Easy Christmas Trivia Questions for Kids and Families
Start here if kids are playing or if the group needs a warm-up. These questions cover Santa, reindeer, snowmen, classic songs and the holiday movies everyone has seen. They also work as a quick game at the dinner table or in a classroom before winter break.
What date is Christmas Day?
RevealDecember 25.
Where does Santa live?
RevealAt the North Pole.
What is the name of Santa’s wife?
RevealMrs. Claus.
What are Santa’s workshop helpers called?
RevealElves.
What color is Rudolph’s nose?
RevealRed.
How many reindeer guide Santa’s sleigh, counting Rudolph?
RevealNine.
What does Santa leave in a naughty child’s stocking?
RevealA lump of coal.
What do kids in the US leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?
RevealMilk and cookies.
What do people hang by the fireplace for Santa to fill?
RevealChristmas stockings.
What list does Santa check twice?
RevealHis naughty or nice list.
What food do families leave out for the reindeer?
RevealCarrots.
How does Santa get into houses, by tradition?
RevealDown the chimney.
What three words does Santa say when he laughs?
Reveal“Ho, ho, ho!”
What are two other popular names for Santa Claus?
RevealKris Kringle and Saint Nick.
What color are Santa’s belt and boots?
RevealBlack.
What brings Frosty the Snowman to life?
RevealA magic hat placed on his head.
In the classic TV special, who brings Frosty back to life?
RevealSanta.
In the song, what is Frosty’s nose made of?
RevealA button.
What do people usually use for a snowman’s nose?
RevealA carrot.
What is the name of the Grinch’s dog?
RevealMax.
What plant is the Grinch “as cuddly as”?
RevealA cactus.
What three words describe the Grinch in the song?
Reveal“Stink, stank, stunk.”
What does Cindy Lou Who catch the Grinch stealing?
RevealThe Christmas tree.
Which plant do people kiss under at Christmas?
RevealMistletoe.
What red-and-green plant, native to Mexico, decorates homes at Christmas?
RevealThe poinsettia.
What evergreen with spiky leaves and red berries is used to decorate?
RevealHolly.
What round decoration do people hang on their front doors?
RevealA wreath.
What two things most often go on top of a Christmas tree?
RevealA star or an angel.
What are the traditional Christmas colors?
RevealRed and green.
Which letter does a candy cane look like?
RevealThe letter J.
What two colors is a classic candy cane?
RevealRed and white.
What kind of house do people build and decorate out of cookies?
RevealA gingerbread house.
What cookie is shaped like a little person and flavored with ginger?
RevealA gingerbread man.
Which two foods do people hang on Christmas trees?
RevealCandy canes and popcorn.
Which famous ballet features the Sugar Plum Fairy?
RevealThe Nutcracker.
What train takes children to the North Pole on Christmas Eve?
RevealThe Polar Express.
In “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” what is the partridge sitting in?
RevealA pear tree.
How many golden rings are given in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?
RevealFive.
How many times does Santa check his list?
RevealTwice.
What is fun to ride, according to “Jingle Bells”?
RevealA one-horse open sleigh.
In the classic song, who did the singer see kissing Santa Claus?
RevealMommy.
What do we call December 24?
RevealChristmas Eve.
What does an Advent calendar count down to?
RevealChristmas, usually starting on December 1.
Where was baby Jesus laid after he was born?
RevealIn a manger.
What do you call going door to door singing Christmas songs?
RevealCaroling.
What meat is usually served for Christmas dinner?
RevealTurkey or ham.
What is the last line of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”?
Reveal“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
Which city does Buddy the Elf travel to in search of his dad?
RevealNew York City.
How does baby Buddy end up at the North Pole in Elf?
RevealHe crawls into Santa’s sack.
What are Buddy the Elf’s four main food groups?
RevealCandy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup.
Where is the McCallister family flying when they leave Kevin behind in Home Alone?
RevealParis.
What is Scrooge’s first name?
RevealEbenezer.
Christmas Trivia Questions for Adults
A step up for teens and adults: reindeer names, A Christmas Carol, Christmas trees, famous gifts and a few numbers that surprise people every year.
Name all of Santa’s reindeer, including Rudolph.
RevealDasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.
Which of Santa’s reindeer shares a name with another holiday’s mascot?
RevealCupid.
Which reindeer’s name starts with the letter B?
RevealBlitzen.
What three gifts did the wise men bring to baby Jesus?
RevealGold, frankincense and myrrh.
What is December 26 called in the UK, Canada and Australia?
RevealBoxing Day.
Which saint is celebrated on December 26?
RevealSt. Stephen.
Who wrote A Christmas Carol, and when?
RevealCharles Dickens, in 1843.
Who wrote that Christmas “doesn’t come from a store” and “means a little bit more”?
