fact: Eggnog likely evolved from "posset," a hot milk and ale/wine drink popular in medieval England. American colonists adapted it with rum (more available than British ale) and eggs, creating the thick, cold version we know today.
AA French Christmas punch
BA French Christmas log cake
CA Belgian Christmas pastry
DA Swiss Christmas bread
Fun fact: Bûche de Noël (Yule Log) is a French chocolate sponge cake rolled and decorated to resemble a log. The tradition grew in the late 19th century as real Yule logs became impractical in urban apartments.
Q5Approximately how many turkeys are eaten in the UK on Christmas Day?
A4 million
B10 million
C14 million
D22 million
Fun fact: About 10–15 million turkeys are eaten in the UK at Christmas. Turkey became the popular Christmas dish in the 20th century, replacing the Victorian tradition of goose. Henry VIII is said to be the first English king to eat turkey at Christmas.
Q6What coin is traditionally hidden inside a British Christmas pudding?
AA penny
BA sixpence
CA threepenny bit
DA shilling
Fun fact: A silver sixpence is traditionally hidden in the Christmas pudding. Whoever finds it in their portion is said to have good luck for the coming year. The tradition predates the sixpence — in medieval times it was a dried bean or pea.
Q7Cranberry sauce became associated with the American Thanksgiving and Christmas table after which event made cranberries widely available?
AUS colonists traded with Native Americans from the 1620s
BOcean Spray co-operative was founded and began mass production in 1912
CHenry Hall cultivated the first cranberry bogs in 1816
DCranberry sauce was invented by Marcus L. Urann in 1912
Fun fact: Marcus L. Urann canned the first commercial cranberry sauce in 1912, launching what became Ocean Spray. Before this, fresh cranberries were regional and seasonal. Canned cranberry sauce democratised the dish nationwide.
Q8Gingerbread houses are traditionally associated with Christmas. Which fairy tale is credited with making them famous?
ACinderella
BHansel and Gretel
CSnow White
DSleeping Beauty
Fun fact: The Brothers Grimm published Hansel and Gretel in 1812, which featured a house made of bread and cake with sugar windows. German bakers began making edible gingerbread houses shortly after. The tradition spread from there.
Q9What is Stollen, the German Christmas bread?
AA dark rye bread with caraway seeds
BA fruit bread with dried fruits and marzipan, dusted with icing sugar
CA sweet pastry filled with cinnamon and nuts
DA chocolate brioche bread
Fun fact: Stollen is a rich German fruit bread with raisins, candied peel, and marzipan. Dresden Stollen (Dresdner Stollen) has protected geographical indication status in the EU. The fold of the bread is said to represent the Christ child in swaddling clothes.
Q10The tradition of Christmas pudding being flambéed (set on fire) with brandy serves what original purpose?
AIt was purely decorative and theatrical
BThe flames burned off bacteria in the alcohol
CIt was a nod to the holly (representing Christ's crown of thorns) — the fire symbolised his passion
DIt kept the pudding warm while it was carried to the table
Fun fact: The flambéing of Christmas pudding has both practical and symbolic roots. The flames are said to represent the Passion of Christ. The holly sprig represents Christ's crown of thorns.
Q11Which festive drink is known as "Advocaat" in the Netherlands?
AA spiced ale
BA rich, creamy egg-based liqueur
CA hot wine punch
DA juniper spirit
Fun fact: Advocaat is a thick, creamy Dutch liqueur made from eggs, sugar, and brandy. It is the base of the Snowball cocktail (Advocaat with lemonade), which is strongly associated with British Christmas parties.
Q12Panettone, the sweet Italian Christmas bread, originated in which city?
ARome
BVenice
CMilan
DFlorence
Fun fact: Panettone is a Milanese speciality with origins dating to the 15th century. One legend says it was invented by a baker named Toni ("pan de Toni" = Toni's bread). Modern commercial production was industrialised by Angelo Motta in the 1920s.
Q13In Scandinavia, what is "Julbord" (the Christmas table)?
AA board game played at Christmas
BA traditional Christmas buffet spread
CA special Christmas dining table passed down through generations
DA Christmas Eve ceremony at the family dinner table
Fun fact: Julbord is the traditional Scandinavian Christmas buffet, featuring dishes like pickled herring, gravlax, meatballs, Janssons frestelse (anchovy potato gratin), and rice pudding. It is typically eaten on Christmas Eve.
Q14Why is a Christmas pudding traditionally made on "Stir-up Sunday"?
ABecause it needs 5 weeks to mature before Christmas
BBecause it is the only Sunday in December when ovens are free
CBecause the Church of England collect prayer begins "Stir up, we beseech thee" on that Sunday
DBecause Sunday is the traditional baking day in British households
Fun fact: Stir-up Sunday falls on the last Sunday before Advent. The name comes from the opening words of the collect prayer for that day: "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord..." The pudding needs time to mature — traditionally each family member stirs it and makes a wish.
