There’s something beautiful about sitting around with loved ones over the holidays, eggnog in hand, checking who actually knows their Christmas facts.
I’ll admit, I once boldly asserted that Rudolph was in the original “Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem—spoiler alert: he wasn’t, and I’ve never lived it down.
Whether you’re throwing a holiday party, planning a virtual gathering, or just want to prove you’re the supreme Christmas know-it-all, these trivia questions will sleigh your festivities.
From laugh-out-loud humorous questions to brain-scratchers that’ll fool even Santa himself, we’ve got the ideal combination to make your celebration merry and bright!
Funny Christmas Holiday Trivia Questions and Answers
- Q: What do you call an obnoxious reindeer? A: Rude-olph!
- Q: Why was Santa’s helper seeing a therapist? A: He had low elf-esteem.
- Q: What Christmas carol is most popular in the desert? A: “O Camel Ye Faithful.”
- Q: How much did Santa pay for his sleigh? A: Nothing, it was on the house!
- Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast? A: Frosted Flakes or Ice Krispies.
- Q: Why doesn’t Santa ever get parking tickets? A: Because he always parks in the sleigh-away zone.
- Q: What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? A: Frostbite!
- Q: In the movie “Elf,” what’s Buddy’s favorite food group? A: Candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.
- Q: Why did the Christmas tree go to the barber? A: It needed to get trimmed.
- Q: What’s the Grinch’s least favorite band? A: The Who!
- Q: According to “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” how many total gifts are given? A: 364 gifts (yes, someone did the math).
- Q: What do elves learn in school? A: The elf-abet!
- Q: Why is Christmas just like work? A: You do all the work and some fat guy in a suit gets all the credit.
- Q: What’s a sheep’s favorite Christmas song? A: “Fleece Navidad!”
- Q: In “Home Alone,” what are the burglars known as? A: The Wet Bandits (later the Sticky Bandits).
- Q: Why did Frosty ask for a divorce? A: His wife was a total flake.
- Q: What nationality is Santa Claus? A: North Polish!
- Q: How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizza? A: Deep pan, crisp, and even.
- Q: What do you call Santa when he stops moving? A: Santa Pause!
- Q: In “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” what does Clark Griswold want to buy with his bonus? A: A swimming pool.
- Q: Why are Christmas trees so bad at knitting? A: They always drop their needles.
- Q: What’s Santa’s favorite type of music? A: Wrap music!
- Q: Which reindeer is never invited to games? A: Blitzen, because he’s always striking out.
- Q: What did Adam say the day before Christmas? A: “It’s Christmas, Eve!”
- Q: In “Elf,” what does Buddy claim are the four main food groups? A: Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup (yes, worth repeating because it’s that funny).
Christmas Trivia Questions and Answers
- Q: In what year was “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens first published? A: 1843.
- Q: Which country started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree? A: Germany.
- Q: What are the names of all nine of Santa’s reindeer? A: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.
- Q: What Christmas decoration was originally made from strands of silver? A: Tinsel.
- Q: In which modern-day country was Saint Nicholas born? A: Turkey (formerly Myra in Asia Minor).
- Q: What beverage company popularized the modern image of Santa Claus? A: Coca-Cola, in the 1930s.
- Q: What are the two most popular Christmas colors after red and green? A: Silver and gold.
- Q: How many ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”? A: Four (Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future).
- Q: What traditional Christmas plant is known as a “kissing plant”? A: Mistletoe.
- Q: In what decade did Coca-Cola start using Santa Claus in advertisements? A: The 1920s (popularized in the 1930s).
- Q: What do people traditionally put on top of a Christmas tree? A: An angel or a star.
- Q: Which Christmas song holds the Guinness World Record for best-selling single? A: “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby.
- Q: What figure from English folklore became associated with Santa Claus? A: Father Christmas.
- Q: In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” what is given on the seventh day? A: Seven swans a-swimming.
- Q: What is the name of the famous Christmas ballet? A: The Nutcracker.
- Q: Which U.S. state was the first to officially recognize Christmas as a holiday? A: Alabama, in 1836.
- Q: What is Frosty the Snowman’s nose made of? A: A button.
- Q: What Christmas-themed ballet premiered in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1892? A: The Nutcracker.
- Q: In “The Night Before Christmas,” what visions danced in children’s heads? A: Sugar plums.
- Q: What words follow “Silent Night” in the famous Christmas carol? A: “Holy Night.”
- Q: Which country donates the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, London, each year? A: Norway.
- Q: What does the name “Noel” mean in Latin? A: Birth.
- Q: How many times does Santa check his list? A: Twice.
- Q: What is the best-selling Christmas movie of all time? A: “The Grinch” (2018 animated version), though “Home Alone” leads in total revenue.
- Q: In which ocean can you find Christmas Island? A: The Indian Ocean.
Fun Christmas Holiday Trivia Questions and Answers
- Q: What Christmas movie features a character named Kevin McCallister? A: Home Alone.
- Q: Which fruit is traditionally placed in Christmas stockings? A: An orange or tangerine.