RevealDr. Seuss.
How many ghosts visit Scrooge in A Christmas Carol?
RevealFour: Jacob Marley, then the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
Which ghost is the last to visit Scrooge?
RevealThe Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Which company’s ads made the red-suited Santa famous in the 1930s?
RevealCoca-Cola, with illustrations by Haddon Sundblom.
What is another name for eggnog?
RevealMilk punch.
What does the “X” in “Xmas” stand for?
RevealThe Greek letter chi, the first letter of “Christ” in Greek.
Where does the word “Noel” come from?
RevealIt is French for Christmas, from the Latin word for “birth.”
What was the first tinsel made of?
RevealThin strands of real silver, in Germany in the early 1600s.
In which season do Australians celebrate Christmas?
RevealIn summer.
What share of Americans celebrate Christmas?
RevealAbout 9 in 10.
Where did Mary, Joseph and Jesus travel after Bethlehem?
RevealTo Egypt.
What is the season before Christmas called in Christian churches?
RevealAdvent. It begins four Sundays before Christmas Day.
What nuts are traditionally roasted over an open fire at Christmas?
RevealChestnuts.
Which toy, invented in 1903, is named after a US president?
RevealThe teddy bear.
Which US state grows the most Christmas trees?
RevealOregon, followed by North Carolina.
What types of trees are most commonly used as Christmas trees?
RevealFir, spruce and pine.
About how many Christmas trees are sold in the US each year?
RevealAbout 25 to 30 million.
How long does it take to grow a standard Christmas tree?
RevealAbout 7 to 10 years.
How much should you cut off the bottom of a tree trunk before putting it in water?
RevealAbout half an inch.
Which popular Christmas plant is toxic to pets?
RevealThe poinsettia.
Which bird is most often seen on Christmas cards?
RevealThe robin.
What fruit traditionally goes in the toe of a Christmas stocking?
RevealAn orange or a tangerine.
Which ornament is said to bring luck to whoever finds it on the tree?
RevealA pickle.
What is another name for a White Elephant gift exchange?
RevealA Yankee Swap.
What do you call anonymous gift-giving among coworkers?
RevealSecret Santa.
What is the big US shopping day after Thanksgiving called?
RevealBlack Friday.
Which doll was a sold-out must-have Christmas gift in the 1980s?
RevealCabbage Patch Kids.
What was the best-selling toy of 1996?
RevealTickle Me Elmo.
Which handheld digital pet was a must-have gift in the 1990s?
RevealThe Tamagotchi.
Which classic board game is a top Christmas seller?
RevealMonopoly.
Which character, created in 1926 and inspired by stuffed toys, became a favorite Christmas gift?
RevealWinnie-the-Pooh.
Which gadget was the top Christmas gift of the 2010s?
RevealThe iPad.
Which US city is known for elaborate holiday store window displays?
RevealNew York.
Which New York department store is famous for its holiday displays?
RevealMacy’s.
About how much does the average American spend on holiday gifts?
RevealAbout $988 per person.
What share of people return at least one holiday gift?
RevealAt least 66%, about two out of three.
About how many accidental fires do dried-out Christmas trees cause each holiday season?
RevealRoughly 100.
Christmas Movie Trivia Questions and Answers
The Christmas movie trivia below goes from the classics through animated favorites to newer streaming releases, including a couple for Christmas Vacation fans.
Classic Christmas movie trivia
What do the burglars in Home Alone call themselves?
RevealThe Wet Bandits.
What is the family’s last name in Home Alone?
RevealMcCallister.
Where was Home Alone filmed?
RevealWinnetka, Illinois.
Which 1990 film became the highest-grossing Christmas movie?
RevealHome Alone.
In Home Alone 2, which New York hotel does Kevin check into?
RevealThe Plaza Hotel.
In Home Alone 2, who gives Kevin the ceramic turtle doves?
RevealThe owner of the toy store.
In Elf, where does Buddy go to find his biological father?
RevealThe Empire State Building.
Which actor plays Buddy in Elf?
RevealWill Ferrell.
Which movie has the line “You smell like beef and cheese”?
RevealElf.
What is the first rule of the Code of Elves?
RevealTreat every day like Christmas.
Which movie has the line “Santa! I know him!”?
RevealElf.
What does Ralphie want for Christmas in A Christmas Story?
RevealA Red Ryder BB gun.
What warning does Ralphie hear again and again?
Reveal“You’ll shoot your eye out!”
What “major award” does Ralphie’s father win?
RevealA lamp shaped like a woman’s leg.
What is the name of Ralphie’s little brother?
RevealRandy.
Which classic Christmas movie inspired The Wonder Years?
RevealA Christmas Story.
Who is George Bailey’s guardian angel in It’s a Wonderful Life?
RevealClarence Odbody, an angel second class.
