Christmas Quiz

1 Which of these names does NOT belong to one of Santa's reindeer?

A) Comet

B) Klaxon

C) Blitzen

B

2 What is the Irish custom of "feeding the wren" or "hunting the wren" on December 26?

A) Carrying a Wren door to door, collecting money for charity

B) Leaving a basket of cakes at the door for passers-by

C) Putting out suet and seeds for the wild birds

A

3 In the Ukraine, what does it mean if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas morning?

A) Good luck

B) The winter will be unusually cold

C)Your house needs cleaning

A

4 In Sweden, a common Christmas decoration is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat. Of what material is it usually made?

A) Candy B) Straw C) Fir Wood

B

5 In many households, part of the fun of eating Christmas pudding is finding a trinket that predicts your fortune for the coming year. For instance, finding a coin means you will become wealthy. What will you be if you find a button?

A) Poor B) Famous C) A bachelor

C

6 In Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker", who is the nutcracker's main enemy?

A) Dr Almond B) The King of Mice C) The Fairy Queen

B

7 Many of us are quite familiar with the first verses of the traditional Christmas carols, but how well do you know the rest of the lyrics? For instance, what is the first line of the second verse of Angels from the Realms of Glory?

A) “Christ by highest heaved adored”

B) “Shepherds in the fields abiding”

C) “Don we now our gayest apparel

B

8 At lavish Christmas feasts in the Middle Ages, swans and peacocks were sometimes served "endored". What does that mean?

A) The feet and beaks where served coated with gold

B) The guests knelt in adoration as the birds were brought in

C) The flesh was painted in Saffron dissolved in melted butter

C

9 Which of the following names does NOT belong one of the Three Kings?

A) Caspar B) Teleost C) Melchior

B

10 One of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes takes place during the Christmas season. Which of these does the tale hinge upon?

A) Burglar disguised as Father Christmas

B) A poisoned flask of Napoleon brandy

C) A blue diamond found in a goose

C

11 Which well-known author of fantasy fiction also created a book called The Father Christmas Letters?

A) Lewis Carroll

B) JRR Tolkein

C) CS Lewis

B

12 All through the Christmas season in old England, "lambswool" could be found in the houses of the well-to-do. What was it?

A) Imitation snow used in decorations

B) A material used for making Christmas gifts

C) A brew of hot ale with roast apples floating in it

C

13 One of the most loved Christmas books is A Christmas Carol.

Who wrote it?

A) Mark Twain B) Charles Dickens C) Hans Christian Anderson

B

14 In Victorian times, most Londoners would have been familiar with the "goose club". What was it?

A) A stout stick used for slaughtering geese

B) A Pantomime troupe specialising in slapstick

C) A method of saving to buy a goose for Christmas

C

15 After Scrooge has reformed his life at the end of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, he invites Bob Cratchit to join him for some "smoking bishop". What did he mean?

A) A premium pipe tobacco

B) A Christmas pudding soaked in Brandy and set alight

C) A hot spiced drink

C

16 In Victorian England, turkeys were popular for Christmas dinners. Some of the birds were raised in Norfolk, and taken to market in London. To get them to London, the turkeys:

A)Were herded by sheep dogs

B) Rode in huge wagons called “turkey-vans”

C) Were supplied with boots made of leather or sacking

C

17 Many movies on Christmas themes have been made for television and the cinema over the years, including dozens of versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Which of the following films has NOT yet been made?

A) An All Dogs Christmas Carol

B) Popeye's Christmas Carol C) Goat Christmas

B

18 In Armenia, the Traditional Christmas Eve meal consists of:

A) Fried fish, lettuce and spinach

B) Square meat pies

C) Broiled Partridges and Gooseberry sauce

A

19 What was the name of the boy in the film “The Snowman”?

A) Alan

B) Jimmy

C) James

C

20 How many ingredients did the Catholic Church decree that there should be in a Christmas pudding?

A) 4

B) 7

C) 13

C

21What is a baby turkey called?

A) Chick

B) Turk

C) Poult

C

22 “White Christmas” is a cake made from coconut, rice and dried fruit is popular in which country?

A) Hawaii

B) Australia

C) Indonesia

B

23 What fish is popular as a Christmas dish in Eastern Europe?

A) Perch

B) Carp

C) Salmon

B

24 Which British monarch was the first to broadcast their Christmas message on television?

A) Queen Elizabeth II

B) King George V

C) King George VI