- Q: What are Christmas crackers? A: Festive table decorations that make a snapping sound when pulled apart and contain small gifts.
- Q: In the movie “Elf,” what does Buddy try to hug in the mailroom? A: A raccoon (he thinks it’s a Christmas decoration).
- Q: What popular Christmas song was actually written for Thanksgiving? A: “Jingle Bells.”
- Q: Which reindeer shares a name with a famous Valentine’s Day symbol? A: Cupid.
- Q: What Christmas beverage is also known as “milk punch”? A: Eggnog.
- Q: In the song “Winter Wonderland,” who do we pretend the snowman is? A: Parson Brown.
- Q: What animated film is about a train that carries kids to the North Pole? A: The Polar Express.
- Q: How many lights were on the Griswold house in “Christmas Vacation”? A: 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights!
- Q: What Christmas treat is made from sugar, butter, and peppermint? A: Candy canes.
- Q: Which country celebrates Christmas by eating KFC? A: Japan.
- Q: In “A Christmas Story,” what does Ralphie want for Christmas? A: A Red Ryder BB gun.
- Q: What famous Christmas location was the battle setting in World War I’s Christmas Truce of 1914? A: The Western Front trenches.
- Q: What Christmas song contains the lyrics “Everyone dancing merrily in the new old-fashioned way”? A: “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.”
- Q: What was the first company to use Santa Claus in their advertising? A: White Rock Beverages (before Coca-Cola).
- Q: In “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” what does Hermey the elf wish he could be instead? A: A dentist.
- Q: Which Hollywood actor played six different roles in “The Polar Express”? A: Tom Hanks.
- Q: What decoration do elves have on their shoes? A: Bells.
- Q: In what country do people celebrate Christmas with a witch who delivers gifts? A: Italy (La Befana).
- Q: What’s the name of the Grinch’s loyal dog? A: Max.
- Q: Which Christmas song was the first broadcast from space? A: “Jingle Bells” (by Gemini 6 astronauts in 1965).
- Q: What kind of Christmas pudding is traditionally set on fire? A: Plum pudding or Christmas pudding.
- Q: In the movie “Miracle on 34th Street,” what department store is featured? A: Macy’s.
- Q: What country traditionally eats 12 grapes at midnight on Christmas Eve? A: Spain (actually on New Year’s Eve, but often confused with Christmas traditions).
Easy Christmas Holiday Trivia Questions and Answers
- Q: What color is Santa’s suit? A: Red and white.
- Q: What do people traditionally kiss under during Christmas? A: Mistletoe.
- Q: What day is Christmas celebrated? A: December 25th.
- Q: What do children leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve? A: Milk and cookies.
- Q: What pulls Santa’s sleigh? A: Reindeer.
- Q: What goes on top of a Christmas tree? A: A star or an angel.
- Q: What colors are candy canes? A: Red and white (traditionally).
- Q: Who stole Christmas? A: The Grinch.
- Q: Where does Santa Claus live? A: The North Pole.
- Q: What is the name of the snowman that comes to life? A: Frosty.
- Q: What do you hang by the fireplace for Santa to fill? A: Stockings.
- Q: What reindeer has a red nose? A: Rudolph.
- Q: What month is Christmas in? A: December.
- Q: What do people decorate for Christmas? A: Christmas trees.
- Q: What songs do people sing at Christmas? A: Christmas carols.
- Q: What do children write to Santa? A: Letters or wish lists.
- Q: What is another name for Santa Claus? A: Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, or Kris Kringle.
- Q: What kind of house do you make at Christmas with candy? A: A gingerbread house.
- Q: What drink is popular at Christmas that’s made with eggs? A: Eggnog.
- Q: What type of tree is a Christmas tree? A: An evergreen (usually a fir or pine).
- Q: Who are Santa’s helpers? A: Elves.
- Q: What falls from the sky during winter? A: Snow.
- Q: What do people exchange at Christmas? A: Gifts or presents.
- Q: What calendar counts down to Christmas? A: An Advent calendar.
- Q: What holiday comes after Christmas? A: New Year’s Day.
Christmas Holiday Trivia Questions and Answers for Adults
- Q: What percentage of Americans celebrate Christmas? A: Approximately 90%.
- Q: In what year did Christmas become a federal holiday in the United States? A: 1870.
- Q: What popular alcoholic Christmas drink is made with cream and liqueur? A: Eggnog (spiked with rum, bourbon, or brandy).
- Q: Which Roman emperor was born on December 25th according to some historical accounts? A: None definitively, but the date was chosen to coincide with pagan winter solstice festivals.
- Q: What is the economic term for the surge in retail sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas? A: The holiday shopping season or “Black Friday to Christmas” retail period.
- Q: In Victorian England, what was hidden in Christmas pudding for good luck? A: A silver coin or sixpence.
- Q: What percentage of Christmas trees are artificial in American homes? A: About 80%.
- Q: Which U.S. president banned Christmas trees from the White House? A: Theodore Roosevelt (due to environmental concerns).
