QI quiz questions – take a Christmas quiz set by team behind BBC series

What unusual ingredient was originally part of a recipe for Christmas pudding?

By The QI Elves

Published: Thursday, 21 December 2023 at 13:36 PM

Get into the festive spirit with the QI Elves’ Christmas Quiz, written exclusively for Radio Times. This whimsical and enlightening quiz whisks you through a wonderland of Christmas trivia, from the peculiar origins of holiday delicacies to the mysteries of yuletide folklore.

Test your knowledge on everything from iconic Christmas songs to film anagrams – whether you’re a solo quizzer or enjoying a cosy holiday gathering, this quiz is a delightful way to add sparkle to your festive celebrations. Let the merry quizzing commence!

Questions

  1. Christmas pudding, aka plum pudding, originated in the 14th century as a sort of porridge made of wheat boiled in milk with spices. It could be served plain, but some recipes included beef, mutton and _____
    A – Eels, B – Pig’s trotters, C – Porpoise, D – Nettles
  2. True or False: The Italian Christmas Witch leaves a stick in the stockings of naughty children.
  3. In what year did Mariah Carey’s song All I Want for Christmas Is You first reach the Number 1 spot in the UK?
  4. True or False: In Iceland, the Yule Cat torments children that have been naughty throughout the year.
  5. Which festive films are hiding in these anagrams: A – A Loyal TV Clue, B – Dad Hire, C – Hot Newsman
  6. What alcohol is typically poured over a Christmas pudding and set alight?
  7. The oldest known _____ still in use was originally bought in 1886. A – Santa hat, B – Glass bauble, C – Tree topper, D – Artificial Christmas tree
  8. True or False: Julebukking is a Scandinavian tradition of going to houses and singing in exchange for food and drink – and it used to be done while carrying a goat head.
  9. What is the catchphrase of Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol?
  10. The tallest snowwoman ever made was 37.21 metres high; that’s almost double the height of the Angel of the North! Her arms were two spruce trees and her eyelashes were made from _____ A – Twelve ironing boards, B – Eight pairs of skis, C – Five metres of willow branches, D – Four wrought iron gates

Answers

  1. C – Porpoise
  2. True, the Italian Christmas Witch also apparently gets quite tipsy on all the wine left out for her!
  3. 2020
  4. False, the Yule Cat comes to anyone not given new clothes before Christmas Eve and eats them.
  5. A – Love Actually, B –Die Hard, C – The Snowman
  6. Brandy, rum and occasionally whisky
  7. D – Artificial Christmas tree
  8. True, although it’s now associated with Christmas, it was originally done in honour of Thor, the Norse God of Thunder. The goat was a reference to Thor’s goat-drawn chariot.
  9. ‘Bah Humbug!’
  10. B – Eight Pairs of Skis

The QI 2023 Christmas special is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

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