In which town is It’s a Wonderful Life set?
RevealBedford Falls.
Which department store hires Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street?
RevealMacy’s.
In the 1994 Miracle on 34th Street, what is one of the things Susan wants for Christmas?
RevealA baby brother.
Which toy does the dad hunt for in Jingle All the Way?
RevealA Turbo Man action figure.
Which movie has the catchphrase “It’s turbo time!”?
RevealJingle All the Way.
What makes Scott Calvin become Santa in The Santa Clause?
RevealHe puts on Santa’s suit.
Who plays Santa in The Santa Clause?
RevealTim Allen.
What does Mark hold up at Juliet’s door in Love Actually?
RevealA set of cue cards.
Which singer performs “Christmas Is All Around” in Love Actually?
RevealBilly Mack.
Which two characters swap homes in The Holiday?
RevealIris and Amanda.
Which movie has a mailroom worker named Joe?
RevealLove Actually.
What do the Kranks receive in the mail in Christmas with the Kranks?
RevealA cruise brochure.
In The Christmas Chronicles, which song do Santa and the inmates sing?
Reveal“Santa Claus Is Back in Town.”
In which movie does Santa temporarily step away from his job?
RevealFred Claus.
What is the name of the skyscraper in Die Hard?
RevealNakatomi Plaza.
Which movie features a Christmas heist by a mall Santa?
RevealBad Santa.
In Christmas Vacation, what does Clark Griswold get instead of his Christmas bonus?
RevealA membership in the Jelly of the Month Club.
How many lights does Clark put on the Griswolds’ house?
Reveal25,000.
Who voices Scrooge in the 2009 animated A Christmas Carol?
RevealJim Carrey.
Who played the Grinch in the 2000 live-action movie?
RevealJim Carrey.
Who plays Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol?
RevealMichael Caine.
In The Muppet Christmas Carol, who invites Scrooge to Christmas dinner?
RevealHis nephew, Fred.
Animated and family Christmas movie trivia
Who is the Pumpkin King in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
RevealJack Skellington.
Who is Jack Skellington’s main rival?
RevealOogie Boogie.
Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas?
RevealHenry Selick. Tim Burton created the story.
In what year was The Nightmare Before Christmas released?
Reveal1993.
What word is punched into the boy’s ticket in The Polar Express?
RevealBelieve.
What is the first gift of Christmas in The Polar Express?
RevealA silver bell from Santa’s sleigh.
What do the waiters serve on board The Polar Express?
RevealHot chocolate.
What upsets Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
RevealThe commercialization of Christmas.
Who directs the Christmas play in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
RevealCharlie Brown, at Lucy’s suggestion.
What are the kids doing in the opening scene of A Charlie Brown Christmas?
RevealIce skating.
What kind of tree does Charlie Brown pick?
RevealA small, sad-looking little tree.
Which carol do the Peanuts gang sing in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
Reveal“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Which song do the Whos sing together in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
Reveal“Welcome Christmas.”
Which food does the Grinch hate in the 1966 TV special?
RevealRoast Beast.
In Klaus, what is Jesper’s mission in Smeerensburg?
RevealTo deliver 6,000 letters.
In Arthur Christmas, what present was left undelivered?
RevealA bicycle.
What is Santa’s high-tech delivery ship called in Arthur Christmas?
RevealThe S-1.
What does Hermey the elf want to be in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
RevealA dentist.
Who plays Noelle in the 2019 movie Noelle?
RevealAnna Kendrick.
In Jack Frost, what brings Jack back as a snowman?
RevealA magic harmonica.
In Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, who tries to steal Olaf’s fruitcake?
RevealWolves.
In The Search for Santa Paws, why do Santa and Paws travel to New York?
RevealTo visit Hucklebuckle’s store.
Which movie features a talking snowman named Olaf and a girl named Anna?
RevealFrozen.
Who plays Clara’s godfather in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms?
RevealMorgan Freeman.
Newer Christmas movie trivia
Who stars in Red One?
RevealDwayne Johnson.
Who plays the man who turns his whole street into a Christmas display in Candy Cane Lane?
RevealEddie Murphy.
Who plays Avery in Our Little Secret (2024)?
RevealLindsay Lohan.
Who plays Amanda Woods in The Holiday?
RevealCameron Diaz.
Who plays Kate in Last Christmas?
RevealEmilia Clarke.
Which classic story is the musical Spirited based on?
RevealA Christmas Carol.
Who plays Satan in Dear Santa?
RevealJack Black.
Who plays the archaeologist in The Christmas Quest (2024)?
RevealLacey Chabert.
Who plays Ashley in The Merry Gentlemen?
RevealBritt Robertson.
Who plays Ethan in Something from Tiffany’s?
RevealKendrick Sampson.
