Question 1 of 20TraditionsEasy
Christmas quiz 2026
Hosting a holiday party? Our Christmas quiz 2026 serves up 20 fresh Christmas quiz questions and answers on festive traditions, holiday films, much-loved songs, seasonal food and history from around the world, plus a few nods to the 2025 festive headlines. Grab a pen, split into teams and find out who really knows their Christmas.
A free quiz from Megan Moran, author of The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book.
Question 2 of 20SongsEasy
The 1971 single "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was recorded by John Lennon and which other artist?
Question 3 of 20SongsMedium
"Jingle Bells" was first published in 1857 under what title?
Question 4 of 20Recent ChristmasesEasy
In December 2025, which festive hit became the first song ever to spend 20 weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100?
Question 5 of 20HistoryHard
Which US president lit the first National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., on Christmas Eve 1923?
Question 6 of 20HistoryMedium
William the Conqueror was crowned king of England on Christmas Day 1066 in which building?
Question 7 of 20HistoryMedium
On Christmas Eve 1968, the crew of which space mission read from the Book of Genesis while orbiting the Moon?
Question 8 of 20TraditionsHard
The first artificial Christmas trees, made in the late 1800s, were built from what?
Question 9 of 20FilmsEasy
Which actor played the Conductor, Santa Claus and several other roles in the animated film The Polar Express (2004)?
Question 10 of 20SongsMedium
Which "Singing Cowboy" took "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to No. 1 in the US at Christmas 1949?
Question 11 of 20TraditionsHard
The name "Kris Kringle" comes from the German word Christkindl. What does it mean?
Question 12 of 20TraditionsMedium
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in New York City began in 1931 when who put up a tree?
Question 13 of 20Recent ChristmasesEasy
Which singer claimed the 2025 UK Christmas No. 1 with the single "XMAS"?
Question 14 of 20Around the worldMedium
In Caracas, Venezuela, many families have traditionally traveled to early-morning Masses in the days before Christmas in which unusual way?
Question 15 of 20SongsHard
Which Welsh singer had the 1985 UK Christmas No. 1 with "Merry Christmas Everyone"?
Question 16 of 20Recent ChristmasesMedium
Which actress stars as an overlooked mom who sets off on her own adventure in the 2025 Christmas comedy Oh. What. Fun.?
Question 17 of 20Around the worldEasy
In Ireland, what is traditionally placed in a window on Christmas Eve as a welcome to Mary and Joseph?
Question 18 of 20FoodHard
Tourtière, a spiced meat pie served at Christmas Eve and New Year's feasts, is a classic from which Canadian province?
Question 19 of 20FilmsMedium
Who played Kris Kringle in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street?
Question 20 of 20SongsMedium
In 1977, which rock star recorded "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" with Bing Crosby for a TV special?
Answer all 20 to see your score.
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Show all the answers, with the facts behind them
- Which country is generally credited with starting the tradition of the decorated Christmas tree, back in the 1500s? GermanyA popular legend credits the Protestant reformer Martin Luther with being the first to add lighted candles to a tree.
- The 1971 single "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was recorded by John Lennon and which other artist? Yoko OnoAbout 30 children from the Harlem Community Choir, aged 4 to 12, sang the backing vocals.
- "Jingle Bells" was first published in 1857 under what title? The One Horse Open SleighIt was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in September 1857 by Oliver Ditson & Co. of Boston.
- In December 2025, which festive hit became the first song ever to spend 20 weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100? All I Want for Christmas Is YouIt broke a three-way tie on 19 weeks with Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."
- Which US president lit the first National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., on Christmas Eve 1923? Calvin CoolidgeThe 48-foot balsam fir was donated by Middlebury College in Vermont, the president's home state, and stood on the Ellipse south of the White House.
- William the Conqueror was crowned king of England on Christmas Day 1066 in which building? Westminster AbbeyCheers inside were mistaken for a riot by Norman soldiers outside, who set fire to nearby houses while the ceremony went on.
- On Christmas Eve 1968, the crew of which space mission read from the Book of Genesis while orbiting the Moon? Apollo 8An estimated one billion people, roughly one in four on Earth at the time, listened to the broadcast.
- The first artificial Christmas trees, made in the late 1800s, were built from what? Dyed goose feathersThey were partly a response to worries that cutting so many young trees for Christmas was damaging the forests.
- Which actor played the Conductor, Santa Claus and several other roles in the animated film The Polar Express (2004)? Tom HanksDirector Robert Zemeckis made the film with motion capture, recording the actors' real movements to animate their characters.
- Which "Singing Cowboy" took "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to No. 1 in the US at Christmas 1949? Gene AutryThe song was written by Johnny Marks, the brother-in-law of Robert L. May, who created Rudolph in 1939.
- The name "Kris Kringle" comes from the German word Christkindl. What does it mean? Christ ChildMerriam-Webster notes that Christkindl, a diminutive of Christkind, could also mean a Christmas gift.
- The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in New York City began in 1931 when who put up a tree? Construction workersThey pooled their money for a 20-foot balsam fir and decorated it with garlands made by their families.
- Which singer claimed the 2025 UK Christmas No. 1 with the single "XMAS"? Kylie MinogueIt ended Wham!'s two-year run at Christmas No. 1 with "Last Christmas" and was her first UK chart-topper since 2003.
- In Caracas, Venezuela, many families have traditionally traveled to early-morning Masses in the days before Christmas in which unusual way? On roller skatesKnown as patinatas, the skating outings run through the nine days before Christmas and end at a Mass held around dawn.
- Which Welsh singer had the 1985 UK Christmas No. 1 with "Merry Christmas Everyone"? Shakin' StevensThe song was recorded in 1984, but its release was held back a year to avoid clashing with Band Aid.
- Which actress stars as an overlooked mom who sets off on her own adventure in the 2025 Christmas comedy Oh. What. Fun.? Michelle PfeifferDirected by Michael Showalter, the film premiered on Prime Video on December 3, 2025.
- In Ireland, what is traditionally placed in a window on Christmas Eve as a welcome to Mary and Joseph? A lit candleBy tradition it is lit by the youngest member of the household, and the door was once left unlatched for travelers.
- Tourtière, a spiced meat pie served at Christmas Eve and New Year's feasts, is a classic from which Canadian province? QuebecFillings vary by region: usually pork, veal or beef, but fish on the coast and rabbit or venison in some inland areas.
- Who played Kris Kringle in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street? Richard AttenboroughMacy's declined to take part in the remake, so the filmmakers invented a rival store called Cole's.
- In 1977, which rock star recorded "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" with Bing Crosby for a TV special? David BowieTaped for Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, the duet wasn't released as a single until 1982, when it reached No. 3 in the UK.
