Want to enjoy engaging fun for the whole family? Test your knowledge with these 99 Christmas trivia questions (and answers) for kids of ALL ages!
I know that everyone will want to play with their new toys and gadgets on Christmas Day. What will you do at your gatherings before you open presents? How about a fun Christmas trivia game! To keep your family gatherings from getting tense or boring, keep this Christmas quiz handy.
Why Christmas Trivia Questions?
Games and puzzles make any gathering fun. Add a trivia contest to your Christmas games. Not only will it be fun to spend quality time together and test each other’s Christmas knowledge, but there are also excellent lessons to be learned from Christmas history and traditions.
I included questions for all ages so that you can let everyone join in your reindeer games!
You’ll have to sing some of the carols to get the answers to the trivia questions about Christmas carols, so you might as well enjoy a few carols while challenging one another to the trivia questions.
For a bonus, wrap a few surprise gifts to hand out to trivia contest winners or to those who tackle tougher questions. Let the kids be Santa’s helpers and hand out the prize gifts.
Santa Claus Trivia Questions and Answers for Kids
What better topic of Christmas trivia than the big man himself? These first few questions should be easy enough for younger kids to enjoy.
What color is Santa’s suit?
Red.
What does Santa drive to deliver toys on Christmas Eve?
Sleigh
Where does Santa Claus live?
The North Pole
How many reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh (including Rudolph)?
9
Who are Santa’s little helpers at the North Pole?
Elves.
Name all of Santa’s reindeer.
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. And Rudolph!
Which one of those reindeer shares its name with another famous holiday character?
Cupid.
Why did Santa Claus need Rudolph to lead his sleigh that night?
It was too foggy, and Santa needed Rudolph’s nose to light the way.
How many times does Santa check his list to find to who is naughty and who is nice?
Twice.
What are two other popular names for Santa Claus?
Kris Kringle and Saint Nick.
What do some say that Santa Claus puts in kids’ stockings if they misbehave?
A lump of coal.
Santa Claus Trivia Questions for Older Kids and Adults
While these questions about Santa Claus may be a challenge for the younger kids, they will help include kids of all ages!
Where does the kid see Mommie kissing Santa Claus?
Underneath the mistletoe.
What soda company often uses Santa Claus in their Christmas advertising?
Coca-Cola
In what country was Saint Nicholas born?
Turkey. At the time, it was called Lycia.
What was Santa Claus’ traditional English name?
Father Christmas.
What is the Spanish name for Santa Claus?
Papa Noel.
What is Santa Claus called in France?
Père Noël
Which real-life person is Santa Claus based on?
The Christian bishop St. Nicholas. (Many also think that the Norse god Odin inspired our modern Santa Claus.)
Christmas Movie Trivia Questions and Answers for Kids
To help out with these Christmas movie questions, spend some time watching a few movies together in the hours and days leading up to your holiday gathering. Let everyone know that “this will be on the test.”
In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, who joined Rudolph on his adventure after he left the North Pole?
Yukon Cornelius and Hermey the Misfit Elf.
What did the other reindeer not let Rudolph do after they saw his red nose? Hint: “They never let poor Rudolph…”
“Join in any reindeer games.”
What is the name of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s sleigh team coach?
Comet.
In the animated movie with the same name, what is the magical train that takes kids to the North Pole?
The Polar Express.
In A Christmas Carol, what is the first name of Scrooge?
Ebenezer.
In It’s A Wonderful Life, what happened each time a bell rings?
An angel got its wings.
Who brings Frosty back to life in Frosty the Snowman?
Santa Claus
What gift did the drummer in The Little Drummer Boy give the baby Jesus?
He played drums for Him. (Pa rum pum pum pum.)
At the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas, what song does the Peanuts gang sing?
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Why can’t Santa make his annual trip in The Year Without Santa Claus?
He caught a cold.
In Elf, what are Buddy’s four main food groups?
Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.
What three words best describe the Grinch in the Dr. Seuss classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
“Stink, stank, stunk.”
Christmas Movie Trivia Questions for Older Kids and Adults
These questions may be more challenging for younger kids. For example, my younger kid has no interest in A Christmas Story. I wouldn’t call her a “younger kid.” And she wouldn’t let me! Including some of these older classics suits these questions better for us older kids.
