50 Christmas pub quiz questions and answers

Five festive rounds of ten Christmas quiz questions, from easy crowd-pleasers to a few for the know-it-alls. Use them for a Christmas pub quiz, an office party or a family quiz. Tap Show answer to check each one.

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Round 1: Christmas films and TV

Which actor plays the Grinch in the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
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Jim Carrey
In the 2003 film Elf, which city does Buddy travel to in search of his real father?
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New York
Which 2003 Richard Curtis film features Bill Nighy as the ageing rock star Billy Mack?
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Love Actually
Which actor plays Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol?
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Michael Caine
In the 1996 Only Fools and Horses Christmas episode Heroes and Villains, which superheroes do Del Boy and Rodney dress as?
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Batman and Robin
Which song, sung by choirboy Peter Auty, features in the 1982 animated film The Snowman?
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Walking in the Air
The 2005 Christmas special The Christmas Invasion was the first full Doctor Who episode for which actor as the Doctor?
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David Tennant
Which British studio, famous for Wallace & Gromit, co-produced the 2011 animated film Arthur Christmas?
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Aardman Animations
Which sinister penguin is the villain of the Wallace & Gromit film The Wrong Trousers, first shown at Christmas 1993?
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Feathers McGraw
In the 1986 Christmas Day episode of EastEnders, what did Den Watts hand to his wife Angie?
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Divorce papers

Round 2: Christmas music

Which girl group had three Christmas number ones in a row, from 1996 to 1998?
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The Spice Girls
Which children's TV character had the 2000 Christmas number one with Can We Fix It?
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Bob the Builder
Which London-Irish band recorded the 1987 Christmas song Fairytale of New York with Kirsty MacColl?
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The Pogues
Which pink and yellow spotted character from Noel's House Party had the 1993 Christmas number one?
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Mr Blobby
Which two musicians wrote the 1984 charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?
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Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
O Come, All Ye Faithful is often sung under which Latin title?
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Adeste Fideles
Which Tears for Fears song, covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules, was the 2003 Christmas number one?
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Mad World
Which two singers duetted on Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy, recorded in 1977 for a TV special?
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Bing Crosby and David Bowie
Which carol began as a poem by Christina Rossetti and was set to music by Gustav Holst?
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In the Bleak Midwinter
Which carol traditionally opens the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with its first verse sung by a solo boy treble?
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Once in Royal David's City

Round 3: Christmas food and drink

Which spirit is traditionally poured over a Christmas pudding and set alight?
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Brandy
Which small green vegetable, named after a European capital, is a Christmas dinner staple?
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Brussels sprouts
Which creamy drink of eggs, milk, sugar and often rum or brandy is a Christmas favourite in North America?
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Eggnog
Mince pies originally contained which ingredient that most no longer do?
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Meat
The chocolate makers Terry's, famous for the Chocolate Orange, were founded in which English city?
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York
Which freshwater fish is the traditional centrepiece of Christmas Eve dinner in Poland and the Czech Republic?
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Carp
In Portugal, which dried salted fish is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve?
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Salt cod
Which retro British Christmas cocktail is made of advocaat and lemonade?
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A Snowball
Quality Street chocolates were first made in 1936 by Mackintosh's in which Yorkshire town?
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Halifax
Which star-shaped Italian Christmas cake comes from Verona?
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Pandoro

Round 4: Christmas traditions

Which German-born husband of Queen Victoria helped popularise the Christmas tree in Britain?
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Prince Albert
Which reindeer, created in 1939 for a US department store's promotional booklet, is famous for his glowing red nose?
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Rudolph
Which spruce, native to northern and central Europe, is the traditional British Christmas tree?
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Norway spruce
Which Protestant group, influential in Parliament in the 1640s and 1650s, banned the celebration of Christmas in England?
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The Puritans
Which king gave the first royal Christmas broadcast, on radio, in 1932?
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George V
Which Finnish city on the Arctic Circle promotes itself as the official hometown of Santa Claus?
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Rovaniemi
What is the name of the thin strip inside a Christmas cracker that makes the bang?
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The snap
What title was given to the person chosen to preside over Christmas revelry and mischief in medieval and Tudor England?
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The Lord of Misrule
Which Cornish fishing village celebrates Tom Bawcock's Eve on 23 December with stargazy pie?
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Mousehole
In Catalonia, what is the name of the squatting figure traditionally hidden in nativity scenes?
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Caganer

Round 5: Christmas trivia

In the pantomime Cinderella, what does the Fairy Godmother turn into Cinderella's coach?
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A pumpkin
In A Christmas Carol, what is the name of Scrooge's dead business partner, who appears as a ghost in chains?
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Jacob Marley
On Christmas morning in A Christmas Carol, what does the reformed Scrooge send to the Cratchit family?
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A prize turkey
Who is Cinderella's loyal friend in the traditional pantomime?
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Buttons
What is the first name of Scrooge's cheerful nephew in A Christmas Carol?
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Fred
In Dr Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, what is the name of the Grinch's dog?
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Max
Which two Gospels contain accounts of the birth of Jesus?
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Matthew and Luke
What is the name of the evil sorcerer in the pantomime Aladdin?
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Abanazar
In the Netherlands, on the evening of which date does Sinterklaas traditionally bring presents?
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5 December
Which Welsh midwinter custom involves a horse's skull, decorated and carried on a pole from house to house?
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Mari Lwyd

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