The Big Southern Cross Christmas Quiz

Without peeking at the answers, see how much you know about Christmas!
Compiled by Günther Simmermacher – 

1. What colour vestments do Catholic priests wear at Christmas Mass?

a) Gold b) Green c) Red

2. According to the Gospel of St Matthew, how many oxen were present at Jesus’ birth?

a) None b) One c) Two

3. In which country was the carol “Away In A Manger” written?

a) Germany b) France c) USA

4. What is the Portuguese name for Father Christmas?

a) Papai Noel c) São Nicolau c) Senhor Natal

5. Which of these classic Christmas films features no angel?

a) It’s A Wonderful Life b) Miracle on 34th Street c) The Bishop’s Wife

6. Who introduced the Christmas tree to Britain?

a) King George V b) Prince Albert c) Queen Anne

7. In which country may you expect to receive a “peace apple” for Christmas?

a) China b) Thailand c) Cambodia

8. With whom did Bing Crosby duet on his hit “Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth”?

a) Billy Joel b) David Bowie c) Elton John

9. Near which Italian town did St Francis assemble the first Nativity scene in 1223?

a) Assisi b) Perugia c) Rieti

10. What was the first artificial Christmas tree made of?

a) Broom bristles b) Goose feathers c) Shredded leather

11. Where are you if the locals wish you “Mele Kalikimaka”?

a) Basque Country b) Hawaii c) Lapland

12. In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, who is gravely ill?

a) Belle b) Mrs Fezziwig c) Tiny Tim

13. Which carol includes the lines, “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn”?

a) O Come All Ye Faithful b) O Holy Night c) O Little Town of Bethlehem

14. Which explorer named the South African region of Natal after Christmas?

a) Bartolomeu Dias b) Henry the Navigator c) Vasco da Gama

15. In which Church is the internationally televised Midnight Christmas Mass from Bethlehem celebrated?

a) Church of the Nativity b) Holy Ghost Church c) St Catherine’s Church

16. What did Haddon Sundblom contribute to the celebration of Christmas?

a) Christmas Crackers b) Jolly Santa Claus c) Reindeers and a sleigh

17. What eight things did my true love give to me on the eighth day of Christmas?

a) Geese a-laying b) Maids a-milking c) Swans a-swimming

18. What does the myrrh which the Magi brought the baby Jesus symbolise?

a) Burial b) Kingship c) Priesthood

19. Where was Christmas banned as a holiday for 300 years until 1958?

a) England b) Ireland c) Scotland

20. Which popular carol is based on a Ukrainian folk chant called “Shchedryk”?

c) Angels We Have Heard On High b) Carol Of The Bells c) Ding Dong Merrily On High

21. In which modern-day country would you locate “Good King Wenceslas”?

a) Czechia b) Hungary c) Poland

22. Which fruit is regarded as a special Christmas food in Madagascar?

a) Guava b) Lychee c) Watermelon

23. In which city was George Frederick Handel’s “The Messiah” first performed?

a) Dublin b) Durham c) Düsseldorf

24. In those days a decree went out from which Caesar that the whole world should be enrolled (Luke 1:1)?

a) Augustus b) Julius c) Tiberius

25. What colour was Elvis Presley’s Christmas?

a) Black b) Blue c) White

Answers:

1. a) Gold (and white); 2. a) None; 3. c) USA; 4. a) Papai Noel; 5.b) Miracle On 34th Street; 6. b) Prince Albert (the husband of Queen Victoria); 7. a) China (possibly because of the similarity of the Chinese word for apple, ping guo, to the word for Christmas Eve, ping’an ye); 8. b) David Bowie; 9. c) Rieti; 10. b) Goose feathers (dyed green; a German innovation); 11. b) Hawaii; 12. c) Tiny Tim; 13. b) O Holy Night; 14. c) Vasco da Gama; 15. c) St Catherine’s Church; 16. b) Jolly Santa Claus (Sundblom designed the template for depictions of Santa for a Coca-Cola ad. Before that, Santa Claus could be jolly or stern, and wear colours other than red); 17. b) Maids a-milking; 18. a) Burial; 19. c) Scotland; 20 b) Carol Of The Bells; 21. a) Czechia (or Czech Republic); 22. b) Lychee; 23. a) Dublin; 24. a) Augustus; 25. b) Blue