Who plays Sir Cole in The Knight Before Christmas?
RevealJosh Whitehouse.
Which Bruce Willis action movie do fans argue about as a Christmas classic?
RevealDie Hard.
In AI Quiz mode, type a topic such as “Christmas movies” and everyone answers on their own phone, with scores counted for you.
Christmas TV Episode Trivia
Sitcoms love a holiday episode. These questions are for the friends who rewatch the same Christmas episodes every December.
In The Office, which Japanese steakhouse do Michael and the guys go to for lunch in a Christmas episode?
RevealBenihana.
In the Friends episode “The One with the Holiday Armadillo,” what does Ross dress up as?
RevealThe Holiday Armadillo, because he can’t find a Santa costume.
In Ted Lasso, whose party does Rebecca skip to go caroling?
RevealElton John’s.
In Modern Family, why do Claire and Phil threaten to cancel Christmas?
RevealThey think one of the kids tried a cigarette.
What is the Festivus pole made of on Seinfeld?
RevealPlain aluminum.
What is the name of the dog the Simpsons adopt in their first full-length episode?
RevealSanta’s Little Helper, in “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” (1989).
In Full House, what derails the family’s Christmas plans?
RevealA blizzard.
In Grey’s Anatomy, which couple has a winter wedding?
RevealBailey and Ben.
In Grey’s Anatomy, who tries to remind her roommates of the meaning of Christmas?
RevealIzzie.
In Sister, Sister, what do Tia and Tamera spend their money on?
RevealPaying off a loan shark.
In The Sopranos, what does Jackie give Meadow for Christmas?
RevealA necklace.
In The Golden Girls, who gives a men’s boudoir calendar as a gift?
RevealBlanche.
In The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, who upsets the neighbors with Christmas decorations?
RevealWill.
In Black-ish, what is the new Johnson family Christmas tradition?
RevealWatching a classic Black movie.
In New Girl, who gets left out of the Secret Santa draw?
RevealJess.
In Schitt’s Creek, where do the Roses celebrate Christmas?
RevealAt the Rosebud Motel.
In Glee, who tampers with the faculty Secret Santa?
RevealSue Sylvester.
In Gilmore Girls, who has a heart attack around the holidays?
RevealRichard.
In Fresh Off the Boat, who is obsessed with Christmas?
RevealJessica.
In Superstore, who turns Cloud 9 into a Christmas haven?
RevealAmy.
In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, who joins Holt and Rosa on the Polar Club swim?
RevealAmy.
In How I Met Your Mother, who turns the apartment into a winter wonderland?
RevealLily.
Christmas Song Trivia Questions
Christmas music trivia covers carols that are centuries old and pop hits from the last few decades. To make it a music round, play the first seconds of a song and ask for the title, or stop a lyric halfway and have teams finish the line.
What is the best-selling single of all time?
RevealBing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”
Who wrote “White Christmas”?
RevealIrving Berlin.
In what year was Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” released?
Reveal1994.
Who wrote “Jingle Bells,” and when?
RevealJames Lord Pierpont, in 1857.
Which holiday was “Jingle Bells” originally written for?
RevealThanksgiving.
What was the first song broadcast from space?
Reveal“Jingle Bells,” in 1965.
What was “The Little Drummer Boy” originally called?
Reveal“Carol of the Drum.”
Which carol is the most recorded and covered Christmas song?
Reveal“Silent Night,” covered more than 1,000 times.
In which language was “Silent Night” first written?
RevealGerman. The carol comes from Austria.
In which language was “O Holy Night” first written?
RevealFrench.
What was the first Christmas carol broadcast on radio, in 1906?
Reveal“O Holy Night.”
“Carol of the Bells” is based on a folk chant from which country?
RevealUkraine.
Which carol was originally written in Latin as “Adeste Fideles”?
Reveal“O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Which carol is often called the most popular Christmas hymn?
Reveal“O Holy Night.”
Which wintry song was written during a heat wave?
Reveal“Let It Snow!”
Which carol asks for figgy pudding?
Reveal“We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
What is given on the fourth day of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?
RevealFour calling birds.
What is given on the seventh day?
RevealSeven swans a-swimming.
What is given on the tenth day?
RevealTen lords a-leaping.
How many gifts are given in total in “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” counting every repeat?
Reveal364.
Which carol is also known as “The Counting Song”?
Reveal“The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Which song opens with “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”?
Reveal“The Christmas Song.”
Which song opens with “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?”
Reveal“Winter Wonderland.”
Which song is about city sidewalks and ringing bells?
Reveal“Silver Bells.”
Which song is about a sleigh ride with sleigh bells and winter scenery?
Reveal“Sleigh Ride.”
Which song warns kids to behave because Santa is on his way?
Reveal“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”
Which singer made “The Christmas Song” famous?
