Question 1

In "A Christmas Story", what gift does Ralphie want more than anything?

Accepted Answer

A Red Ryder BB gun. The "official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle" became one of the most iconic gifts in holiday film history.

Question 2

In "Home Alone", what city do the McCallisters travel to while leaving Kevin behind?

Accepted Answer

Paris. The family flies to Paris for Christmas vacation, while Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) defends the house from the Wet Bandits in suburban Chicago.

Question 3

In the film "Elf", what are the four main food groups according to Buddy?

Accepted Answer

Candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup. Will Ferrell's Buddy the Elf lives on sugar, famously pouring syrup on spaghetti in the 2003 holiday comedy directed by Jon Favreau.

Question 4

In "It's a Wonderful Life", what is the name of the angel who helps George Bailey?

Accepted Answer

Clarence. Clarence Odbody is an Angel Second Class trying to earn his wings by showing George (James Stewart) what life would be like if he had never been born.

Question 5

Which 1988 action film is famously debated as a Christmas movie because it is set on Christmas Eve?

Accepted Answer

Die Hard. Bruce Willis stars as John McClane fighting terrorists at the Nakatomi Plaza Christmas party. The debate over whether it counts as a Christmas film has become an annual holiday tradition itself.

Question 6

In the stop-motion classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", what is the name of the prospector?

Accepted Answer

Yukon Cornelius. Yukon Cornelius is the silver-and-gold-seeking prospector who befriends Rudolph and Hermey in the 1964 Rankin/Bass television special.

Question 7

In "The Nightmare Before Christmas", what is the name of the Pumpkin King?

Accepted Answer

Jack Skellington. Jack Skellington rules Halloween Town and tries to take over Christmas. The 1993 film was directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton.

Question 8

In "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", what is the name of the Grinch's dog?

Accepted Answer

Max. Max is the Grinch's loyal dog who is forced to play reindeer when the Grinch tries to steal Christmas from the Whos down in Whoville.

Question 9

Who recorded "All I Want for Christmas Is You", the best-selling Christmas single by a female artist?

Accepted Answer

Mariah Carey. Released in 1994, the song has earned diamond certification and returns to the top of the charts every December, decades after its original release.

Question 10

Which Bing Crosby Christmas song is the best-selling single of all time?

Accepted Answer

White Christmas. Written by Irving Berlin, Crosby's 1942 recording has sold over 50 million copies and held the Guinness record for best-selling single for decades.

Question 11

In which country was the carol "Silent Night" first performed in 1818?

Accepted Answer

Austria. The carol was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber with lyrics by Joseph Mohr, first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 in the village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.

Question 12

How many gifts in total are given in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" if you tally every day?

Accepted Answer

364. Adding up the cumulative gifts across all twelve days (1+3+6+10 and so on) gives 364, one gift for nearly every day of the year.

Question 13

Who wrote the popular Christmas song "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)?

Accepted Answer

Mel Torme and Bob Wells. The pair wrote the song in 1945 during a summer heatwave, hoping to cool off by thinking about winter. Nat King Cole's version is the most famous recording.

Question 14

Which holiday song was originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas?

Accepted Answer

Jingle Bells. Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh", it was intended for Thanksgiving services but became associated with Christmas instead.

Question 15

Which song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono asks "So this is Christmas, and what have you done?"

Accepted Answer

Happy Xmas (War Is Over). Released in 1971 as a protest against the Vietnam War, the song was recorded with the Harlem Community Choir and has become a holiday standard.

Question 16

Which English composer wrote the music for the Christmas carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"?

Accepted Answer

Felix Mendelssohn. The melody comes from an 1840 Mendelssohn cantata. The English lyrics were written by Charles Wesley a century earlier and later adapted to the Mendelssohn tune.

Question 17

In Austrian and Alpine folklore, what is the name of the horned figure who punishes naughty children at Christmas?

Accepted Answer

Krampus. Krampus is a horned, half-goat companion of Saint Nicholas. On Krampusnacht (December 5), people in Alpine regions dress as Krampus and parade through villages.

Question 18

In Italian tradition, what is the name of the old woman who delivers gifts on the eve of Epiphany?

Accepted Answer

La Befana. La Befana flies on a broomstick on the night of January 5, leaving sweets or coal in stockings. Her tradition predates Santa Claus in much of Italy.

Question 19

What is "La Nochebuena" in Spanish-speaking countries?

Accepted Answer

Christmas Eve. Literally "the Good Night", Nochebuena is celebrated on December 24 with a large family dinner and is often considered more important than Christmas Day itself.

Question 20

In the Netherlands, on what date does Sinterklaas traditionally deliver gifts to children?

Accepted Answer

December 5 (Sinterklaasavond). Sinterklaas, an early inspiration for the American Santa Claus, arrives by steamboat from Spain in November and delivers gifts on the evening of December 5.

Question 21

Which fast-food chain has become the traditional Christmas Eve meal in Japan?

Accepted Answer

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). A 1974 marketing campaign called "Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii!" (Kentucky for Christmas) was so successful that millions of Japanese families now order KFC weeks in advance.

