100 Christmas Trivia Questions for Your Next Holiday Gathering
Of all the holiday themed party games out there, trivia games are perhaps the best for filling people up with the Christmas spirit. That’s because they challenge us to recall details about all those Christmas songs, movies, and traditions that hold fond places in our hearts.
So, if you’re planning to incorporate trivia into your holiday gathering, kudos to you. You can surely come up with many of your own questions by browsing Wikipedia for a few hours, but why bother when someone else has already done the work for you? Here’s a jumbo list of Christmas trivia questions and answers you can use, organized by difficultly.
Note: If you like these trivia questions, be sure to check out my list of 30 creative Christmas riddles.
Easy
Here’s a warmup for your sleigh ride through holiday trivia
Q: In the song “Frosty the Snowman,” what made Frosty come to life?
A: An old silk hat
Q: What Christmas decoration was originally made from strands of silver?
A: Tinsel
Q: What Christmas beverage is also known as “milk punch?”
A: Eggnog
Q: Who played George Bailey in the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life?”
A: Jimmy Stewart
Q: Per a recent holiday fad, what “spy” hides around the house, reporting back to Santa on who has been naughty and nice?
A: The Elf on the Shelf
Q: What Christmas-themed ballet premiered in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1892?
A: The Nutcracker
Q: One of Santa’s reindeer shares a name with a famous symbol of Valentine’s Day. Which reindeer is that?
A: Cupid
Q: What much-reviled Christmas edible is known for its long shelf life?
A: Fruitcake
Q: What cartoon character’s name is used to indicate a small, thin, or just plain undesirable Christmas tree?
A: Charlie Brown
Q: What’s the name of Rudolph’s girlfriend in the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” television special?
A: Clarice
Q: In the United States, over 2 billion of these are sent each year at Christmastime.
A: Christmas cards
Q: What animated 2004 film is about a train that carries kids to the North Pole on Christmas Eve?
A: The Polar Express
Q: What phrase made popular in the book “A Christmas Carol” expresses annoyance with cheery holiday celebrations?
A: Bah humbug!
Q: What song was initially condemned by the Roman Catholic Church for allegedly portraying an adulterous affair?
A: “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
Q: In “A Christmas Story,” what happens to Ralphie’s friend as a result of a “triple-dog dare” from another classmate?
A: He gets his tongue stuck to a flagpole.
Q: What’s the German name for the song known in English as “O Christmas Tree?”
A: “O Tannenbaum”
Q: What do children typically get in their stockings if they’re on the Naughty List?
A: A lump of coal
Q: What “cool” character is said to be responsible for the icy patterns left on windows on winter mornings?
A: Jack Frost
Q: What game found under Christmas trees since 1978 had the tagline “the frantic marble munching game”?
A: Hungry Hungry Hippos
Q: True or False: The name “Santa Claus” comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
A: True. Sinterklaas in turn is the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas.
Not So Easy
Put on your Santa hat and your thinking cap
Q: In 1981, Bob and Doug McKenzie released their own version of a classic Christmas song. Which song is that?
A: The Twelve Days of Christmas
Q: What’s the name of the family featured in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”?
A: The Griswolds
Q: What beloved Christmas song was recorded by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano in 1970?
A: Feliz Navidad
Q: What science fiction franchise had its own holiday television special in 1978?
A: Star Wars
Q: The charity Toys for Tots is run by the reserve force of what branch of the U.S. military?
A: The Marines
Q: The first artificial Christmas tree was made in the 19th century using the feathers of what bird?
A: Goose
Q: In North America, wild reindeer are referred to as what?
A: Caribou
Q: What holiday is celebrated the day after Christmas in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries?
A: Boxing Day
Q: In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” what was Mr. Scrooge’s first name?
A: Ebenezer
Q: In the song “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” what “incriminating” evidence was found on Grandma’s back?
A: Claus marks
Q: According to legend, what holiday goodies were shaped to resemble a shepherd’s staff, as a way to remind children of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus?