- Q: What was the original color of Santa’s suit before Coca-Cola’s advertising? A: Various colors including green, blue, and brown; red was already popular but Coca-Cola standardized it.
- Q: How much does the average American spend on Christmas gifts annually? A: Around $1,000-$1,200 (varies by year).
- Q: What alcoholic beverage is traditionally added to Christmas cake? A: Brandy or rum.
- Q: In the UK, what day is celebrated the day after Christmas? A: Boxing Day (December 26th).
- Q: What German Christmas tradition inspired the modern advent calendar? A: Counting down days by lighting candles or marking chalk lines.
- Q: Which country consumes the most Christmas trees per capita? A: Norway.
- Q: What is the most played Christmas song in bars and restaurants during December? A: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey.
- Q: What percentage of retail sales happen during the holiday season? A: Approximately 20-30%.
- Q: Which luxury brand created the most expensive advent calendar ever? A: Tiffany & Co. (valued at over $100,000).
- Q: What is the traditional Christmas meal in Japan? A: KFC fried chicken.
- Q: In medieval times, what was served at Christmas feasts that’s now considered unusual? A: Peacock, swan, and boar’s head.
- Q: What Nordic country celebrates “Little Christmas” on December 23rd? A: Iceland.
- Q: Which Christmas plant is actually poisonous to pets? A: Poinsettias (though toxicity is often overstated).
- Q: What is the world record for most lights on a Christmas tree? A: Over 500,000 lights (various record holders over the years).
- Q: What percentage of Christmas cards are sent by businesses versus individuals? A: Approximately 1.5 billion cards are business-sent annually.
- Q: Which Christmas movie was the first to gross over $1 billion worldwide? A: “The Grinch” (2018 animated version).
- Q: What ancient Roman festival influenced modern Christmas celebrations? A: Saturnalia (December 17-23).
Best Christmas Holiday Trivia Questions and Answers
- Q: What Christmas song was performed in space for the first time? A: “Jingle Bells” by Gemini 6 astronauts in 1965.
- Q: In the original “Miracle on 34th Street,” what real-life store was featured? A: Macy’s.
- Q: What’s the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time domestically? A: “Home Alone” ($285 million).
- Q: Which Christmas carol was once banned by the Catholic Church? A: None officially, but some modern interpretations claim various carols were discouraged.
- Q: What are the four Advent candle colors? A: Three purple, one pink (or three blue, one pink in some traditions).
- Q: In which Shakespeare play is Christmas specifically mentioned? A: “Hamlet” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”
- Q: What was the first Christmas gift ever given in literature? A: Debatable, but the Magi’s gifts in the Bible are among the earliest recorded.
- Q: Which Christmas song’s original title was “One Horse Open Sleigh”? A: “Jingle Bells.”
- Q: What’s the largest Christmas cracker ever pulled? A: Over 63 feet long in 2001.
- Q: In what decade did artificial Christmas trees become popular? A: The 1960s.
- Q: Which country holds the record for the tallest cut Christmas tree? A: Washington State, USA (221 feet).
- Q: What Christmas tradition did Prince Albert introduce to England? A: The decorated Christmas tree (popularized it from his German heritage).
- Q: Which Christmas movie character says “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear”? A: Buddy the Elf.
- Q: What postal code represents Santa Claus in Canada? A: H0H 0H0.
- Q: In “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” what’s Jack Skellington’s official title? A: The Pumpkin King.
- Q: Which U.S. state is the largest producer of Christmas trees? A: Oregon.
- Q: What’s the longest Christmas song ever recorded? A: “Old Lang Syne” has various lengthy versions, but specific Christmas songs vary.
- Q: In what year was the first Christmas card sent? A: 1843 in London.
- Q: Which Christmas movie features Bruce Willis? A: “Die Hard” (debatably a Christmas movie!).
- Q: What Christmas decoration was once made from actual spider webs? A: Tinsel (inspired by a German legend).
- Q: How many years does it take to grow an average Christmas tree? A: 7-10 years.
- Q: Which country started the tradition of gingerbread houses? A: Germany (inspired by Hansel and Gretel).
- Q: What’s the most recorded Christmas song in history? A: “Silent Night” (with over 733 versions).
- Q: In “Love Actually,” how many interconnected love stories are there? A: Ten primary storylines.
- Q: What’s the fastest-selling Christmas single of all time? A: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey.
Conclusion
And there you have it—a sleigh-load of Christmas knowledge to make your holiday parties special! Whether you’re the quiz master at your family’s Christmas party or just want to dazzle your pals with strange holiday facts, these questions are your ticket to being the star on top of the talking tree.
Don’t forget to bookmark this page for next year’s celebrations, and remember: the best gift you can give someone is the gift of knowing that “Jingle Bells” was originally composed for Thanksgiving.
Now go forth and share that Christmas cheer—just maybe don’t mention it at the dinner table unless you’re ready for some heated disagreements. Happy quizzing, and may your days be cheerful and trivia-bright!