What is the real-life department store featured in Miracle on 34th Street?
Macy’s
What does Lucy want for Christmas in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
Real Estate.
Where was Kevin’s family going for a Christmas vacation in Home Alone?
Paris.
In the movie The Santa Claus, who starred as the substitute Santa Claus?
Tim Allen
What was the real name of the character Tim Allen plays in The Santa Clause?
Scott Calvin
What is the famous reason Ralphie couldn’t have a bb gun in A Christmas Story?
“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”
In A Christmas Story, what was the name of the neighbors whose dog ate the Christmas turkey?
Bumpus.
Another A Christmas Story question, what does Ralphie’s aunt get him for Christmas?
A pink bunny suit.
What is the name of Ralphie’s little brother in A Christmas Story?
Randy.
In A Muppet Christmas Carol, who played Scrooge? Hint: They are/were not a muppet.
Michael Caine.
What’s the name of the animated Christmas film in which Tom Hanks voices many of the characters?
The Polar Express.
In the movie It’s A Wonderful Life, what is the name of George Bailey’s guardian angel?
Clarence Odbody.
If you enjoy Christmas movie trivia, you’ll love 101 Holly Jolly Christmas Movie Trivia Questions.
Christmas Carol Trivia Questions for Kids
This section will be a fun time to sing a few Christmas carols before attempting these questions. Even if you’re like me and still don’t know all the lyrics to “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” I think you’ve got this!
In “Jingle Bells,” what ride is so fun?
A one-horse open sleigh.
What is Frosty’s nose made of?
A button.
What magic item helped bring Frosty to life?
“That old top hat they found.”
According to the famous Christmas song, what would you say if you saw Rudolph’s nose?
“You would even say it glows!”
What kind of pudding do we ask for in the popular Christmas song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas?”
Figgy pudding. I’ve seen and heard people call it foggy pudding and piggy pudding, but it’s figgy. Piggy pudding? That’s just disgusting!
In “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, what does my true love give to me on the fifth day of Christmas?
Five gold rings. “Golden rings” is an acceptable answer.
In “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” how cuddly is Mr. Grinch?
“Cuddly as a cactus.”
Since we hope to wake up to snow on Christmas day, what does the carol say we’re dreaming of?
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.”
What kind of Christmas is Elvis Presley going to have?
“A Blue Christmas.”
Christmas Carol Trivia for Adults
Although many of these questions may not be common knowledge, they’re still interesting tidbits about a few of the songs we grew up singing.
How many total gifts are given in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song?
364.
What favorite Christmas carol was originally written as a Thanksgiving song?
Jingle bells.
What was the first Christmas carol broadcast on the radio?
“O Holy Night” in 1906.
What is the best-selling Christmas carol of all time?
Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”
Which Christmas carol is the most-recorded Christmas song of all time?
Silent Night with 26,496 recordings as of December 2015.[1]
Who first recorded “Here Comes Santa Claus?”
Gene Autry in 1947.
Which Christmas carol is considered a lullaby?
“Away in a Manger.”
How old was Brenda Lee when she recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree?”
13 years old.
How long did Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” take to hit number 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100?
25 years.
Christmas Traditions Trivia for Kids
How well do you know Christmas traditions? I encourage you to add a few questions of your own to reminisce about your unique family traditions. For example, why do we leave gummy worms for Santa? Find out in the questions below.
What are the traditional colors for Christmas?
Red and green.
What food do you leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?
Cookies! (After reading “A Rugrats Night Before Christmas,” my daughter wanted to leave gummy worms for Santa.)
What food do you leave out for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve?
Carrots and oats. (Carrots pair well with gummy worms!)
What do most people put on the top of a Christmas tree?
A star or an angel.
Standing under what type of plant during Christmas time means that we’re supposed to kiss?
Mistletoe.
In what country did our tradition of putting up Christmas trees for Christmas originate?
Germany.
What is the main course for a traditional Christmas dinner in the United States?
Turkey and dressing or stuffing.
What is the name of the Christmas-themed ballet presented every year at Christmastime?
The Nutcracker.