RevealNat King Cole. Mel Tormé and Bob Wells wrote it during a summer heat wave in 1945, trying to “think cool.”
Which singing cowboy had the first hit with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”?
RevealGene Autry, in 1949.
Who first recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958?
RevealBrenda Lee.
Who sang the 1970 hit “Feliz Navidad”?
RevealJosé Feliciano.
What does “Feliz Navidad” mean?
Reveal“Merry Christmas.”
Which country is “Feliz Navidad” from?
RevealPuerto Rico.
Which duo recorded “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”?
RevealElmo & Patsy, in 1979.
Which 1984 charity supergroup recorded a Christmas single for Ethiopian famine relief?
RevealBand Aid.
Who recorded “Last Christmas”?
RevealWham!
Who recorded “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”?
RevealJohn Lennon.
Who released “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” in 1963?
RevealDarlene Love.
Which child star first sang “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”?
RevealJimmy Boyd.
Who wrote “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”?
RevealMeredith Willson.
Who released “Wonderful Christmastime”?
RevealPaul McCartney.
Which rap group recorded “Christmas in Hollis”?
RevealRun-DMC.
Which boy band released “Home for Christmas” in 1998?
Reveal*NSYNC.
Which pop star released the holiday album Under the Mistletoe?
RevealJustin Bieber.
Which two singers are known as the King and Queen of Christmas?
RevealMichael Bublé and Mariah Carey.
Whose recording of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is the best known?
RevealAndy Williams.
What kind of Christmas does Elvis have without you?
RevealA blue Christmas.
Who sings “Underneath the Tree”?
RevealKelly Clarkson.
Which British rock band released “Christmas Lights”?
RevealColdplay.
Which singer released the song “Christmas Time” in 2004?
RevealChristina Aguilera.
Which band released “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call”?
RevealBleachers.
Which duo released the album Merry Christmas, Darling?
RevealThe Carpenters.
Which pop star released “Cozy Little Christmas”?
RevealKaty Perry.
Which Christmas song do Americans name as their most disliked?
Reveal“Santa Baby.”
Which Christmas song do the Plastics perform in Mean Girls?
Reveal“Jingle Bell Rock.”
Players hear a short clip and race to pick the right song from their phones. A ready-made music round for the party.
Christmas History Trivia
Where Christmas traditions came from: Roman festivals, banned celebrations, the first cards and the first electric lights.
Which ancient Roman festival influenced Christmas traditions?
RevealSaturnalia.
Where and when was Christmas first recorded as being celebrated on December 25?
RevealIn Rome, in 336 AD.
Around what year was St. Nicholas born?
RevealAround 280 AD.
In which country did decorating Christmas trees begin?
RevealGermany, in the 1500s.
Which royal couple made Christmas trees popular in Britain?
RevealQueen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Who was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day?
RevealCharlemagne.
Who banned Christmas in England in 1647?
RevealThe Puritan-led Parliament, in the era of Oliver Cromwell.
Which monarch’s return brought Christmas back to England?
RevealCharles II, in 1660.
Which American colony fined people for celebrating Christmas?
RevealThe Massachusetts Bay Colony.
In which century was the word “Xmas” coined?
RevealThe 16th century.
Which exotic fruit was a popular Christmas gift in the 1800s?
RevealThe pineapple.
What was “The Night Before Christmas” originally called?
Reveal“A Visit from St. Nicholas,” published in 1823.
Who commissioned the first commercial Christmas cards, and when?
RevealSir Henry Cole, in London, in 1843. Artist John Callcott Horsley designed them.
Which cartoonist shaped the modern image of Santa Claus?
RevealThomas Nast, in Harper’s Weekly from 1863.
When did Christmas become a US federal holiday?
RevealOn June 28, 1870, under President Ulysses S. Grant.
Who displayed the first electrically lit Christmas tree?
RevealEdward H. Johnson, in New York City, in 1882.
Which president had the first documented indoor Christmas tree in the White House?
RevealBenjamin Harrison, in 1889.
Whose son hid a Christmas tree in the White House in 1902?
RevealTheodore Roosevelt’s son Archie.
Which troops held the Christmas truce of 1914?
RevealBritish and German troops on the Western Front.
When did the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting begin?
RevealIn 1933.
What was the leader of medieval Christmas revels called?
RevealThe Lord of Misrule.
Where does the word “Yule” come from?
RevealFrom the Old English name of a Germanic midwinter festival.
Christmas Traditions Around the World Trivia
Christmas looks very different from Japan to Iceland. These questions travel through gift-bringers, festivals and odd customs from other countries.
In which country is a KFC dinner a popular Christmas tradition?
RevealJapan.
In which country do children leave out their shoes for Sinterklaas?
RevealThe Netherlands.