Q15Which country has the tradition of eating "Risgrynsgröt" (rice porridge) on Christmas Eve and hiding an almond inside?
ADenmark
BFinland
CSweden
DNorway
Fun fact: Swedish Risgrynsgröt (rice porridge) is eaten on Christmas Eve with a hidden almond — whoever finds it in their bowl is said to marry in the coming year (or, in some versions, has good luck all year). In Denmark the same tradition exists with Risalamande.
Santa, Reindeer & Christmas Lore
Test your knowledge of the man in red and his famous team. · 20 questions
Q1How many reindeer does Santa have in total, including Rudolph?
Fun fact: Santa has 9 reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph. The original 8 were named in the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Rudolph was added in 1939.
Q2Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 for what original purpose?
AA CBS Christmas television special
BA Montgomery Ward department store promotional booklet
CA Hallmark Christmas card campaign
DA Radio City Music Hall show
Fun fact: Robert L. May wrote Rudolph for Montgomery Ward stores in 1939. The stores had been buying colouring books for children at Christmas; May's employer suggested writing their own to save money. 2.4 million copies were distributed that year.
Q3What are the names of Santa's original eight reindeer (before Rudolph)?
ADasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen
BDasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder, Blixem
CBoth A and B — alternative spellings exist
DDancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph
Fun fact: The original 1823 poem used "Dunder and Blixem" (Dutch for Thunder and Lightning). Later versions changed them to Donner and Blitzen (German for Thunder and Lightning). Both spellings are historically correct.
Q4Which reindeer name means "dancer" in its original language?
APrancer
BVixen
CDancer (it is simply English)
DComet
Fun fact: Of the reindeer names, only Dancer is straightforward English. Donner/Dunder and Blitzen/Blixem are Dutch/German for Thunder and Lightning. Cupid references Roman mythology. The others are English descriptors.
Q5What is the name of Santa Claus's home in popular culture?
AThe North Pole
BLapland, Finland
CBoth are used in different traditions
DGreenland
Fun fact: In American tradition, Santa lives at the North Pole. In Finnish tradition, Santa (Father Christmas / Joulupukki) lives in Korvatunturi, Lapland. Both are widely used — Finland even has an official Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.
Q6The NORAD Santa Tracker — tracking Santa on Christmas Eve — started because of what accident?
AA child called NORAD instead of a toy store Santa hotline
BA newspaper misprinted a number as NORAD's defense line
CA NORAD radar operator spotted an unidentified object on Christmas Eve
DAn air traffic controller started it as a personal project
Fun fact: In 1955, a Sears Roebuck advertisement misprinted the phone number for their Santa hotline as the number for NORAD's Continental Air Defense Command. Colonel Harry Shoup answered and played along. NORAD has tracked Santa every year since.
Q7St. Nicholas (the real historical figure behind Santa Claus) was a bishop from which region?
ARome, Italy
BMyra, Turkey
CAlexandria, Egypt
DJerusalem, Israel
Fun fact: St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was known for secretly giving gifts of gold to the poor. His bones are claimed by both Bari, Italy (since 1087) and Myra.
Q8What is the name of the evil Christmas figure in German-speaking countries who punishes naughty children?
AGryla
BBlack Peter
CKrampus
DPerchta
Fun fact: Krampus is a horned, demonic figure from Alpine folklore who accompanies St. Nicholas. While Nicholas rewards good children with gifts, Krampus punishes naughty ones — traditionally depicted dragging them away in a basket.
Q9How many letters does Santa reportedly receive from children every year (at USPS)?
A500,000
B1 million
COver 2 million
DOver 30 million
Fun fact: The US Postal Service's "Operation Santa" receives over 2 million letters addressed to Santa each year. The program allows approved volunteers to answer letters from children in need. Canada Post has its own Santa program with a postal code: H0H 0H0.
Q10In the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," what simile describes how Santa's belly shakes?
ALike a large bowl of pudding
BLike a bowl full of jelly
CLike a sack full of toys
DLike a pot full of custard
Fun fact: "His belly shook, when he laughed, in spite of himself, like a bowlful of jelly." This 1823 description is the origin of the iconic "bowl full of jelly" belly image of Santa Claus.
Q11What does "Ho Ho Ho" translate to or symbolise in the traditional Santa mythology?
AThe three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh
BJoy, happiness, and goodwill — representing Santa's cheerful nature
CIt has no specific meaning — it is simply a laugh
DIt represents the three spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future
Fun fact: "Ho Ho Ho" is simply an exclamation of laughter with no deeper encoded meaning. The triple repetition gives it a distinctive, jovial rhythm. Some children's books have retroactively assigned meaning, but none is canonical.
Q12Which artist's 1881 illustrations in Harper's Weekly Magazine are largely responsible for the modern image of Santa Claus?
ANorman Rockwell
BThomas Nast
CN.C. Wyeth
DHaddon Sundblom
Fun fact: Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly from 1863 to 1886, establishing the rotund, red-suited, white-bearded image. Haddon Sundblom later cemented this image in the famous Coca-Cola ad campaigns from 1931.
