Megan Moran

Origins of Christmas quiz

How did a midwinter feast turn into the Christmas we know today? These 20 questions travel from the ancient world and medieval courts to Victorian parlors and the trenches of 1914. Test yourself, then share it with the family and see who knows the most.

A free quiz from Megan Moran, author of The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book.

Paper-cut illustration of a Victorian parlour with a candle-lit tree, a scroll and an old greetings card
Pick an answer to start20 to go

  1. Question 1 of 20Ancient influencesEasy

    The Roman festival of Saturnalia, held each December and often cited as one influence on later winter customs, honored which god?

  2. Question 2 of 20Victorian ChristmasMedium

    Boxing Day became an official bank holiday in England under an 1871 act introduced by which banker and politician?

  3. Question 3 of 20Words and namesEasy

    In the abbreviation "Xmas," the X stands for which Greek letter, the first letter of "Christ" in Greek?

  4. Question 4 of 20The 25 December dateHard

    The earliest surviving record of Jesus's birth being marked on 25 December appears in the Chronograph of 354, a calendar compiled in which city?

  5. Question 5 of 20Medieval ChristmasMedium

    In medieval and Tudor England, what title was given to the person chosen to preside over Christmas revels and merrymaking?

  6. Question 6 of 20The Christmas treeEasy

    Which husband of Queen Victoria is widely credited with popularizing the Christmas tree in Britain?

  7. Question 7 of 20Medieval ChristmasMedium

    Which Frankish king was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome on Christmas Day in the year 800?

  8. Question 8 of 20Ancient influencesMedium

    Yule was originally a midwinter festival of which peoples, before the word became linked with Christmas?

  9. Question 9 of 20Victorian ChristmasHard

    Which artist designed the first commercial Christmas card of 1843?

  10. Question 10 of 20Christmas truceEasy

    The unofficial Christmas truce of 1914 took place mainly along which front of World War I?

  11. Question 11 of 20Victorian ChristmasMedium

    In which year was Charles Dickens's novella "A Christmas Carol" first published?

  12. Question 12 of 20Bans and holidaysMedium

    Which communist country restored Christmas as a public holiday ahead of Pope John Paul II's first visit there in 1998?

  13. Question 13 of 20Bans and holidaysHard

    When the Soviet Union brought back the decorated fir tree in 1935, which celebration was it used for instead of Christmas?

  14. Question 14 of 20Words and namesEasy

    The word "Christmas" comes from the Old English for "Christ's" what?

  15. Question 15 of 20Bans and holidaysMedium

    Which US president signed the 1870 law that made Christmas Day a federal holiday?

  16. Question 16 of 20The Christmas treeHard

    In 1850, which American magazine reprinted the royal Christmas tree engraving, removing Queen Victoria's tiara and Prince Albert's mustache?

  17. Question 17 of 20Victorian ChristmasMedium

    Which 1840 postal reform, championed by Rowland Hill, helped make sending Christmas cards affordable for ordinary Victorians?

  18. Question 18 of 20The Twelve DaysEasy

    The Twelve Days of Christmas lead up to which feast, celebrated on 6 January?

  19. Question 19 of 20The 25 December dateMedium

    Many Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on 7 January because they follow which calendar for church feasts?

  20. Question 20 of 20Germany's giftsHard

    German pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern is credited with creating which festive-season tradition at his Hamburg mission home in the 1830s?

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.

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Show all the answers
  1. The Roman festival of Saturnalia, held each December and often cited as one influence on later winter customs, honored which god? Saturn
  2. Boxing Day became an official bank holiday in England under an 1871 act introduced by which banker and politician? Sir John Lubbock
  3. In the abbreviation "Xmas," the X stands for which Greek letter, the first letter of "Christ" in Greek? Chi
  4. The earliest surviving record of Jesus's birth being marked on 25 December appears in the Chronograph of 354, a calendar compiled in which city? Rome
  5. In medieval and Tudor England, what title was given to the person chosen to preside over Christmas revels and merrymaking? Lord of Misrule
  6. Which husband of Queen Victoria is widely credited with popularizing the Christmas tree in Britain? Prince Albert
  7. Which Frankish king was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome on Christmas Day in the year 800? Charlemagne
  8. Yule was originally a midwinter festival of which peoples, before the word became linked with Christmas? The Germanic peoples
  9. Which artist designed the first commercial Christmas card of 1843? John Callcott Horsley
  10. The unofficial Christmas truce of 1914 took place mainly along which front of World War I? The Western Front
  11. In which year was Charles Dickens's novella "A Christmas Carol" first published? 1843
  12. Which communist country restored Christmas as a public holiday ahead of Pope John Paul II's first visit there in 1998? Cuba
  13. When the Soviet Union brought back the decorated fir tree in 1935, which celebration was it used for instead of Christmas? New Year
  14. The word "Christmas" comes from the Old English for "Christ's" what? Mass
  15. Which US president signed the 1870 law that made Christmas Day a federal holiday? Ulysses S. Grant
  16. In 1850, which American magazine reprinted the royal Christmas tree engraving, removing Queen Victoria's tiara and Prince Albert's mustache? Godey's Lady's Book
  17. Which 1840 postal reform, championed by Rowland Hill, helped make sending Christmas cards affordable for ordinary Victorians? The Penny Post
  18. The Twelve Days of Christmas lead up to which feast, celebrated on 6 January? Epiphany
  19. Many Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on 7 January because they follow which calendar for church feasts? The Julian calendar
  20. German pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern is credited with creating which festive-season tradition at his Hamburg mission home in the 1830s? The Advent wreath
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