Which horned creature punishes misbehaving children in Alpine folklore?
RevealKrampus.
Which country celebrates Las Posadas from December 16 to 24?
RevealMexico.
Who is the witch who brings gifts to children in Italy?
RevealLa Befana.
Which gift-bringer visits German children at Christmas?
RevealThe Christkind.
In which country does Moș Crăciun bring blessings at Christmas?
RevealRomania.
Which country’s Christmastime folklore features the Mari Lwyd?
RevealWales.
How many Yule Lads visit Icelandic children before Christmas?
RevealThirteen.
Which country has the Christmas Book Flood, or Jólabókaflóð?
RevealIceland.
In which country do girls dress as Saint Lucia on December 13?
RevealSweden.
Which country has the Christmas smorgasbord called the julbord?
RevealSweden.
Which animal has a giant Christmas statue in Gävle, Sweden?
RevealA goat.
What is Simbang Gabi in the Philippines?
RevealA series of nine dawn masses before Christmas.
What are the star-shaped Filipino Christmas lanterns called?
RevealParols.
Which region of Spain has the Caga Tió, a log that “poops” out treats?
RevealCatalonia.
What is Spain’s huge Christmas lottery called?
RevealEl Gordo, held since 1812.
What do Ethiopians call Christmas, and when is it celebrated?
RevealGenna, or Ganna, on January 7.
In which country do people roller-skate to Christmas mass?
RevealVenezuela.
Which South American country holds a midnight Nochebuena feast?
RevealColombia.
What is the church service held at midnight on Christmas Eve called?
RevealMidnight Mass.
In which Caribbean country do people celebrate the Nine Mornings Festival before Christmas?
RevealSaint Vincent and the Grenadines.
What do Norwegians hide on Christmas Eve to keep witches away?
RevealTheir brooms.
Which country decorates Christmas trees with spider webs?
RevealUkraine.
Which Ukrainian Christmas decoration is a sheaf of wheat?
RevealThe Didukh.
What is the Polish Christmas Eve dinner of 12 meatless dishes called?
RevealWigilia.
In which country is the Christmas feast called joulupöytä, or “Christmas table”?
RevealFinland.
Which straw decoration hangs over dining tables in Finland?
RevealThe himmeli.
Which Japanese rice-straw decoration is hung for good luck?
RevealThe shimekazari.
What is the Japanese method of wrapping gifts in cloth called?
RevealFuroshiki.
Which country started the Christmas card tradition?
RevealEngland.
Why do Polish families set an extra place at the Christmas table?
RevealFor an unexpected guest or traveler.
Which country holds the Junkanoo street festival on Boxing Day?
RevealThe Bahamas.
What are Greek door-to-door Christmas carols called?
RevealKalanda, or kalanta.
Who brings New Year gifts to Russian children?
RevealDed Moroz, or Father Frost.
In Spain, who brings gifts on January 6?
RevealLos Reyes Magos, the Three Kings.
Where do many Australians spend Christmas Day?
RevealAt the beach, often with a barbecue.
Christmas Food and Drink Trivia
Puddings, breads, drinks and holiday dinners from around the world, plus a few candy questions.
Which creamy holiday drink is made with milk, cream, sugar and eggs?
RevealEggnog.
Which country originally created eggnog?
RevealEngland.
Which spirit never goes into eggnog?
RevealGin.
What is the warm, spiced wine drink of the holidays called?
RevealMulled wine.
Which spirit is poured over a Christmas pudding and set alight?
RevealBrandy.
What is hidden in a British Christmas pudding for good luck?
RevealA silver coin.
What was originally inside a mince pie?
RevealMinced meat, along with fruit and spices.
What do children in the UK leave out for Santa?
RevealA mince pie and a glass of sherry.
What is a bûche de Noël?
RevealA rolled French cake shaped like a Yule log.
Which tall, sweet Christmas bread comes from Milan?
RevealPanettone.
Which two desserts do Italians eat on Christmas Eve?
RevealPanettone and pandoro.
Which Italian Christmas cake is made with dried fruit and almonds?
RevealPanforte.
Which Portuguese Christmas bread is filled with dried fruit and nuts?
RevealBolo Rei.
Which Scottish fruitcake baked in pastry is eaten at Hogmanay?
RevealBlack Bun.
Which German Christmas bread comes from Dresden?
RevealStollen.
What is the hot spiced wine sold at German Christmas markets?
RevealGlühwein.
What is the main ingredient of the German dish Kartoffelknödel?
RevealPotato.
Which sweet almond paste is a Christmas favorite?
RevealMarzipan.
Which hot spiced drink takes its name from an Old English toast?
RevealWassail.
What is the Italian-American Christmas Eve seafood dinner called?
RevealThe Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Which salted fish is eaten in Italy on Christmas Eve?
