Christmas quiz: the best part after Christmas dinner

39 free Christmas quiz questions with answers, and below them how to turn those into a real quiz night: questions large on the TV, everyone playing along on their own phone. No app or account needed.

39 Christmas quiz questions with answers

Ready to read out, split across five categories. Ten questions makes one round; three rounds fill an evening. Answers are in italics behind each question, so don't read those out.

Christmas music

In which language was the carol “Silent Night” originally written? German; the song comes from Austria.
What year is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” from? 1994.
Which Dutch singer had his first hit in 1976 with “Eenzame kerst”? André Hazes.
Which band sings “Fairytale of New York” with Kirsty MacColl? The Pogues.
Which Beatle had a solo Christmas hit in 1979 with “Wonderful Christmastime”? Paul McCartney.
Which group had a Christmas hit in 1978 with “Mary’s Boy Child - Oh My Lord”? Boney M.
In which year did Dutch station Radio 2 broadcast the very first Top 2000? 1999.

Christmas films and TV

In which Christmas film is Kevin left at home while his family flies off? Home Alone.
Which actor accidentally turns into Santa in “The Santa Clause”? Tim Allen.
What is the name of the skeleton who wants to take over Christmas in “The Nightmare Before Christmas”? Jack Skellington.
In which 1984 Christmas film must you not feed a mogwai after midnight? Gremlins.
In which New York department store does Kris Kringle play Santa in “Miracle on 34th Street”? Macy’s.
Which 2019 animated film follows a postman posted to the northern town of Smeerensburg? “Klaus”.
On which day does the Dutch king traditionally give his Christmas address on television? Christmas Day, 25 December.

Traditions around the world

In which country did the decorated Christmas tree originate? Germany.
On which date is Epiphany? 6 January.
What do Christians celebrate at Christmas? The birth of Jesus.
Which season is it in Australia at Christmas? Summer.
How many Christmas days are official public holidays in the Netherlands? Two: Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
On which date is Spain’s El Gordo Christmas lottery drawn every year? 22 December.
Which horned figure roams Austria on 5 December to punish naughty children? Krampus.
In which country is it tradition to watch Donald Duck cartoons at three in the afternoon on Christmas Eve? Sweden.
How many Yule Lads, the Jólasveinar, does Icelandic tradition have? Thirteen.
Which saint set up the first nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, in 1223? Francis of Assisi.

Food and drink

Which two ingredients is marzipan mostly made of? Ground almonds and sugar.
Which ring-shaped biscuit do the Dutch hang in the Christmas tree on a ribbon? The kerstkransje.
Which Italian city does panettone come from? Milan.
Which small vegetable belongs on the British Christmas table and has divided it for years? Brussels sprouts.
Which fish is traditionally served on Christmas Eve in Poland and Czechia? Carp.
What is hidden in the Danish Christmas dessert risalamande? A whole almond.
Which sweet Dutch festive bread from the Zaan region appears in paintings by Jan Steen? The duivekater.

Trivia and numbers

Which country does the poinsettia originally come from? Mexico.
How many reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh in the classic Christmas poem, not counting Rudolph? Eight.
In which Dutch town are the Christmas markets held inside marl caves? Valkenburg aan de Geul.
In which year did British and German soldiers hold the famous Christmas truce? 1914.
Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, named on Christmas Day 1643, is territory of which country? Australia.
In which year did construction workers put up the very first Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center site? 1931.
Since which year has NORAD tracked Santa’s route on Christmas Eve? 1955.
Which postal code does Canada Post use for letters to Santa? H0H 0H0.

Want more? Our 50 Christmas quiz questions with answers has fifty different ones. Rather not read out and mark everything yourself? Below you'll find how to turn this into a quiz night on the TV, with automatic scoring and a live scoreboard.

Why host your Christmas quiz with Kwishetwel

No answer sheets or scorekeeping: points are counted automatically and the standings live on the TV.
Joining is simple: scan the QR code, pick a name, play. Grandparents included.
Ready-made rounds about music, general knowledge and more, so you prepare nothing.
The penalty wheel is optional: fun at the Christmas party, off during the family dinner.
Works on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and just as well at the office Christmas party.

Christmas quiz for work or the office party

A Christmas quiz is the easiest activity for a staff party: no materials, no quizmaster needed, and everyone can join in. Colleagues play on their own phones, even those who arrive late. Also see the pub quiz for your company outing for tips on bigger groups.

How it works

You start the quiz on the TV or laptop and show the join code and QR code.
Everyone joins on their own phone; sharing one phone as a duo works too.
You play the rounds and finish with the final standings, and for the brave: the penalty wheel.

What the evening looks like: from dessert to penalty wheel

A Christmas quiz doesn't have to fill the whole evening; with this program you're at about an hour and a quarter, and every generation stays involved:

Coffee and dessert (10 min): put the quiz on the TV with the join code on screen, so everyone joins while the coffee is being poured.
Warming up (2 rounds, ~25 min): start with questions everyone can know, like Christmas movies and traditions, so grandma and the teenagers both score points.
Short break (10 min): time for the Christmas cookies, with the standings on the screen.
Raising the stakes (2 rounds, ~25 min): now the harder questions or a music round; this is where the difference is made.
Finale (~15 min): the final standings big on screen and, to wrap up, the penalty wheel for the losers. That quarter hour is what everyone remembers.

Buy a Christmas quiz, hire a quizmaster or host it yourself?

A ready-made Christmas quiz as a PDF costs a few euros, but then you spend the whole evening reading out questions, checking answers and tallying points, without a scoreboard.

Hiring a quizmaster or quiz agency is fun for a big staff party, but at home or at the Christmas drinks you pay per person.

With Kwishetwel you host the Christmas quiz on the TV yourself: points are counted automatically, the scoreboard is live on screen and you stay right at the dessert table. What it costs is below.

What does it cost?

Starting for free is always possible: multiple choice and word association, penalty wheel included. Want more round types, like music rounds or map questions? Subscriptions start at €3.99 per month and can be cancelled monthly, so a single month around the holidays is fine.

Start your Christmas quiz for free →See pricing

Frequently asked questions

Do players need an app or account?

No. Players scan the QR code or type the join code at kwishetwel.com/join in their browser. They pick a name and a photo or animal avatar and play right away.

Is a Christmas quiz fun for young and old together?

Yes, especially. Questions are big on the TV and everyone answers at their own pace on their phone. Kids play along fine as a duo with an adult on one phone.

How long does a Christmas quiz take?

That's up to you: a single round takes about ten minutes, a full quiz night with several rounds easily fills an hour. You control the pace, so pausing for dessert is always possible.

Can I play the quiz at the office Christmas party too?

Absolutely, it works exactly the same: one screen or projector, colleagues join with their phones. For very large groups, reach out via the contact form and we'll think along.

Also fun: a family quiz for the whole family, an end-of-year quiz about the past year, or our 100+ free pub quiz questions.