22 December 2023

Quiz: How much do you really know about the world’s Christmas traditions?

If you thought the festive season was just about tinsel, trees and turkey, this world tour of Christmas traditions will make you think again. Grab a gluhwein and get quizzing...

4 mins

1. Which country celebrates the first Sunday of advent by constructing a near four-ton Yule Goat?

Italy

Austria

India

Sweden

2. Where in the world would you be if you were attending Ligligan Parul (the giant lantern festival)?

Sri Lanka

Philippines

Cambodia

Malaysia

3. In which country do you need to order Kentucky Fried Chicken months in advance to enjoy the KFC tradition come Christmas Day?

Brazil

New Zealand

Japan

Norway

4. What happens in Austria on 5 December as part of annual Christmas festivities?

The devil-like Krampus judges kids based on their behaviour

Festive candle parades

Fireworks

Children share their wishes in letters to St Nicholas

5. Who are Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper), Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer), Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook) and Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer)?

Four mischievous reindeer in Denmark

The Yule Lads, four of 13 troll-like characters in Iceland

Four of seven elves who appear in Stockholm on Christmas Eve

Four puppets who feature in a festive play performed in Finland

6. Why might you hide your broom on Christmas Eve in Norway?

To avoid sweeping bad luck into your house

To signify the pausing of chores until the New Year

To ensure witches and evil spirits can't fly

Santa won’t visit if there are brooms in the house

7. Where might you find locals rollerblading to early-morning church on Christmas Eve?

Guyana

Chile

Venezuela

Colombia

8. Spider webs are a common Christmas tree decoration in which country?

Ukraine

Austria

Slovenia

Poland

9. What tradition is associated with consoda, the annual Portuguese festive feast?

Families leave wreaths on friends’ doorsteps

Families enjoy cheese platters together

Children balance a lemon inside a Christmas tree

Families set extra places for deceased relatives

10. Bagpipe-playing shepherds are a popular festive spectacle in which country?

Romania

Scotland

Italy

Belgium

11. What winter warmer is popular with Estonians?

A sauna on Christmas Eve

Burning resolutions on a fire

Drinking mulled cider every day in advent

Hot mince pies in city squares

12. Where would you not send a red Christmas card, because the colour is associated with death?

Laos

Japan

Malaysia

Bali

13. What ritual do Czech women perform every Christmas to determine how successful their love life will be in the following year?

Dance around a Christmas tree before it is decorated

Pull crackers with a person they admire

Bake bread to share with neighbours

Hurl a shoe over their shoulder, towards a door

14. What does La Befana, Italy’s ‘good witch’ do to celebrate Christmas?

Leaves Panettone in squares across all cities

Hands out presents wherever she goes

Lights advent candles across the country

Leads an annual carol festival in Florence

15. In which country might you find villagers parading the streets with a horse’s skull?

Wales

Spain

Ireland

France

16. What nativity scene tradition is specific to the Catalan region of Spain?

The figurines are all animals

The scenes are placed on the roof of churches

The scenes are illuminated with tiny lights

The scenes include a figure of a man squatting to poo

17. In what year was the first Christmas tree introduced to the UK?

1800

1801

1803

1799

18. Where is the world’s largest Christmas market?

Prague

Munich

Vienna

Krakow