Christmas Around the World Quiz for Kids: Can You Guess the Country?
Did you know that in Sweden, almost half the country watches Donald Duck on Christmas Eve? Or that kids in Iceland get visits from THIRTEEN different Santas? Christmas looks wildly different depending on where you are in the world – and this quiz takes children aged 6-9 (KS1-2 in the UK, 1st-4th Grade in the US) on a journey to discover some of the most amazing, surprising, and downright bizarre traditions from 12 different countries.
Why Learning About Christmas Around the World Matters
It’s easy to assume that everyone celebrates Christmas the same way we do. Turkey, presents, maybe some snow if we’re lucky.
But when kids discover that Australian families have BBQs on the beach, or that children in Spain get their main presents from the Three Kings on January 6th, something clicks. They start to realise that the world is bigger, more varied, and more wonderful than they thought.
This kind of learning builds empathy, curiosity, and open-mindedness – skills that matter far beyond the classroom. It’s social-emotional learning wrapped up in a fun Christmas quiz. Not bad for ten minutes of screen time!
For Teachers
This quiz is perfect for KS2 classrooms (Years 3-6), or as an end-of-term activity. It covers geography, cultural awareness, and global citizenship – all while keeping kids engaged with surprising facts and funny wrong answers.
How to use it:
- Project it on your whiteboard and work through as a class, pausing to discuss each tradition
- Let children complete it individually on tablets or computers
- Use it as a springboard for a wider “Christmas Around the World” topic
Discussion prompts after the quiz:
- Which tradition surprised you the most? Why?
- Would you like to try any of these traditions at home?
- Why do you think different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways?
- What do all these traditions have in common? (family, togetherness, giving)
At the end, results show as a percentage from 0-100% with a travel-themed message – from “Lost Luggage” to “First Class Explorer!”
Want to extend the activity? Pair it with this animated story about how Tooter the Otter Saved Christmas โ a FART-astically funny 35-minute video that teaches kindness (with a few giggles along the way).
For Parents
This quiz is a brilliant way to open up conversations about the wider world with your child. You might be surprised how fascinated they are by the idea of 13 Icelandic Santas or roller skating to church in Venezuela!
Grab a hot chocolate, sit down together, and take a little trip around the world without leaving the sofa. It takes about 10-15 minutes, and you’ll probably learn something new too – most grown-ups have never heard of half these traditions!
Great for:
- A rainy afternoon activity
- Something educational that doesn’t feel like homework
- Sparking curiosity about different countries and cultures
- Family quiz time over the Christmas holidays
H2: Got Younger Kids?
If you’ve got little ones aged 4-7, we’ve got a quiz for them too!
Our Christmas Quiz for Kids (4-7 Year Olds) features picture-based answers, so even your earliest readers can join in. It covers all the classics – Santa, reindeer, candy canes, and more โ with fun explanations after every question.
๐ [Try the Christmas Quiz for 4-7 Year Olds here]
H2: More Festive Fun
Keep them entertained (without the hyper chaos):
Our playlist of low-stimulation animated Christmas stories is perfect for keeping little ones engaged without the flashy, overstimulating stuff. Stories about friendship, kindness, and love… plus one very cute otter who saves Christmas in the most unexpected way. You’re welcome.
๐ [Watch the Christmas playlist here]
Off-screen activities:
Looking for something away from screens? Here are 45 Christmas Crafts That’ll Make Your Kids Think You’re a Holiday Genius – because sometimes you need to put the tablets away and get the glitter out.
And if your Elf on the Shelf is running low on ideas (we’ve all been there), here are 45 Ridiculously Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas to keep the magic alive.
Something for their stockings:
Looking for something screen-free? These Christmas notebooks always go down a treat. Each page has a joke or fun Christmas fact at the top – but the real discovery is the flipbook animation tucked into the corner. Flip the pages fast and watch a little Christmas scene spring to life. It’s one of those “wait, how does it DO that?!” moments – we haven’t found another notebook that does it, and kids get so excited when they figure it out.
Why Kids Love Learning About Christmas Traditions
There’s something magical about discovering how children on the other side of the world celebrate Christmas. Whether it’s leaving shoes out for the Three Kings in Spain, decorating trees with spider webs in Ukraine, or hunting for pickle ornaments in Germany, these traditions spark wonder and curiosity.
This quiz helps children understand that Christmas isn’t just one thing – it’s celebrated in hundreds of different ways by millions of families around the world. And that’s what makes it so special.
From surfing Santas in Australia to the sound of roller skates in Venezuela, from Krampus in Austria to the Yule Lads in Iceland – the world is full of incredible Christmas traditions waiting to be discovered.
Once you’ve finished the quiz, why not keep the Christmas spirit going? Gather the family for a classic Christmas movie like The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Polar Express, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Put on some Christmas songs – whether it’s Mariah Carey belting out her festive anthem, the timeless Silent Night, or a singalong to Jingle Bells – and enjoy some proper Christmas fun together. You could even turn it into a full Christmas trivia night with more Christmas quiz questions about Santa’s reindeer, candy canes, or which animal pulls Santa’s sleigh (trick question if you’re in Iceland – it’s a horse!).
Whether you’re decorating the Christmas tree, hanging Christmas stockings, building gingerbread houses, or pulling Christmas crackers on Christmas Day, the best bit of the Christmas season is the time spent together. And now your little ones know that while they’re waiting for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve, children in Spain are leaving their shoes out for the Three Kings, kids in Poland are watching for the first star, and families in Japan are queuing up for a bucket of fried chicken. Christmas around the world is wonderfully weird – and that’s what makes it magic.
Merry Christmas and happy exploring from Learn with Karyn – and from all 13 Yule Lads, La Befana, the Three Kings, and of course, Santa himself! ๐ ๐
