Christmas Traditions throughout History True or False Quiz

Christmas will soon be here, so we're continuing the Christmas theme with a general Christmas quiz, considering Christmas through the ages and the traditions associated with it.

Q1) True or false: The feast of Yule, or Juul, was a pre-Christian celebration which lasted for 12 days and which celebrated the rebirth of the sun.

True

False

Correct!

Wrong! It's true.

Q2) True or false: Although Pope Julius III fixed the date of Christ's birth as 25th December, many historians believe that he was actually born in June?

True

False

Correct! That's because his birth coincided with census-taking season.

Wrong! It's true. It's because his birth coincided with census-taking season.

Q3) True or false: The Roman festival of Veneralia has been linked to Christmas?

True

False

Correct! It's the winter festival of Saturnalia that has been traditionally linked to Christmas, although this is a controversial theory.

Wrong! t's the winter festival of Saturnalia that has been traditionally linked to Christmas, although this is a controversial theory.

Q4) True or false: According to legend, mistletoe provided the wood for the cross on which Christ was crucified?

True

False

Correct!

Wrong! It's true.

Q5) True or false: Mistletoe should never be brought into your home before Christmas Eve. If it is, bad luck will result (apparently!).

True

False

Correct! The custom concerns holly, not mistletoe.

Wrong! The custom concerns holly, not mistletoe.

Q6) True or false: Christmas is celebrated by the Orthodox Churches later than 25th December, the date used by Western Churches?

True

False

Correct! This is because the Orthodox Churches use the Julian Calendar, rather than the Gregorian Calendar.

Wrong! It's true and is because the Orthodox Churches use the Julian Calendar, rather than the Gregorian Calendar.

Q7) True or false: Thomas Cromwell 'cancelled' Christmas?

True

False

Correct! It was OLIVER Cromwell and the Puritans who 'cancelled' Christmas in the 17th century.

Wrong! It was OLIVER Cromwell and the Puritans who 'cancelled' Christmas in the 17th century.

Q8) True or false: Christmas crackers were invented as a way of using up left-over gunpowder?

True

False

Correct! They were invented by British confectioner Tom Smith in the 19th century as a way of selling his sweets.

Wrong! They were invented by British confectioner Tom Smith in the 19th century as a way of selling his sweets.

Q9) True or false: The traditional carol, the Gloucestershire Wassail, dates back to the Middle Ages?

True

False

Correct!

Wrong! It's true!

Q10) True or false: On Christmas Day, it is still traditional for the British monarch to give an offering of gold, frankincense and myrrh in church, just as the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men, did to Jesus?

True

False

Correct! The monarch actually does it at the Epiphany service on 6th January.

Wrong! The monarch actually does it at the Epiphany service on 6th January.