Christmas quiz for families

A Christmas quiz the whole family can play

This Christmas quiz holds 179 multiple choice questions about the festive season: British and American traditions, Christmas dinner and puddings, old carols, symbols such as holly and mistletoe, history, Christmas around the world and winter science. They are sorted into three levels: "Kids" (50 questions), "Everyone" (72) and "Experts" (57). Each answer comes with a short explanation, so the quiz teaches you something as you play.

To give you a taste, here are three questions from the list, without their answers: "Since 1947, which country has given London a large Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square each year?", "Under its thick fur, what colour is a polar bear's skin?" and "In which year did Christmas Day become a public holiday in Scotland?"

How to play

1. Pick a "Game mode": "Solo", "Teams" or "Print a quiz".
2. Pick a "Level". The "Mix of all 3 levels" draws from all 179 questions.
3. Set the "Number of questions" (10 or 20 in solo) and, if you like, a "Timer" of 15, 30 or 60 seconds per question.
4. Click "Start" or press the space bar. Keys 1 to 4 choose an answer.

Questions are drawn at random and never repeat within a game, and the four choices are shuffled every time. When the timer reaches zero, the question counts as missed and the right answer is shown. At the end, "Your mistakes, explained" lists every missed question with the right answer and its explanation. Score 14 out of 20 and the result reads 70%.

Playing in teams, at home or in the classroom

In "Teams" mode, choose 2 to 6 teams, give each one a name and set the "Questions per team" to 5, 10 or 20. Teams answer in turn, and the scoreboard stays at the top of the screen. With 4 teams and 5 questions per team, the game has 20 questions and each team can score up to 5 points. The final ranking shows the winner, or a tie.

In a classroom, put the quiz on the board and let each table form a team with one spokesperson. The "Kids" level suits primary school pupils, while "Experts" will test the adults who know their carols and their Victorian history.

Ideas for a Christmas quiz night

• "Print a quiz" makes an A4 question sheet, then a separate answer sheet with the explanations. Print one question sheet per team and keep the answers for the quizmaster.
• Between the turkey and the pudding, run 10 "Everyone" questions while the crackers are still on the table.
• For a pub-style round, set the timer to 15 seconds and let the teams argue fast.

Your best solo score is saved for each level and number of questions. The tool also remembers the questions you have already seen on this device and offers new ones first.

Frequently asked questions

Are the questions suitable for children?

Yes. The "Kids" level is written for ages 6 to 10: Santa, reindeer, the tree, winter animals. The explanations are short and easy to read aloud.

Can we play again without getting the same questions?

Yes. Questions already asked are remembered in your browser and come after the new ones. The "Forget questions already seen" button starts afresh.

How do I print the quiz?

Choose "Print a quiz", a level and the number of questions (10 to 40), then click "Print the quiz". Questions and answers come out on separate pages.

Do I need an account?

No. The quiz runs in your browser with no sign-up. Scores and the list of seen questions stay on your device.