A: Candy canes
Q: In the song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” what type of pudding is called for?
A: Figgy pudding
Q: What’s the name of the living snowman who provides comic relief in the Disney movie Frozen?
A: Olaf
Q: True or False: Snow is white.
A: False. It’s translucent. The light reflecting off of it makes it appear white.
Q: In its holiday specials, what show features Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo?
A: South Park
Q: In 1847, Hans Greiner started producing glass versions of what familiar holiday decorations?
A: Ornaments
Q: Starting in 1933, what department store chain published a “Wish Book” that became a mainstay of the holiday season?
A: Sears
Q: What holiday standard recorded in 1994 surpassed 2 billion Spotify streams in 2024?
A: All I Want For Christmas is You
Q: What hit 1984 movie starts with a hapless inventor visiting a mysterious shop in search of a Christmas present for his son?
A: Gremlins
Q: True or False: The mom in “A Christmas Story” was right when she said falling icicles can seriously hurt people.
A: True. In fact, there are a handful of deaths by icicle every year.
Medium
Tough sledding ahead, trivia buffs…
Q: What Bing Crosby song is the best-selling single ever?
A: White Christmas
Q: In the early 1800s, the first gingerbread houses were reportedly inspired by what famous fairy tale?
A: Hansel and Gretel
Q: “Miracle on 34th Street” centers on what real-life department store?
A: Macy’s
Q: What traditional Christmas decoration is actually a parasitic plant?
A: Mistletoe
Q: In “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” who played Scrooge? Hint: It wasn’t a muppet.
A: Michael Caine
Q: What beverage company has been using Santa Claus in its advertising since 1931?
A: Coca-Cola
Q: What 2003 film follows a hard-living mall Santa?
A: Bad Santa
Q: In the Twelve Days of Christmas, what are there eleven of?
A: Pipers piping
Q: In “The Chipmunk Song,” what do the chipmunks want for Christmas besides a plane that loops the loop?
A: A hula hoop
Q: Whose recording of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” topped the U.S. charts in 1949?
A: Gene Autry
Q: “Mele Kalikimaka” means “Merry Christmas” in what language?
A: Hawaiian
Q: A booklet printed by Montgomery Ward featured the first appearance of what beloved Christmas character?
A: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Q: In 1996, what toy with origins in Sesame Street was a sensation at Christmastime?
A: Tickle Me Elmo
Q: True or False: Studies show that the average American gains three pounds over the holidays.
A: False. It’s closer to one pound.
Q: What major event of the American Revolution happened on Christmas Night in 1776?
A: Washington crossed the Delaware.
Q: What wintery word comes from the Latin meaning “sun stands still”?
A: “Solstice”
Q: True or False: Kris Kringle is the German name for Saint Nicholas.
A: False. Kris Kringle is German, but comes from a separate tradition that later melded with Saint Nicholas/Santa Claus.
Q: What little green stocking stuffers first made their appearance in 1938, just in time for World War II?
A: Army Men
Q: What organization runs Operation Santa, which matches letters to Santa with people who would like to donate gifts?
A: The United States Postal Service
Q: According to Guinness World Records, the tallest cut Christmas tree was about how many feet tall? A) 100 B) 200 C) 300 D) 400
A: B) 200 (212 to be exact)
Hard
For true Christmas aficionados only
Q: How many reindeer are featured in the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas”?
A: Eight (no Rudolph!)
Q: Which classic Christmas carol contains the lyric “Strike the harp and join the chorus”?
A: Deck the Halls
Q: Which of Santa’s reindeer was the subject of a 1989 movie starring Sam Elliot?
A: Prancer
Q: In the 1966 television special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” what monster movie legend did the voice for the Grinch?
A: Boris Karloff
Q: The celebrated “Christmas Truce” temporarily halted fighting during what war?
A: World War I
Q: What “parental” figure from English folklore came to be associated with Santa Claus?
A: Father Christmas
Q: In the 1964 classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” what was the name of Rudolph’s faithful elf companion?
