Christmas Pub Quiz: 40 Questions and Answers

A ready-made Christmas pub quiz: 40 questions with answers on films, music, food and traditions.

40 questions · tap “Show answer” under each one · Answer key

1. Which coin was traditionally hidden in a Christmas pudding for luck?

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   A sixpence

   Whoever found it in their slice would have luck in the coming year. Source

2. What is the day in late November, when families traditionally make the Christmas pudding, called?

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   Stir-up Sunday

   Everyone in the house takes a turn to stir and make a wish. Source

3. Which royal helped make the Christmas tree fashionable in Britain in the 1840s?

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   Prince Albert

   A drawing of the royal family's tree in 1848 started the craze. Source

4. Who put the first electric lights on a Christmas tree, in 1882?

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   Edward H. Johnson

   He was a business partner of Thomas Edison. Source

5. Early artificial Christmas trees in 19th-century Germany were made from what?

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   Dyed goose feathers

   They were made partly to save real fir trees. Source

6. In which year did a British monarch first give a Christmas message on the radio?

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   1932

   King George V read words written by Rudyard Kipling. Source

7. Which 1982 animated film features the song 'Walking in the Air'?

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   The Snowman

   The film has no spoken words. Source

8. Which 1988 film stars Bill Murray as a modern-day Scrooge?

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   Scrooged

   He plays a TV boss producing a live 'A Christmas Carol'. Source

9. Who played Scrooge in 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'?

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   Michael Caine

   He said he played it as if acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Source

10. Which 1984 film begins with a strange furry creature given as a Christmas present, with three rules?

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    Gremlins

    Rule one: keep it away from bright light. Source

11. In 'The Nutcracker', which fairy dances to music played on a celesta?

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    The Sugar Plum Fairy

    The celesta sounds like tiny bells. Source

12. Which singer recorded 'Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy' with Bing Crosby in 1977?

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    David Bowie

    Crosby died a month after filming it. Source

13. Which band had a hit with 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' in 1973?

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    Wizzard

    It came out the same year as Slade's big Christmas hit. Source

14. Who sang 'Merry Christmas Everyone' (1985)?

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    Shakin' Stevens

    It was the UK Christmas number one in 1985. Source

15. How many reindeer pull Santa's sleigh, counting Rudolph?

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    Nine

    Rudolph leads the other eight. Source

16. Which of Santa's reindeer shares its name with the Roman god of love?

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    Cupid

    Comet and Cupid are the two 'C' reindeer. Source

17. Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, named on Christmas Day 1643, belongs to which country?

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    Australia

    Kiritimati in the Pacific is also known as Christmas Island. Source

18. Christmas Island is famous for a yearly march of millions of what?

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    Red crabs

    Roads are closed to let them reach the sea. Source

19. Which US state has a town called North Pole, with Christmas decorations all year round?

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    Alaska

    Its streetlights are painted like candy canes. Source

20. What is Santa's postal code in Canada, where letters to him get a reply?

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    H0H 0H0

    It reads 'ho ho ho'. Source

21. What are 'pigs in blankets' at a British Christmas dinner?

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    Sausages wrapped in bacon

    In the US the name usually means sausages in pastry. Source

22. Which kind of British Christmas show has a 'dame' and audiences shouting 'He's behind you!'?

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    A pantomime

    The dame is traditionally played by a man. Source

23. Besides eggs and sugar, what is the main ingredient of eggnog?

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    Milk or cream

    It's often topped with grated nutmeg. Source

24. What did British mince pies originally contain?

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    Meat

    Medieval mince pies mixed meat with fruit and spices. Source

25. What does the UK Met Office count as a 'white Christmas'?

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    One snowflake seen falling

    It must fall at a UK weather station during Christmas Day; snow lying on the ground is much rarer. Source

26. Which 'Grandfather Frost' brings gifts at New Year in Russia and nearby countries?

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    Ded Moroz

    His granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, helps him. Source

27. Traditionally, by which night should Christmas decorations come down?

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    Twelfth Night

    Leaving them up longer is said to bring bad luck. Source

28. Who plays Buddy in 'Elf'?

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    Will Ferrell

    Jon Favreau directed the film. Source

29. Which New York hotel does Kevin stay in during 'Home Alone 2'?

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    The Plaza

    Tim Curry plays the suspicious concierge. Source

30. Which actor plays the conductor and several other roles in 'The Polar Express'?

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    Tom Hanks

    The film was made with motion capture. Source

31. Which family's Christmas keeps going wrong in 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'?

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    The Griswolds

    Clark Griswold covers the house in 25,000 lights. Source

32. In 'Jingle All the Way' (1996), which action figure is a dad desperate to buy?

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    Turbo-Man

    It's based on the real Christmas toy rushes of the 1990s. Source

33. In 'The Holiday' (2006), Kate Winslet swaps homes with which actress?

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    Cameron Diaz

    Winslet's character lives in a cottage in Surrey. Source

34. In 'The Santa Clause' (1994), which actor becomes Santa?

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    Tim Allen

    He plays Scott Calvin, a toy company executive. Source

35. Which famous Christmas song was written in 1945 during a heatwave in California?

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    Let It Snow!

    The writers were trying to think of cooler weather. Source

36. Which Christmas song begins with chestnuts roasting on an open fire?

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    The Christmas Song

    Nat King Cole's version is the most famous. Source

37. Which kind of animal was rescued from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020 and became famous?

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    An owl

    The little saw-whet owl was named Rockefeller. Source

38. What is hidden behind the doors of most modern Advent calendars?

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    Chocolates

    The first printed ones in the early 1900s had pictures. Source

39. Which city gives a Christmas tree to Boston every year to thank it for help after a disaster in 1917?

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    Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Boston sent aid after the Halifax Explosion. Source

40. Which fairy tale made gingerbread houses popular in Germany?

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    Hansel and Gretel

    The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812. Source