Q13In Dutch tradition, who is Sinterklaas's controversial helper?
AKrampus
BZwarte Piet (Black Peter)
CFather Frost
DPère Fouettard
Fun fact: Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) is a controversial traditional figure in Dutch culture. The Netherlands has had significant public debate about the costume (historically involving blackface) in recent decades, with many municipalities modernising the depictions.
Q14What is the name of Santa's lead workshop manager (the head elf) in most popular depictions?
AAlabaster
BBernard
CHermey
DJingle
Fun fact: Bernard the Head Elf appears in the 1994 film The Santa Clause. Hermey is the elf who wants to be a dentist in the 1964 Rankin/Bass special. Different adaptations have different head elves, but Bernard is among the most recognisable.
Q15According to the NORAD Santa Tracker, at what speed does Santa travel to deliver gifts around the world?
AThe speed of light
BSeveral thousand times the speed of sound
CRoughly 650 miles per second
DNORAD doesn't give a speed estimate
Fun fact: NORAD's Santa Tracker estimates Santa travels at roughly 650 miles per second (or about 3,450 times the speed of sound), faster than any known aircraft. The tracker is a beloved tradition — it receives millions of website and phone call queries on Christmas Eve.
Q16Rudolph was NOT an original reindeer. He appeared in a 1939 story. What colour was his nose in the original Montgomery Ward booklet illustrations?
AThe same bright red as today
BA duller brick red
CPink
DThe illustrations were black and white
Fun fact: The original 1939 Montgomery Ward booklet was illustrated in black, white, and brown tones by Denver Gillen. Rudolph's nose was shown as shiny but not in colour. The famous red glowing nose was established in later adaptations.
Q17Father Christmas and Santa Claus are sometimes treated as separate figures. Father Christmas originates from which country?
AGermany
BEngland
CFrance
DUnited States
Fun fact: Father Christmas is a distinctly English figure with roots in early modern English tradition as a personification of Christmas revelry and good cheer. Over the 19th and 20th centuries, Father Christmas merged with the American Santa Claus figure to become essentially the same character.
Q18What are the names of the Yule Lads in Iceland — and what do they do in the 13 nights before Christmas?
AThey deliver gifts like Santa Claus
BEach one has a mischievous habit (e.g., stealing sausages, slamming doors)
CThey punish naughty children
DThey sing carols outside homes
Fun fact: Each of Iceland's 13 Yule Lads has a distinct mischievous personality: Sheep-Cote Clod harasses sheep, Gully Gawk hides in ditches, Stubby steals food from frying pans, Door-Sniffer sniffs doors to find food. They are the sons of the troll Gryla.
Q19In which country is the Christmas gift-giver called "Ded Moroz" (Grandfather Frost) rather than Santa Claus?
APoland
BRussia
CUkraine
DBoth B and C, and several other Slavic countries
Fun fact: Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) is the Christmas/New Year gift-bringer in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and many other Slavic nations. He is typically accompanied by Snegurochka (Snow Maiden). He delivers gifts on New Year's Eve, not Christmas.
Q20What is the mythological figure "Befana" in Italian Christmas tradition?
AA friendly witch who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany (January 6th)
BThe Italian name for the Virgin Mary in Christmas celebrations
CA fairy godmother who appears on Christmas Eve
DA Christmas gnome who lives in the mountains
Fun fact: Befana is a friendly witch who flies on a broomstick and delivers gifts to children on the night of January 5th (Epiphany Eve). Good children get candy and gifts; naughty children get coal. The tradition is more important than Christmas Day in many Italian families.
Frequently asked questions
How many Christmas trivia questions should a Christmas quiz have?
For a Christmas party, 30-40 questions in 4-5 rounds works well for a 45-minute quiz. For a quick game at a family dinner, 15-20 questions in 20 minutes is perfect. Use 3-4 categories so the topics stay varied — Christmas movies, songs, traditions, and history make a balanced set.
What is a good Christmas quiz format for a work party?
Try: 5 rounds of 8 questions each (40 questions total), teams of 4-5 people, 30 seconds per question, results revealed on a shared screen. Run it on Chooseday so everyone votes from their phone — no paper, instant scoring. End with a tiebreaker question for neck-and-neck teams.
Are these Christmas trivia questions suitable for children?
The Christmas Movies, Santa & Reindeer, and Christmas Songs categories are suitable for children aged 8 and above. The Christmas History and Traditions categories are better for adults and older teens. For a mixed-age family quiz, use questions from all categories but let children attempt every question with the multiple choice options as a guide.
What are the hardest Christmas trivia questions?
The Christmas History and World Traditions categories tend to catch people out most — few people know that Christmas cards were invented in 1843, that the Christmas tree tradition comes from Germany, or that Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created as a department store promotion. These make great tiebreaker questions.
Can I use these questions for a free Christmas quiz night?
Yes — all questions are completely free to use for Christmas parties, school events, church gatherings, pub quiz nights, and family games. No sign-up or attribution required.