At the Polish Christmas Eve supper, Wigilia, why is an extra place often set at the table?

For an unexpected guest or wanderer

Christmas Traditions Around the World Quiz: Global Customs

This Christmas traditions around the world quiz travels from Austria's Krampus and Sweden's Gävle Goat to the giant lanterns of the Philippines, Iceland's Yule Lads, Poland's Wigilia supper, Dutch Sinterklaas, Nuremberg's Christmas market, Guatemala's Burning of the Devil and Christmas on the beach in Australia.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Austria
In Austria and parts of Germany, which horned creature punishes naughty children in early December?
Sweden
Each year, the town of Gävle in Sweden builds a giant straw figure of which animal?
Philippines
San Fernando in the Philippines is famous for a festival of giant what?
Iceland
How many Yule Lads visit Icelandic children in the days before Christmas?
Poland
At the Polish Christmas Eve supper, Wigilia, why is an extra place often set at the table?
Netherlands
Dutch children traditionally receive gifts from Sinterklaas on which evening?
Germany
Which German city is famous for its Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world's best-known Christmas markets?
Guatemala
In Guatemala, what do people burn on December 7 to drive away bad things before Christmas?
Australia
Where do many Australians spend Christmas Day, since it falls in summer?
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, called Genna, on which date?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In Austria and parts of Germany, which horned creature punishes naughty children in early December?
Answer: Krampus
Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas. On Krampusnacht, December 5, people in fur costumes and masks parade through Alpine towns.
Q2: Each year, the town of Gävle in Sweden builds a giant straw figure of which animal?
Answer: A goat
The Gävle Goat has been built since 1966, and pranksters have burned it down many times despite guards and fire-resistant coatings.
Q3: San Fernando in the Philippines is famous for a festival of giant what?
Answer: Lanterns
The Giant Lantern Festival features huge, spinning lanterns with thousands of lights. Star-shaped lanterns called parol decorate homes across the country.
Q4: How many Yule Lads visit Icelandic children in the days before Christmas?
Answer: Thirteen
Each mischievous lad arrives on a different night and leaves small gifts in shoes on windowsills, or a potato for naughty children.
Q5: At the Polish Christmas Eve supper, Wigilia, why is an extra place often set at the table?
Answer: For an unexpected guest or wanderer
The supper begins when the first star appears. Families share a thin wafer called opłatek and often serve 12 meatless dishes.
Q6: Dutch children traditionally receive gifts from Sinterklaas on which evening?
Answer: December 5
Sinterklaas is said to arrive by steamboat in mid-November. Children leave shoes out with carrots for his horse.
Q7: Which German city is famous for its Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world's best-known Christmas markets?
Answer: Nuremberg
The market dates back to at least the 1600s. Visitors come for gingerbread, mulled wine and handmade decorations.
Q8: In Guatemala, what do people burn on December 7 to drive away bad things before Christmas?
Answer: Effigies of the devil
The Burning of the Devil, or La Quema del Diablo, involves bonfires of rubbish and devil figures to cleanse homes.
Q9: Where do many Australians spend Christmas Day, since it falls in summer?
Answer: At the beach
Seafood, barbecues and pavlova are common on the menu. Thousands gather at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Q10: Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, called Genna, on which date?
Answer: January 7
Many Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar. In Ethiopia, people traditionally wear white and attend all-night church services.

Christmas Traditions Around the World Quiz – One Holiday, Many Customs

Christmas is celebrated in almost every country, but the way people mark it varies enormously. Local history, religion, climate and folklore have shaped unique customs, from scary creatures in the Alps to giant lanterns in Asia and barbecues on sunny beaches. Learning about these traditions shows how one holiday can take on many different forms.

Europe has some of the most colorful customs. In Austria and southern Germany, Krampus, a horned figure, accompanies Saint Nicholas and frightens naughty children. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas brings gifts on December 5. Sweden's town of Gävle builds a huge straw goat each year, and Iceland's 13 Yule Lads arrive one by one in the days before Christmas.

Family meals are central in many places. In Poland, the Christmas Eve supper called Wigilia begins when the first star appears, with an empty seat for an unexpected guest. Germany's Christmas markets, such as Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt, fill town squares with lights, food and crafts, and the idea has spread around the world.

Beyond Europe, traditions are just as varied. The Philippines has one of the longest Christmas seasons, with giant lantern festivals. Guatemalans burn devil effigies on December 7, Ethiopians celebrate Genna on January 7 and Australians often spend Christmas Day at the beach. Wherever it is celebrated, Christmas usually brings families and communities together.

This quiz covers Christmas customs from countries around the world.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for travelers, families and anyone curious about other cultures.

Who Krampus and the Yule Lads are
What the Gävle Goat is
How Poland and the Netherlands celebrate
Where the famous Christmas markets are
Unusual customs in Guatemala and the Philippines
Why some countries celebrate in January

Quick Facts About Christmas Around the World

In Finland, many families visit a sauna on Christmas Eve.
In Norway, some people hide their brooms on Christmas Eve, an old custom against witches.
The Christmas pickle ornament is often called German but is mostly an American tradition.
In Wales, the Mari Lwyd is a horse skull carried from house to house.
Russia's Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, brings gifts at New Year.
The Philippines often starts Christmas celebrations in September.