Question 22

In Iceland, what are the "Yule Lads" who visit children in the 13 nights leading up to Christmas?

Accepted Answer

Thirteen mischievous trolls. Each Yule Lad has a distinct name and prank, from "Spoon Licker" to "Door Slammer". They leave gifts in shoes for good children and rotten potatoes for naughty ones.

Question 23

In Sweden, what large straw animal traditionally appears in Gavle every Christmas?

Accepted Answer

The Gavle Goat (Yule Goat). A giant straw goat has been erected in Gavle since 1966. Despite security, it is famously vandalized or set on fire most years, making international news.

Question 24

In Ukraine, what insect is traditionally found on Christmas trees as a symbol of good luck?

Accepted Answer

A spider (and its web). A Ukrainian folk tale tells of a poor family whose Christmas tree was decorated overnight by spiders. Today, Ukrainians hang spider and web ornaments for luck.

Question 25

What is the main ingredient that gives eggnog its rich texture?

Accepted Answer

Eggs (and dairy). Traditional eggnog is made with eggs, milk or cream, sugar and often spirits like rum, bourbon or brandy. The drink dates back to medieval Britain.

Question 26

Which dense, alcohol-soaked Christmas cake is famously joked about as being passed around for years?

Accepted Answer

Fruitcake. Fruitcake's long shelf life (thanks to its alcohol and dried fruit) inspired Johnny Carson's joke that there is really only one fruitcake in the world, passed from family to family.

Question 27

What sweet British pastries are filled with dried fruits, spices and sometimes suet?

Accepted Answer

Mince pies. Mince pies date back to the 13th century and originally contained meat. Today the "mincemeat" is a mix of dried fruits, spices and brandy.

Question 28

What is the name of the traditional French Christmas dessert shaped like a log?

Accepted Answer

Buche de Noel. The Buche de Noel is a rolled sponge cake filled with cream and decorated to resemble a yule log. The tradition dates back to 19th-century France.

Question 29

Which Italian sweet bread, originating in Milan, is a Christmas staple?

Accepted Answer

Panettone. Panettone is a tall, dome-shaped sweet bread with candied fruits and raisins. It originated in Milan and is now exported worldwide every December.

Question 30

In which country did the tradition of building gingerbread houses originate?

Accepted Answer

Germany. Gingerbread house tradition is widely credited to Germany in the 1800s, partly inspired by the Brothers Grimm tale of "Hansel and Gretel" published in 1812.

Question 31

What hot, spiced wine is a popular Christmas drink in Germany and Austria?

Accepted Answer

Gluhwein. Gluhwein (literally "glow wine") is red wine heated with spices like cinnamon, cloves and orange peel. It is sold at Christmas markets across Central Europe.

Question 32

In Mexico and the southwestern United States, what corn-husk-wrapped Christmas dish is made by the dozen?

Accepted Answer

Tamales. Making tamales for Christmas is a multi-generational tradition. Families gather for "tamaladas" to prepare hundreds of tamales filled with pork, chicken or sweet fillings.

Question 33

On which historical Christian figure is the modern Santa Claus loosely based?

Accepted Answer

Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century Greek bishop in what is now Turkey, known for secret gift-giving. His feast day on December 6 is still celebrated across Europe.

Question 34

Did Coca-Cola invent the modern image of Santa Claus in his red and white suit?

Accepted Answer

No (they popularized it but did not invent it). Santa's red suit predates Coca-Cola's 1931 ads by decades, appearing in Thomas Nast cartoons in the 1860s. Coca-Cola popularized the modern look, but did not create it.

Question 35

Who wrote the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", better known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas"?

Accepted Answer

Clement Clarke Moore (commonly credited). The poem is traditionally credited to Moore, though some scholars argue it was written by Henry Livingston Jr. It established many modern Santa traditions including his eight reindeer.

Question 36

What is Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26 in many Commonwealth countries?

Accepted Answer

A public holiday traditionally for giving boxes (gifts) to servants and the poor. Boxing Day originated in Britain, when servants and tradespeople received "Christmas boxes" from employers. Today it is mostly known for shopping sales and sports events.

Question 37

Which Charles Dickens novella, published in 1843, helped shape modern Christmas traditions?

Accepted Answer

A Christmas Carol. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghosts revived interest in Christmas in Victorian Britain and is credited with popularizing Christmas as a family-centered holiday.

Question 38

In which decade did Christmas become an official federal holiday in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The 1870s (1870 specifically). President Ulysses S. Grant signed the law making Christmas a federal holiday on June 28, 1870, alongside New Year's Day, Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

Question 39

Which queen and her husband helped popularize the Christmas tree in Britain in the 1840s?

Accepted Answer

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Prince Albert brought the German Christmas tree tradition to the British royal household. An 1848 engraving of the royals around their tree inspired families across Britain and the US.

Question 40

What were the original ornaments on Christmas trees in 16th-century Germany?

Accepted Answer

Apples (and sometimes wafers or nuts). Trees were decorated with apples to symbolize the Garden of Eden in medieval miracle plays. Glass ornaments only became popular in the mid-1800s in Lauscha, Germany.

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