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Quiz about Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Quiz

All questions refer to Christmas Eve traditions, culture or entertainment.

A multiple-choice quiz by Mistigris. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Mistigris

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
224,157

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
2345

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Father Christmas brings British children presents on December 24th: he is derived from Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children who, in some European countries, brings sweets on December 5th, 6th or 7th.

True

False

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Question 2 of 10

2. There is an ancient belief that at midnight on Christmas Eve all water turns to wine.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. In Poland all animals are believed to have the ability to talk at midnight on Christmas Eve, but only for one hour. Not everyone can hear them. Who can? Hint

the bad

the children

the ugly

the good

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Question 4 of 10

4. In Sweden, it is considered unlucky to be out and about at midnight on Christmas Eve because of something you might meet. What? Hint

the teddybears having a picnic

the ghosts of departed Vikings

Santa Claus delivering presents

trolls celebrating with dancing and revelry

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Question 5 of 10

5. If you happen to look in the right direction at midnight on Christmas Eve, the location of buried treasure will be revealed. Where is this belief held? Hint

parts of Bulgaria and Spain

parts of Wales and Ireland

parts of France and Russia

parts of Canada and China

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Question 6 of 10

6. Another tradition from Poland: on Christmas Eve sheaves or handfuls of harvest grain are placed in the four corners of a room to remind the family that Jesus was born in a stable. Which room? Hint

living room

kitchen

bedroom

dining room

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Question 7 of 10

7. In the Orthodox Russian church a traditional feast takes place at sunset on Christmas Eve. How many different dishes make up the feast? Hint

12 vegetarian dishes

3 meat dishes, 3 fish dishes and 3 vegetable dishes

as much as you can eat

4 dishes and a glass of vodka

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who is usually credited for the poem that begins like this?
"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house..." Hint

Christina Rosetti

Walt Whitman

Clement Clarke Moore

Charles Dickens

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who composed the opera "Christmas Eve"? Hint

Mussorgsky

Rimsky-Korsakov

Tchaikovsky

Borodin

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Question 10 of 10

10. What did my true love give to me on Christmas Eve? Hint

nothing

five gold rings

a partridge in a pear tree

eleven pipers piping

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: true

In Greece, St Basil visits children on New Year's Eve to leave presents; at Epiphany (January 6th) in Italy, a witch called La Befana rewards good children with a present. She leaves lumps of coal for naughty children.

2. There is an ancient belief that at midnight on Christmas Eve all water turns to wine.

Answer: true

I don't know where this one originates, but I'll have Rioja Gran Reserva, thank you!

3. In Poland all animals are believed to have the ability to talk at midnight on Christmas Eve, but only for one hour. Not everyone can hear them. Who can?

Answer: the good

Anyone who is owned by a cat knows that this ability is a permanent feature!

4. In Sweden, it is considered unlucky to be out and about at midnight on Christmas Eve because of something you might meet. What?

Answer: trolls celebrating with dancing and revelry

Just trolling around, eh?

According to Tolkien ("The Hobbit") trolls turn to stone when touched by the rays of the rising sun - hence their fondness for nocturnal merrymaking, presumably.

5. If you happen to look in the right direction at midnight on Christmas Eve, the location of buried treasure will be revealed. Where is this belief held?

Answer: parts of France and Russia

A tradition of unknown derivation. Why France and Russia? And which direction is the right one? I'd love to know!

6. Another tradition from Poland: on Christmas Eve sheaves or handfuls of harvest grain are placed in the four corners of a room to remind the family that Jesus was born in a stable. Which room?

Answer: dining room

Fresh hay is also put under the tablecloth. During the Christmas meal, a girl may pull out a piece of hay - if she gets a young green piece, she will marry a young man; if it's a wrinkled piece she'll get an old man!

7. In the Orthodox Russian church a traditional feast takes place at sunset on Christmas Eve. How many different dishes make up the feast?

Answer: 12 vegetarian dishes

Some sources give the start of the meal at sunset; some give the start when the first star is visible in the sky.

8. Who is usually credited for the poem that begins like this? "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house..."

Answer: Clement Clarke Moore

Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) was the son of Benjamin Moore, the Bishop of New York who officiated at George Washington's inauguration. "A Visit from St Nicholas" was supposedly written in 1822; before its anonymous publication in the "Troy Sentinel" on December 23rd 1823, St Nicholas had not been generally associated with a sleigh or with reindeer.

Some sources now suggest that the poem was actually written by another New Yorker named Henry Livingston, Jr. (1748-1828). Livingston's family claimed that it had been a traditional part of their Christmas since 1808.

9. Who composed the opera "Christmas Eve"?

Answer: Rimsky-Korsakov

The story was written by Nicolai Gogol.

A blacksmith fools the Devil, obtains a pair of the Empress' slippers and wins the hand of the fairest maiden in the village. (Boy overcomes evil, completes impossible task and gets girl.)

10. What did my true love give to me on Christmas Eve?

Answer: nothing

The partridge, rings and pipers are all gifts from the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

Traditionally, the Twelve Days of Christmas start on December 26th (Boxing Day, St Stephen's Day) and end on Twelfth Night/Twelfth Day (the evening of January 5th through to the end of January 6th).

The celebrations did not start until Boxing Day as Christmas Day was considered a holy day and therefore not for merrymaking, so Boxing Day is actually the first day of Christmas in the song.

Source: Author Mistigris

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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