A: Hermey
Q: In the TV special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” what three words best describe the Grinch?
A: Stink, stank, stunk
Q: In the song “Santa Baby,” the singer asks for a deed to what?
A: A platinum mine
Q: What holiday movie sequel includes a cameo by Donald Trump?
A: Home Alone 2
Q: What word for Christmas or a Christmas carol was borrowed from French?
A: Noel
Q: What famous Christian reformer is credited with being the first person to put lights on a Christmas tree?
A: Martin Luther
Q: Who recorded the melancholy holiday hit “Hard Candy Christmas” in 1982?
A: Dolly Parton
Q: What’s the name of the hot spiced cider that’s a yuletide tradition for many?
A: Wassail
Q: The song “Jingle Bells” was originally written to celebrate what holiday?
A: Thanksgiving
Q: What word for the Christmas season derives from an ancient Germanic pagan holiday?
A: “Yule” or “yuletide.”
Q: According to legend, the tradition of hanging stockings dates back to Saint Nicholas. What were the first stocking stuffers? Hint: They weren’t toys.
A: Gold coins
Q: What 1942 movie starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire opens on Christmas Eve? Hint: It shares a name with a well-known hotel chain.
A: Holiday Inn
Q: In 2016 in Saskatoon, over 7,500 people helped set a Guinness World Record for the largest one of these.
A: Snowball fights
Q: What type of gift exchange sounds like it could involve a trade of New York baseball players?
A: Yankee Swap
Impossible
You’ll need a Christmas miracle to get these right!
Q: In the movie “A Christmas Story,” what was the name of the next door neighbors with the rowdy dogs?
A: The Bumpuses
Q: Name the animatronic cassette-playing bear toy that every kid wanted for Christmas in the mid 80s.
A: Teddy Ruxpin
Q: What unlikely duo recorded the song “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” in 1977?
A: Bing Crosby and David Bowie
Q: In what country do people celebrate Christmas by eating chicken from KFC?
A: Japan
Q: According to the folklore of Austria and other countries, what horned figure punishes naughty children at Christmastime?
A: Krampus
Q: What well-known Christmas carol became the first song ever broadcast from space in 1965?
A: Jingle Bells
Q: In what modern-day country was Saint Nicholas born?
A: Turkey
Q: What Christmas carol does the Peanuts gang sing at the end of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”?
A: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Q: “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was originally published under what name?
A: A Visit from St. Nicholas
Q: According to the Buddy the Elf, what are the four main food groups?
A: Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup
Q: What environmentalist U.S. president banned Christmas trees at the White House?
A: President Theodore Roosevelt
Q: In “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” what does Jack Skellington mistakenly call Old Saint Nick?
A: Sandy Claws
Q: What brand of scooter was a must-have Christmas gift for children in 2000?
A: Razor
Q: In one oddball tradition, an ornament shaped like what food item is hidden on the Christmas tree?
A: A pickle
Q: What 1964 science fiction film featuring Old Saint Nick is widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made?
A: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Q: In what year was the oft-reprinted editorial “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” originally published? A) 1897 B) 1907 C) 1947 D) 1957
A: A) 1897
Q: The folklore of what country features La Befana, a witch who rides a broomstick and delivers gifts to children on January 5?
A: Italy
Q: In the Harry Potter books, the title character’s wand is made from the wood of what plant associated with Christmas?
A: Holly
Q: In what South American country will you find people rollerskating all night on Christmas Eve?
A: Venezuela. They roll straight to Mass in the morning!
Q: According to Icelandic lore, the “Yule Cat” roams the countryside devouring children who don’t do what?
A: Wear the clothes they got for Christmas
If you answered at least 50 of these correctly, congratulations – you made the Nice List. If not… well, Merry Christmas anyways!
Printable Questions and Answers
Here are the Christmas trivia questions in printable format. The answers are on a separate sheet, making these convenient to use at a holiday gathering. Here’s a preview:
Click on the following links to view/download the corresponding PDFs. Please note that these files are for personal use only.
