1. What do children hang by the fireplace on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill?
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Stockings. The tradition is linked to a legend of St Nicholas leaving gold coins in stockings hung up to dry.
The Big Christmas Quiz
Twelve questions, zero mercy for the person who “doesn't really watch Christmas films”. Play on screen — tap to reveal each answer — or print the whole quiz for the table.
🎄 The MerryHub Christmas Quiz 🎄
Name: ______________________________ Score: ______ / 12
How to play: read each question aloud, teams write their answers down, then reveal and award a point per correct answer. On paper, write in the spaces provided — the quizmaster's answer key prints at the end. Good luck, and no searching the answers on your phone (Santa is watching).
2. Which of Santa's reindeer is famous for having a shiny red nose?
Show answer
Rudolph. Rudolph was created in 1939 for a department-store colouring book before the famous song arrived a decade later.
3. According to the famous carol, how many days of Christmas are there?
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Twelve. The twelve days run from Christmas Day to Epiphany on 6 January — and the gifts in the song add up to 364 presents.
4. Under which plant are people traditionally supposed to kiss at Christmas?
Show answer
Mistletoe. An old custom said a berry had to be plucked from the mistletoe with every kiss — when the berries ran out, so did the kisses.
5. Which country is credited with starting the tradition of the decorated Christmas tree?
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Germany. Decorated trees spread across Europe in the 1800s and became hugely popular in Britain during Queen Victoria's reign.
6. What is Santa Claus traditionally called in the United Kingdom?
Show answer
Father Christmas. Father Christmas was originally a symbol of good cheer and feasting long before he merged with the gift-giving Santa.
7. Which red-and-white striped sweet is shaped like a little walking cane?
Show answer
The candy cane. The earliest candy canes were plain white sugar sticks; the red stripes and peppermint flavour came later.
8. In the song 'Jingle Bells', what kind of sleigh is being ridden?
Show answer
A one-horse open sleigh. 'Jingle Bells' was written in the 1850s and was not originally intended as a Christmas song at all.
9. What do children on the 'naughty list' supposedly find in their stocking?
Show answer
A lump of coal. In some traditions it is not coal but a stick, an onion or a piece of garlic — coal is getting off lightly.
10. Which magical ballet, featuring the Sugar Plum Fairy, is a Christmas classic?
Show answer
The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky's ballet premiered in 1892 and was not an instant hit — it became a festive staple decades later.
11. What did the Wise Men follow to find the baby Jesus?
Show answer
A star (the Star of Bethlehem). Their gifts — gold, frankincense and myrrh — are why three kings are traditional, though the Bible never says how many came.
12. Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas. What date is it?
Show answer
26 December. The name comes from the old custom of giving 'Christmas boxes' of gifts or money to servants and tradespeople.
Answer key (quizmaster only!)
- Stockings — What do children hang by the fireplace on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill?
- Rudolph — Which of Santa's reindeer is famous for having a shiny red nose?
- Twelve — According to the famous carol, how many days of Christmas are there?
- Mistletoe — Under which plant are people traditionally supposed to kiss at Christmas?
- Germany — Which country is credited with starting the tradition of the decorated Christmas tree?
- Father Christmas — What is Santa Claus traditionally called in the United Kingdom?
- The candy cane — Which red-and-white striped sweet is shaped like a little walking cane?
- A one-horse open sleigh — In the song 'Jingle Bells', what kind of sleigh is being ridden?
- A lump of coal — What do children on the 'naughty list' supposedly find in their stocking?
- The Nutcracker — Which magical ballet, featuring the Sugar Plum Fairy, is a Christmas classic?
- A star (the Star of Bethlehem) — What did the Wise Men follow to find the baby Jesus?
- 26 December — Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas. What date is it?
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Quiz questions, answered
How many questions are in the Christmas quiz?
Twelve questions, covering stockings, reindeer, carols and Christmas traditions — each with a short story behind the answer in the quizmaster's key.
Can I print the quiz?
Yes. Use the print button at the top of this page to print the questions (or save them as a PDF) with space to write answers, and the answer key prints at the end. A designed printable version is also in the Christmas Quiz Night Pack ($2) and the Christmas Games Bundle ($4).
Is the quiz suitable for a classroom or office party?
Yes — the questions are family-friendly and general-knowledge, written to be read aloud to a group, with one point per correct answer.
More Christmas fun
Crown the quiz champion with a personalised Christmas card, find out everyone's elf name for next year's teams, or browse Christmas wishes for the card you still haven't written.