40 Christmas Quiz Questions and Answers (2026)
A free, ready-to-use Christmas quiz for family, friends or the office party. The answers are hidden under each question, so you can test yourself, or print the page and read it out.
Round 1: Christmas Films
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Which actor plays the reluctant new Santa in the 1994 film The Santa Clause?
A) Steve Martin B) Tim Allen C) Chevy Chase D) Robin Williams
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Tim Allen
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Which 1984 Christmas film features cute creatures that must never get wet or be fed after midnight?
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Gremlins — The friendly mogwai at the heart of the story is called Gizmo.
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In the classic film Miracle on 34th Street, which New York department store hires Kris Kringle as its Santa?
A) Bloomingdale's B) Saks C) Macy's D) Gimbels
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Macy's
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What is the surname of Chevy Chase's accident-prone family in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?
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Griswold
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In Dr Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, what is the name of the Grinch's long-suffering dog?
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Max
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Which actor plays the Scrooge-like TV executive Frank Cross in the 1988 comedy Scrooged?
A) Bill Murray B) Dan Aykroyd C) Steve Martin D) Chevy Chase
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Bill Murray
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Who wrote and directed the 2003 film Love Actually?
A) Nancy Meyers B) Mike Newell C) Danny Boyle D) Richard Curtis
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Richard Curtis — It was Curtis's first film as a director, after writing Four Weddings and Notting Hill.
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In what year was Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas first released?
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1993 — Tim Burton produced it and came up with the story. Henry Selick directed it.
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In It's a Wonderful Life, what is the first name of the trainee angel who saves George Bailey?
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Clarence — Clarence is an "Angel, Second Class" trying to earn his wings.
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Which actor plays Ebenezer Scrooge in Disney's 2009 motion-capture film A Christmas Carol?
A) Tom Hanks B) Steve Carell C) Jim Carrey D) Robin Williams
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Jim Carrey — Carrey also plays all three Christmas ghosts.
Round 2: Christmas Music
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Which band released "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" in 1973?
A) Slade B) Wizzard C) Mud D) The Sweet
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Wizzard — It reached number four, beaten that Christmas by Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody".
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Which singer-songwriter released "Driving Home for Christmas"?
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Chris Rea
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Which boy band had the 1994 Christmas number one with "Stay Another Day"?
A) Take That B) Boyzone C) East 17 D) Westlife
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East 17
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Which former Beatle released "Wonderful Christmastime" in 1979?
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Paul McCartney
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In 1977, Bing Crosby recorded "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" for a TV special with which singer?
A) Frank Sinatra B) Elvis Presley C) Mick Jagger D) David Bowie
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David Bowie — Crosby died about five weeks after the recording, before the special was broadcast.
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"Mary's Boy Child" was Christmas number one for Harry Belafonte in 1957 and for which group in 1978?
A) Boney M. B) ABBA C) Brotherhood of Man D) The Nolans
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Boney M. — Belafonte's version spent seven weeks at number one.
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Which pink and yellow spotty character from Noel's House Party had the 1993 Christmas number one?
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Mr Blobby
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Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was Christmas number one twice. In what year did it first do it?
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1975 — It was Christmas number one again in 1991, weeks after Freddie Mercury's death.
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Which children's TV character had the 2000 Christmas number one with "Can We Fix It?"
A) Postman Pat B) Fireman Sam C) Bob the Builder D) Thomas the Tank Engine
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Bob the Builder
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Who had the 1992 Christmas number one with "I Will Always Love You"?
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Whitney Houston — The song was written by Dolly Parton, who first recorded it in 1973.
Round 3: Christmas Traditions & History
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What name is given to the church service held late on Christmas Eve, often starting at 11.30pm or midnight?
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Midnight Mass
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Before it became a chocolate cake, what was a Yule log?
A) A diary of Christmas gifts B) A large log burned in the hearth C) A wooden sledge D) A carved toy
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A large log burned in the hearth
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Saint Nicholas, who inspired Santa Claus, was a bishop in Myra. In which modern-day country is Myra?
A) Greece B) Italy C) Turkey D) The Netherlands
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Turkey — His relics were taken to Bari in Italy in 1087, where they remain.
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In what year did British and German soldiers hold the famous Christmas truce on the Western Front?
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1914
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In 1647, what did England's Puritan-controlled Parliament do to Christmas?
A) Moved it to January B) Made it a three-day holiday C) Banned its celebration D) Made church on Christmas Day compulsory
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Banned its celebration — Christmas celebrations came back with the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
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Which Roman winter festival in December, with feasting and gift-giving, is often linked to Christmas customs?
A) Saturnalia B) Lupercalia C) Floralia D) Vestalia
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Saturnalia
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The Advent wreath with candles was first used in 1839 by a pastor in which country?
A) Sweden B) Germany C) Italy D) France
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Germany — Hamburg pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern made it from an old cartwheel to help children count down to Christmas.
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What name is given to the model of the stable scene of Jesus's birth that is often displayed at Christmas?
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Nativity scene — St Francis of Assisi is credited with staging a living nativity at Greccio, Italy, in 1223.
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In which country is St Lucia's Day on 13 December celebrated with a girl wearing a crown of candles?
A) Spain B) Ireland C) Greece D) Sweden
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Sweden
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Boxing Day became an official bank holiday in England and Wales under the Bank Holidays Act of which year?
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1871 — Scotland did not get a Boxing Day bank holiday until 1974.
Round 4: Festive Food & Drink
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Before turkey took over, which bird was the traditional Christmas roast in England?
A) Goose B) Swan C) Chicken D) Pheasant
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Goose — The Cratchits eat a goose in Dickens's A Christmas Carol.
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Which berry is used to make the sauce traditionally served with roast turkey?
A) Redcurrant B) Cranberry C) Blackcurrant D) Raspberry
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Cranberry
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Which sauce, made with milk, onion, cloves and breadcrumbs, is a traditional partner for turkey?
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Bread sauce
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Which cheese is the classic partner for a glass of port at Christmas?
A) Cheddar B) Brie C) Wensleydale D) Stilton
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Stilton
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What is the name of the creamy festive drink made with eggs, milk, sugar and often a dash of rum or brandy?
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Eggnog
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A Snowball cocktail is made by mixing lemonade with which Dutch egg liqueur?
A) Baileys B) Advocaat C) Amaretto D) Kahlúa
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Advocaat
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Which brand of thin chocolate mints, each in its own little paper sleeve, takes its name from a time of day?
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After Eight
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Terry's Chocolate Orange was first made in York in which year?
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1932 — Terry's also made a chocolate apple, which was dropped in 1954.
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In "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", carol singers demand some "figgy pudding". What is it?
A) A fig jam B) A steamed fruit pudding, like Christmas pudding C) A fig and custard tart D) A trifle
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A steamed fruit pudding, like Christmas pudding
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In the weeks before Christmas, a fruit cake is traditionally "fed" with spoonfuls of what?
A) Golden syrup B) Honey C) Brandy or another spirit D) Milk
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Brandy or another spirit