Try your hand at our Festive Quiz
There’s 60 questions on tradition, music, films, history and general knowledge!
The passing mark is 70%. Good luck!
Results
Round One: Festive Fun
#1. In which country was eggnog invented?
#2. What are you supposed to do when you find yourself under the mistletoe?
#3. What ornaments do elves have on their shoes?
#4. Which country eats the most brussel sprouts?
#5. By when should Christmas decorations come down, according to UK traditions?
#6. Which were not one of the first eight reindeers?
Select all that apply:
#7. Which Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale inspired the movie Frozen?
#8. What carol has the words fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la?
#9. Which fruit is traditionally placed in stockings?
#10. In the song, what made Frosty The Snowman come to life?
Round Two: Literature
#11. What is the name of Tiny Tim’s father in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens?
#12. Where does crime writer Rebecca Tope set her Christmas Mystery?
#13. Who is the sleuth in ‘The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding’ by Agatha Christie?
#14. Marmee says “My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?” in which Louisa May Alcott novel?
#15. Who wrote and illustrated ‘The Tailor of Gloucester’, where the eponymous tailor had to make a waistcoat for the mayor for his Christmas Day wedding?
#16. What is the title of Raymond Brigg’s children book that was made into a film which has “Floating in the air” as its central song?
#17. Which of Shakespeare’s plays was believed to have been written for the closing day of the Christmas season?
#18. In the poem ‘The Night Before Christmas’, what did children have visions of?
#19. In December 1956, author Harper Lee received a rather useful Christmas present from her friends, what was it?
It was a short note which read: ‘You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please. Merry Christmas.’ Enclosed were a year’s wages, which Lee could only accept on condition that she give up work and write for a year.
#20. Which writer bought an ‘adventurous bear’ in 1956? He felt sad for the teddy bear as it was the only toy left on the shop’s shelves on Christmas Eve.
Michael Bond bought ‘Paddington Bear’ in 1956
Round Three: History
#21. Who was crowned King of the Franks on Christmas Day 800?
#22. Which country launched the Christmas Offensive against Mussolini in 1935?
#23. Which “Apple” scientist was born on Christmas Day 1642?
#24. Who popularised the Christmas tree in Britain?
#25. Charlie Chaplin died on Christmas Day, but which year?
#26. Which Biblical figure is claimed to have planted the Glastonbury Thorn, a sprig of which is sent to the Queen every Christmas?
#27. In which country is Sinterklaas celebrated with the giving of gifts on the eve of St Nicholas Day on the 5th December?
#28. Which United Kingdom monarch gave the first Christmas day speech “over the airwaves” in 1932?
#29. Which island was discovered by the Dutch on Christmas Day 1643?
#30. Who banned Christmas carols after the English Civil War in 1647?
Round Four: Pantomimes (Oh yes it is!)
#31. In traditional pantomime Harlequin used a wooden bat as a prop. What type of comedy derived its name from this?
#32. Which London theatre put on the first British pantomime in 1716?
#33. Alibaba & the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor all appear as characters in which book?
#34. Who is credited with playing the first Dame in the 19th Century?
#35. Which pantomime character marries Alice Fitzwarren?
#36. Maid Marion appears in a pantomime. Do you know which one?
#37. Who is Priscilla? Hint: the pantomime she’s in is named after her!
#38. Abanaza – “Boo Hiss!!!!”…. is a villain, but from which pantomime?
#39. Name the pantomime that ran for 3 consecutive years (1912, 1913, 1914) at the Royal Theatre, Drury Lane, London.
#40. Pantomime is very much an English tradition. However, its origins come from another country – which one?
it’s origins lie in Commedia Dell ’arte from the 16th century
Round Five: Pop Culture
Christmas Number 1’s in the UK Music Charts:
#41. Who were the first group to have four Christmas number 1s?
#42. Which song has been Christmas number 1 three times – each with a different version of the ‘group’?
#43. Which group had a controversial Christmas number 1 in 2009 after an anti-X Factor campaign?
#44. Who gained the Christmas number 1 in 1971 with a dairy-related song?
with “Ernie (The fastest milkman in the West)”