RevealBaccalà, or salted cod.
Which fish is served at Scandinavian Christmas feasts?
RevealHerring.
Which bird is the traditional English Christmas meal?
RevealGoose.
Which dish do many Mexican families make together at Christmas?
RevealTamales.
Who invented Christmas crackers, the paper tubes that pop at British dinners?
RevealTom Smith, in the 1840s.
In Danish rice pudding, what do you win for finding the whole almond?
RevealA small prize.
What does a Japanese Christmas cake usually look like?
RevealA sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries.
Which meringue dessert is a cold Australian Christmas favorite?
RevealPavlova.
What is the roasted pig served at Filipino Christmas feasts called?
RevealLechon.
What bird does Scrooge send a boy to buy on Christmas morning?
RevealA turkey.
What shape is a candy cane meant to resemble?
RevealA shepherd’s crook, or staff.
What is the most common candy cane flavor?
RevealPeppermint.
Which country is credited with the gingerbread house?
RevealGermany.
Which fairy tale is said to have inspired early gingerbread houses?
RevealHansel and Gretel.
What do you stick into an onion to make a traditional bread sauce?
RevealCloves.
Which much-mocked Christmas dessert is famous for its long shelf life?
RevealFruitcake.
Santa, Reindeer and North Pole Trivia
How Santa got his look, where his reindeer came from and who tracks him on Christmas Eve.
Which reindeer is missing from the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”?
RevealRudolph. The poem names only eight: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
Who created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
RevealRobert L. May, in 1939, for a Montgomery Ward coloring book.
What did the other reindeer stop Rudolph from joining?
RevealThe reindeer games.
Who is Rudolph’s elf friend in the classic TV special?
RevealHermey.
Where did the real St. Nicholas live?
RevealIn Myra, in present-day Turkey.
Which two figures were mainly combined to create Santa Claus?
RevealSaint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) and Father Christmas.
Which military command has tracked Santa every year since 1955?
RevealNORAD.
Which US state has a town called North Pole?
RevealAlaska.
In which Finnish city is Santa Claus Village?
RevealRovaniemi.
Why are Santa’s antlered reindeer probably female?
RevealMale reindeer shed their antlers in late fall.
What is Santa called in France?
RevealPère Noël.
What is Santa called in Spanish?
RevealPapá Noel.
Where is the geographic North Pole?
RevealOn drifting sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.
Biblical Christmas Trivia
The Nativity story as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Many familiar details, from the three kings to the animals by the manger, come from tradition rather than scripture, which makes for great trick questions.
True or false Christmas quiz
True or false: the magi were wise men.
RevealFalse. They were a mix of what we would call astronomers and astrologers.
True or false: the magi were kings.
RevealFalse. They were astronomers and astrologers, not kings.
True or false: there were three magi.
RevealFalse. They brought three gifts, but the text never says how many came. Magi often traveled in caravans of 10 to 12.
True or false: the magi came from the Orient.
RevealFalse, if that means the Far East. They most likely came from Persia or Arabia.
True or false: the magi found Jesus in a stable.
RevealFalse. They arrived well after the birth and found the family in a house (Matthew 2:11).
True or false: a manger was a crib for a baby.
RevealFalse. It was a feeding trough for animals, often made of stone. Stone mangers can still be seen at Megiddo.
True or false: there were animals by the manger.
RevealFalse. The only animals the Bible mentions are the sheep out in the fields.
True or false: the angels who appeared to the shepherds sang.
RevealFalse. Luke uses the verb “said” before their words.
True or false: shepherds were well liked.
RevealFalse. They were nomadic and generally despised.
True or false: swaddling clothes made the baby more comfortable.
RevealFalse. They held the arms and legs close to the body and limited movement.
Christmas scripture trivia
Which two Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ birth?
RevealMatthew and Luke.
Whose decree sent Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem?
RevealCaesar Augustus, who ordered a census (Luke 2:1-5).
Joseph lived in Nazareth. Which town does Luke call “his own city”?
RevealBethlehem (Luke 2:3).
Which prophet foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?
RevealMicah (Micah 5:2).
What does the innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph?
RevealNothing. The Bible never mentions an innkeeper, and the “inn” was probably a guest room in a house (Luke 2:7).
How did Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem?
RevealThe Bible doesn’t say. The donkey in nativity pictures is an artistic addition.
How many angels first spoke to the shepherds?
RevealOne (Luke 2:10). Then a whole host appeared and praised God.
What does the word “host” mean in “a multitude of the heavenly host”?
RevealAn angel army, possibly 10,000 to 100,000 angels.
What did the heavenly host say?
Reveal“Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14).
Trick question: where was there snow on the first Christmas?
RevealSomewhere in Israel: there is always snow on Mount Hermon.
What does the word “magi” mean?
