Christmas Quiz!
- Charles Copp
- Dec 10, 2025
- 3 min read
‘'Tis the season for some Christmas trivia. Ready to take the quiz?
Question One: Who invented Santa Claus?
(A) Washington Irving
(B) Charles Dickens
(C) Evil corporations to improve their bottom-line
(D) St. Nicholas of Myra
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Answer: A
While St. Nick did derive from a Christian living centuries ago in what today is Türkiye, the Santa Claus most people recognize comes from Washington Irving. Irving wanted to encourage giving around the holiday, rather than just feasting.
Question Two: Why is Christmas celebrated December 25?
(A) It was riding the coattails of the pagan holiday Saturnalia
(B) Christmas is in 2 weeks?!?! I’ve got to start shopping!
(C) It’s 9 months after the traditional creation of the sun, on March 28.
(D) Not sure, phone a friend?
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Answer: D
Score one for humility? Christians aren’t actually sure why Christmas is celebrated on December 25. Saturnalia is a theory that’s only about 150 years old. Cyprian thought the sun was created in mid-March and tried to date Christ's birth 9 months from it. Regardless, the first record of celebrating on December 25th was 354, and a church in North Africa made it official in the year 361.
Question Three: Who came up with idea of nativity sets?
(A) Joseph
(B) The Shepherds
(C) Francis of Assisi
(D) My really-into-nativity-set-ups neighbor
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Answer: C
Francis had a passion for Christians to relate to the poor and all of creation, and what better way to do this than earthly scenes of Christ’s humblest beginnings?
Question Four: The real Scrooge in Christmas are the Congregationalists!
(A) TRUE
(B) FALSE
(C) KIND OF TRUE
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Answer: C
In 1640 Congregationalists called Christmas an “abomindation.” Residents of Massachusetts were forbidden from celebrating it from 1659-1681. But the bans didn’t last long, because it proved to be overwhelmingly popular. Congregationalists might have been slightly later to the party but they’ve been celebrating the profound truth of God become man on Christmas for 300 years!
Question Five: What’s the earliest Christmas hymn?
(A) Santa Claus is Coming to Town
(B) Silent Night
(C) Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
(D) Blessed is Your Birth!
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Answer: D
How did you do? Check out the Handbook of Christmas if you’re interested in more trivia and now enjoy the earliest Christmas hymn in its entirety:
Blessed is your birth that stirred up the universe!
Too small for You is the earth’s lap
But large enough for You is Mary’s lap. He dwelt and He healed by the hem
He was wrapped swaddling clothes in baseness but they offered Him gifts.
He put on the garments of you and helps emerged from them
He put on the water of baptism and rays flashed out from it
With his humiliations His exaltations. Blessed is He who joins His glory to His suffering!
Great One Who became a baby, by Your birth again You begot me
Pure One who was baptized, let your washing wash us of impurity
Living One Who was embalmed, let us obtain life by Your death
Merry Christmas to you and to yours!
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