A 50 question Christmas quiz

We all know that Christmas is a special time of year – you get to meet and indulge with friends and family, send and receive lots of presents – and eat lots of lovely food!

While this is a fantastic time, just how much do you know about Christmas? Try the Christmas.co.uk quiz to find out!

The question rounds will put your knowledge to the test or use our quiz questions for some light-hearted fun with friends, family or even work colleagues!

These Christmas quiz questions will also work if you are holding a virtual quiz this year – especially if you have previously enjoyed going to the pub during the festivities to enjoy a festive quiz.

 

Quiz rounds

 

The history of Christmas

1. Who banned Christmas?
2. Which member of the Royal Family popularised the Christmas tree in the UK?
3. In which town was the baby Jesus born?

 

Christmas traditions

4. What is Yule?
5. Which words were printed on the front of the first commercial Christmas card?
6. Which country started the tradition of the advent calendar by lighting a candle on each day in December?
7. Which ancient civilization started the tradition of giving and receiving gifts?
8. When is St Stephen’s Day?
9. On what date is the Twelfth Night?

Santa Claus

10. Where did the original St Nicholas come from?
11. Thomas Nast decided that Santa Claus was a jolly, fat old man with a long white beard in 1881. What was Nast’s profession?
12. Who did the Nazi’s replace Santa Claus with during their regime?
13. What do the French call their Father Christmas?

The reindeers

14. How many reindeer, including Rudolph, does Santa have?
15. Other than Rudolph, name three other reindeer
16. According to the song, what was Rudolph not allowed to play in?
17. How fast do the reindeers need to fly to deliver all the presents on time?
18. Which reindeer name means ‘Lightning’?
19. What are baby reindeers called?

Christmas food and drink

20. Which holiday drink is made from milk, egg and sugar?
21. What is the most popular meal to celebrate Christmas in Japan?
22. Which fruit is traditionally placed in stockings as gifts?
23. What is an Italian Christmas cake called?
24. What do the dried fruit and sweets represent on a Christingle?
25. What is traditionally hidden in a Christmas pudding?
26. What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to a turkey dinner at Christmas?
27. What name is given to small sausages wrapped in bacon?
28. In the film ‘Home Alone’, what kind of pizza does Kevin McCallister dream of having all to himself?
29. Which British ruler allegedly banned mince pies in the 1600s?
30. Which tin of popular chocolates enjoyed at Christmas features ‘the purple one’?

 

Christmas songs

31. Slade’s Christmas song is famous – but what is the exact title?
32. Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You?’ became a Christmas hit in what year?
33. Which jolly Christmas song was written by a homesick son for his father as a Thanksgiving gift?
34. What is the best-selling Christmas song ever?
35. Christmas song ’Do you hear what I hear?’ was a plea for peace during which 1960’s military episode?
36. Which Christmas carol features the words ‘Fa la la la la la la la la la’?
37. How many Christmas number one hits did the Spice Girls have?
38. In the song 12 Days of Christmas, what was given on the 10th day?
39. Who was Christmas number one in 2019?
40. Name the ageing rock star making a comeback ‘at any cost’ in Love Actually?
41. In the Christmas song by Nat King Cole what was ‘roasting on an open fire’?

 

Random Christmas quiz trivia questions

42. Who created the first electric Christmas lights?
43. The Christmas cracker was invented by the owner of which kind of shop?
44. In Charles Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ what was the name of Bob Cratchit’s little boy?
45. Complete these lines of the poem ‘Twas the night before Christmas’: ‘With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be …’
46. What is frankincense?
47. What is the name of the department store in the film Elf where Buddy works when he arrives in New York?
48. What food is traditionally left out in the UK for Santa?
49. Which country’s residents hide their brooms on Christmas Eve in the safest place in their home to stop witches stealing them?
50. In the run-up to Christmas Day, how many rolls of Sellotape are sold in the UK?

 

Our Christmas quiz answers

 

The history of Christmas

1. The Puritans in 1647 – for nearly 20 years.
2. Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert. He was German and that is where Christmas trees originated.
3. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke point to Jesus being born in Bethlehem.

 

Christmas traditions

4. A festival celebrated by Pagans in Germanic countries between November and January.
5. ’Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’.
6. Germany – German protestants began the tradition with candles and/or chalk marks.
7. The Romans.
8. Boxing Day
9. January 5

Santa Claus

10. Turkey – when it was under Roman occupation.
11. A political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly magazine.
12. Odin – the one-eyed Norse God of war and death who was able to see everything in the world.
13. Pere Noel

 

The reindeers

14. 9
15. Choose from: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Cupid, Vixen, Blitzen, Donner.
16. The Reindeer Games.
17. Approximately six million miles per hour.
18. Blitzen.
19. Calves.

Christmas food and drink

20. Egg Nog – it was invented in medieval England.
21. Kentucky Fried Chicken – at this time of year tables need to be booked weeks in advance!
22. Tangerines – from the myth that the original St Nicholas placed gifts of gold in the stockings of three Poor Sisters.
23. Panatone.
24. All of God’s creations.
25. A coin – traditionally a sixpence.
26. Nut roast.
27. Pigs in blankets.
28. Cheese.
29. Oliver Cromwell.
30. Quality Street

Christmas songs

31. Merry Xmas Everybody.
32. 1994.
33. ’Jingle Bells’.
34. ’White Christmas’ sung by Bing Crosby.
35. The Cuban Missile Crisis.
36. ’Deck the Halls’.
37. 3 hits.
38. 10 Lords a leaping
39. LadBaby with I Love Sausage Rolls.
40. Billy Mack (portrayed by Bill Nighy).
41. Chestnuts

 

Random Christmas trivia questions

42. Thomas Edison – to advertise electric light bulbs.
43. Tom Smith owned a sweet shop and after gazing into his fireplace thought that would be fun for children to open sweets that crackled and banged like the burning logs on an open fire.
44. Tiny Tim – a little boy who struggles with pain and hardship but is full of love and kindness.
45. St Nick.
46. A type of precious perfume.
47. Gimbels.
48. A mince pie and a glass of sherry.
49. Norway.
50. 6 million rolls