RevealStar-gazers: men who studied the stars.
What was frankincense?
RevealA precious perfume used in temple worship.
What was myrrh used for?
RevealIt was a spice used for burying people.
Why did the magi go to King Herod first?
RevealTo find out where the newborn king was (Matthew 2:2).
What did the star do when the magi left Herod?
RevealIt went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was (Matthew 2:9).
How old was Jesus, most likely, when the magi arrived?
RevealA young child, probably 12 to 24 months old.
What did Joseph plan to do when he learned Mary was pregnant?
RevealEnd the engagement quietly (Matthew 1:19).
Which relative did Mary go to visit?
RevealElizabeth (Luke 1:39).
Hard Christmas Trivia Questions
Tricky questions for the know-it-alls, a tiebreaker round or the last round of the night.
Which president lit the first National Christmas Tree?
RevealCalvin Coolidge, in 1923.
Which was the first US state to make Christmas a legal holiday?
RevealAlabama, in 1836.
Which short story is It’s a Wonderful Life based on?
Reveal“The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern.
How much does Scrooge pay Bob Cratchit each week?
Reveal15 shillings.
Which country sends London the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree every year?
RevealNorway, since 1947.
Who composed The Nutcracker?
RevealPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Where and when did The Nutcracker premiere?
RevealIn Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1892.
Which instrument plays the melody of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?
RevealThe celesta.
Who composed the melody of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”?
RevealFelix Mendelssohn. His melody was adapted for the carol in 1855.
In what year did the Apollo 8 crew read from Genesis on Christmas Eve?
Reveal1968.
What is the French Christmas Eve dinner called?
RevealLe Réveillon.
The “German” Christmas pickle ornament most likely started where?
RevealIn the US, in the late 1800s.
Which country celebrates “Little Christmas” on January 6?
RevealIreland.
In which ocean is Christmas Island?
RevealThe Indian Ocean.
What is the last evening of the twelve days of Christmas called?
RevealTwelfth Night, on January 5.
On which day do the twelve days of Christmas traditionally begin?
RevealDecember 25.
In which century did the Christmas stocking tradition begin?
RevealThe 4th century.
Which religious reformer is said to have brought Christmas trees into homes?
RevealMartin Luther.
When and where was the first artificial Christmas tree made?
RevealIn the 1800s, in Germany.
Which animal helps St. Nicholas carry gifts in some traditions?
RevealA donkey.
What is the Scandinavian Christmas candle holder called?
RevealThe Advent candelabra.
What does the legend say about the first candy canes?
RevealThat a choirmaster handed out sugar sticks around 1670. No record proves it.
Which Scandinavian god was said to ride through the sky on Christmas Eve, delivering luck?
RevealOdin.
Which French figure punishes naughty children while Père Noël brings gifts?
RevealPère Fouettard.
Which creature from Norwegian folklore hides in homes and steals food during Christmas?
RevealThe Nisse.
Which country is home to the Christkindlesmarkt, one of the most famous Christmas markets?
RevealGermany, in Nuremberg.
How to Host a Christmas Trivia Game
Form teams. Teams of 3 to 5 people work best. Mix generations, so each team has a movie fan and a history buff. Large groups can split into teams or, on a video call, into breakout rooms.
Plan the rounds. Three to five rounds of about 10 questions each, 30 to 50 questions in total, fill roughly an hour. Mix the categories: one movie round, one song round and one traditions round is a solid base. If kids are playing, start with the easy questions; with any crowd, easy and medium questions warm up the room before the hard ones. Raise the difficulty only after teams score well on the easy round.
Mix question types. Combine multiple-choice, true-or-false and picture questions so the rounds don’t all feel the same.
Add a music round. Ask players to name a song from its first notes or to finish a lyric. It livens up a holiday party fast.
Keep score. Give 1 point per correct answer and 2 points in the hard round, and keep one hard question in reserve as a tiebreaker. Small prizes, like ornaments, cocoa mix or homemade treats, make the win sweeter.
Pick a format. A printed sheet works at a family dinner (print the questions and the answer key separately). A lightning round suits an office party, and a team challenge suits a bigger crowd. For remote guests, run it on Zoom or Microsoft Teams with one host, send calendar invites with the joining details, and keep rapid-fire rounds so nobody drifts off.
Use it anywhere. Christmas trivia breaks the ice at a work party where colleagues rarely talk, opens a team meeting, keeps guests busy on Christmas Eve while everyone waits to open presents, and can become a family tradition. Check a few answers before the game: some holiday facts are disputed from one source to the next.
If you want the scoring done for you, the RoomPlay Quiz runs the questions and points on everyone’s phones, and Name That Tune handles the music round.
Open a room, share the link or QR code, and pick a topic in AI Quiz mode. Players join from their phones, in person or on a call.