Christmas Quiz: 30+ Questions and Answers (UK)

The best Christmas quiz questions and answers are the ones with real, verifiable answers, so we have done the legwork for you. Below is a ready-to-run festive quiz with around 30 genuine questions, grouped into six rounds (general knowledge, Christmas films, music and carols, food and drink, traditions, and a true or false lightning round), with every answer fact-checked. Print it, read it aloud at the table, or fire it across the office Slack. And because the dress code makes or breaks a quiz night, we have lined up the Christmas jumpers to win Best Dressed while you win on points.

A quiz works best when everyone turns up in the spirit of it. The unwritten rule of a SillySanta quiz night is simple: festive jumper on, scorecard ready. Our Christmas jumpers run from subtle retro reindeer knits to full novelty, so the whole quiz team can match without anyone feeling left out. Here is our pick for a quiz-night line-up that earns style points before the first question is even read.

Round 1: General knowledge

1. Which country is credited with starting the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree?
2. What three things do you traditionally find in a Christmas cracker?
3. On what date do the Twelve Days of Christmas begin, and on what date do they end?
4. In which modern-day country was St Nicholas born?
5. Which British monarch is credited with popularising the Christmas tree in the UK during the 19th century?
6. How many points does a snowflake traditionally have?
7. Which Australian territory is named after the holiday and is famous for its annual red crab migration?

Round 2: Christmas films

1. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, what is the name of the Grinch's loyal dog?
2. In the film Die Hard, who plays the villain, Hans Gruber?
3. In Home Alone, what are the names of the two burglars who try to rob the McCallister house?
4. In the movie Elf, what is the name of Buddy's biological father?
5. In which Christmas movie does Tom Hanks play six different characters?
6. According to Buddy the Elf, what are the four food groups elves can eat?

Round 3: Music and carols

1. Who recorded the best-selling Christmas single of all time, "White Christmas"?
2. Which modern Christmas hit, released in 1994, finally reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019?
3. "Jingle Bells" was originally written for which other holiday?
4. In "The Twelve Days of Christmas", what gift is given on the fifth day?
5. The film Last Christmas, starring Emilia Clarke, is inspired by the music of which artist?
6. Which charity supergroup released "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984?

Round 4: Food and drink

1. From which country does the Christmas fruit cake called Stollen originate?
2. What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding for good luck?
3. In which country is it a tradition to eat KFC for Christmas dinner?
4. What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to a roast turkey?
5. What is glühwein better known as in English?
6. Before turkey became popular, which meat was traditionally served at Christmas dinner?

Round 5: Traditions and history

1. Where did the custom of sending Christmas cards originate?
2. During the World War I Christmas truce, what game did soldiers from both sides play together?
3. What are the three gifts the Three Wise Men brought for the baby Jesus?
4. Which drinks company is often credited with popularising Father Christmas' red and white costume?
5. In which century were Christmas crackers first invented?

Round 6: True or false

1. True or false: there were 364 gifts given in total in the "Twelve Days of Christmas".
2. True or false: if you are born on Christmas Day, your star sign is Sagittarius.
3. True or false: a camel is said to have carried Mary on the way to Bethlehem.
4. True or false: "White Christmas" is the best-selling single of all time.

Ready to mark the answers? Hand the scorecards over, then read out the round below. For costume-friendly quiz nights, our wider Christmas collection has matching Christmas pyjamas too, in case your quiz turns into a pyjama-party finale.

Answers

Round 1: General knowledge

1. Germany.
2. A paper hat, a small toy, and a joke.
3. They begin on 25 December and end on 5 January.
4. Turkey (St Nicholas was born in Patara, in modern-day Turkey).
5. Queen Victoria.
6. Six.
7. Christmas Island.

Round 2: Christmas films

1. Max.
2. Alan Rickman.
3. Harry and Marv.
4. Walter Hobbs.
5. The Polar Express.
6. Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.

Round 3: Music and carols

1. Bing Crosby.
2. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey.
3. Thanksgiving.
4. Five gold rings.
5. George Michael and Wham!
6. Band Aid.

Round 4: Food and drink

1. Germany.
2. A coin.
3. Japan.
4. Nut roast.
5. Mulled wine.
6. Goose.

Round 5: Traditions and history

1. England.
2. Football.
3. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
4. Coca-Cola.
5. The 19th century.

Round 6: True or false

1. True. Add up every gift across all twelve days and you get 364.
2. False. You would be a Capricorn.
3. False. Tradition says it was a donkey.
4. False. "White Christmas" is the best-selling Christmas single, but the best-selling single overall is a different record.

That is your quiz sorted. Keep the questions for the family table and the answers folded away until everyone has committed. For more festive trivia, the history of the Christmas cracker and the full breakdown of the Twelve Days of Christmas are both worth a read before next year's rematch.