Question 1 of 20History
Hard Christmas quiz
Find most Christmas quizzes far too easy? This hard Christmas quiz digs deeper, with 20 tough questions on festive history, traditions around the world, classic films and music, seasonal food, science and the literature of Christmas. Bring your sharpest team and expect to argue over every answer.
A free quiz from Megan Moran, author of The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book.
Question 2 of 20Science
The bright red "petals" of a poinsettia are not petals at all but modified leaves. What are they called?
Question 3 of 20Literature
In A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals two wretched children beneath his robe. What are their names?
Question 4 of 20Music
Handel's Messiah, now a Christmas favorite, received its first performance in 1742 in which city?
Question 5 of 20Traditions
Before the Christmas Eve supper in Poland, families break and share a thin wafer pressed with a holy picture. What is it called?
Question 6 of 20Films
Which actor made his feature film debut as the villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988)?
Question 7 of 20Food
Lutefisk, a Scandinavian Christmas dish made from dried whitefish, is cured in what before cooking?
Question 8 of 20History
For Christmas 1914, British and Empire servicemen were sent an embossed brass gift box paid for by a public fund named after which royal?
Question 9 of 20Science
Frankincense, one of the gifts of the Magi, is a resin obtained from trees of which genus?
Question 10 of 20Music
Judy Garland introduced "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in which 1944 MGM musical?
Question 11 of 20Traditions
In Austria and parts of Germany, cherry branches are cut on December 4 in the hope that they will bloom by Christmas. Whose feast day is it?
Question 12 of 20Literature
Near the end of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge offers to discuss Bob Cratchit's affairs over a Christmas bowl of which hot drink?
Question 13 of 20Films
Which director, also famous for Casablanca, directed White Christmas (1954)?
Question 14 of 20History
After crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776, George Washington's army surprised which troops at Trenton the next morning?
Question 15 of 20Traditions
In Greek folklore, which mischievous goblins are said to roam the earth during the Twelve Days of Christmas?
Question 16 of 20Food
The small charm hidden in a French galette des rois, eaten around Epiphany, is called a fève. What was it traditionally?
Question 17 of 20Films
A Christmas Story (1983) is based on the writings of which American humorist, who also narrates the film as the adult Ralphie?
Question 18 of 20Literature
Which poet wrote "Journey of the Magi", published in 1927?
Question 19 of 20Science
Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean is famous for the yearly migration of millions of which animals from the forest to the sea to breed?
Question 20 of 20Music
Which English composer wrote "Cranham", the hymn tune published in 1906 for Christina Rossetti's "In the Bleak Midwinter"?
Answer all 20 to see your score.
Want more? The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book has over 500 questions like these, ready for your next quiz night.
Want a free 100-question bonus quiz?
Show all the answers, with the facts behind them
- Which US president is credited with the first known Christmas tree inside the White House, in 1889? Benjamin HarrisonIt stood upstairs in the Second Floor Oval Room, then used as a family parlor and library.
- The bright red "petals" of a poinsettia are not petals at all but modified leaves. What are they called? BractsThe true flowers are the small structures, called cyathia, at the center of each cluster of bracts.
- In A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals two wretched children beneath his robe. What are their names? Ignorance and WantThe Spirit tells Scrooge to beware them both, but most of all the boy.
- Handel's Messiah, now a Christmas favorite, received its first performance in 1742 in which city? DublinHandel composed it in about 24 days in 1741, setting a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens.
- Before the Christmas Eve supper in Poland, families break and share a thin wafer pressed with a holy picture. What is it called? OpłatekAs they share it, family members exchange good wishes and forgive each other for any hurts of the past year.
- Which actor made his feature film debut as the villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988)? Alan RickmanJeremy Irons later played Hans's brother, Simon Gruber, in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995).
- Lutefisk, a Scandinavian Christmas dish made from dried whitefish, is cured in what before cooking? LyeIt is usually made from cod, though ling or burbot are sometimes used, and is a traditional part of Christmas feasts in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
- For Christmas 1914, British and Empire servicemen were sent an embossed brass gift box paid for by a public fund named after which royal? Princess MaryPrincess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of King George V, launched the appeal in October 1914.
- Frankincense, one of the gifts of the Magi, is a resin obtained from trees of which genus? BoswelliaBoswellia trees belong to the Burseraceae family, the same plant family as the myrrh-producing trees.
- Judy Garland introduced "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in which 1944 MGM musical? Meet Me in St. LouisThe song is credited to Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.
- In Austria and parts of Germany, cherry branches are cut on December 4 in the hope that they will bloom by Christmas. Whose feast day is it? St. BarbaraThe cherry is the classic choice, and a blossom on Christmas Day is seen as an especially good sign for the future.
- Near the end of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge offers to discuss Bob Cratchit's affairs over a Christmas bowl of which hot drink? Smoking BishopSmoking Bishop is a hot punch of port and red wine with roasted Seville oranges or lemons, sugar and spices such as cloves.
- Which director, also famous for Casablanca, directed White Christmas (1954)? Michael CurtizThe film starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
- After crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776, George Washington's army surprised which troops at Trenton the next morning? Hessian soldiersRoughly 1,400 to 1,500 Hessian soldiers under Colonel Johann Rall were garrisoned in Trenton.
- In Greek folklore, which mischievous goblins are said to roam the earth during the Twelve Days of Christmas? KallikantzaroiThey are said to stay above ground from December 25 until Epiphany on January 6.
- The small charm hidden in a French galette des rois, eaten around Epiphany, is called a fève. What was it traditionally? A fava beanWhoever finds it in their slice wears a paper crown as king or queen; today the charm is usually ceramic or plastic.
- A Christmas Story (1983) is based on the writings of which American humorist, who also narrates the film as the adult Ralphie? Jean ShepherdThe film draws mainly on Shepherd's 1966 book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash.
- Which poet wrote "Journey of the Magi", published in 1927? T.S. EliotTold from the point of view of one of the Magi, it was published in the Ariel Poems pamphlet series by Faber & Gwyer.
- Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean is famous for the yearly migration of millions of which animals from the forest to the sea to breed? Red crabsThe migration starts with the wet season, usually in October or November, and is timed by the phases of the moon.
- Which English composer wrote "Cranham", the hymn tune published in 1906 for Christina Rossetti's "In the Bleak Midwinter"? Gustav HolstIt appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906; Harold Darke's choral setting followed in 1909.