Christmas Traditions Trivia for Adults
There’s a lot of history in these questions (as well as a little food). I encourage you to search these topics online for the complete story. Many of them are fascinating!
What are the 12 Days of Christmas?
It is the days between the birth of baby Jesus and the three wise men arriving to visit Him.
What is the 12th Day of Christmas called?
The Epiphany or Three Kings Day.
What is the Latin meaning of the word Noel?
The French world Noël comes from the Latin word Natalis, which means birthday.
What kind of log should you burn on Christmas Eve for good luck the following year?
A Yule log.
Eating what food is a major Christmas tradition in Britain?
Mince pies.
What is another name for egg nog?
Milk punch.
For extra good luck, in what direction should you stir the mincemeat for your pies?
Clockwise.
What Christmas decoration is actually a parasitic plant?
Mistletoe.
In which fairy tale inspired the first gingerbread houses?
Hansel and Gretel.
In what city was The Nutcracker first premiered?
Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1892.
What traditional Christmas decoration was originally made from strands of silver?
Tinsel.
In the U.S., they are hot dogs wrapped in croissant pastry. In the U.K., they are small sausages wrapped in bacon. (What!) What is the name of this traditional British Christmas dinner dish?
Pigs in a blanket.
Which country is the largest exporter of Christmas trees?
The United States.
Christmas History
Learn the events and customs that shaped many of our Christmas traditions. Be sure to discuss the history of your unique holiday traditions.
In what city was baby Jesus born?
Bethlehem.
What guided the three wise men to find the newborn Jesus?
A star. (The Star of Bethlehem.)
What three gifts did the wise men bring?
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
What city in the United States once banned Christmas?
Boston in 1659.
When and where were the first commercial Christmas cards made?
In 1843 in England.
Who created the first strand of Christmas lights?
Thomas Edison in 1880.
What was the first Christmas carol broadcast in space?
“Jingle Bells.”
What country celebrates its Independence Day on Christmas Eve?
Libya.
Who created the character and wrote the book “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?”
Robert L. May
Which was the first state to declare Christmas as an official holiday?
Alabama in 1836.
Who was the first President to decorate a Christmas tree in the white house?
Benjamin Harrison in either 1888, 1889, or 1991. Sorry, Internet, but it wasn’t Franklin Pierce.
Which was the last state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday?
Oklahoma, when it became a state in 1907.
Other Christmas Trivia Questions and Answers
These questions didn’t fit well into the categories above. Still, they are fascinating enough to be included in the trivia contest.
Which popular Christmas gift for kids was created based on a political satire cartoon?
The Teddy Bear. [2]
Which saint is celebrated on the 26th December?
St. Stephen. [3]
How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Spanish?
Feliz Navidad.
Who wrote the novel, A Christmas Carol?
Charles Dickens.
What is the origination of the X in X-mas?
X is the Greek letter, Chi. The New Testament was written in Greek, and the Greek word for Christ is Christos. In Greek, it looks like this: Χριστός. In the 1700s, the practice began of abbreviating Christmas using the first letter of Christ’s name in Greek, X. [4]
How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Italian?
Buon Natale.
Speaking of Buon Natale, how is this delightful Christmas Carol not more popular?
Question: Which are your favorite Christmas trivia questions?
Related Posts:
- Want an entertaining and easy game for your holiday gathering? These 101 Christmas movie trivia questions will boost your guests’ Christmas spirit!
- As wonderful as holidays are, we tend to allow unwanted stress to find its way in. Here is how to have the perfect holidays and some advice for your elf.
- Looking for something better than football and politics to serve with your feast? Delight your guests with these Thanksgiving trivia questions!
References:
- [1] https://usustatesman.com/12-days-of-christmas-a-search-for-the-most-popular-christmas-song.
- [2] https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/storyofteddybear.htm. This is an excellent story. Theodore Roosevelt was hunting bears. The President’s assistants cornered a bear to make it easy for President Roosevelt to shoot one. Since it wasn’t sporting enough to shoot a trapped bear, the President refused it. A political cartoonist drew a comic to satire the incident. Brooklyn candy shop owner Moris Michtom’s wife, made stuffed animals. They got the idea for the Teddy Bear when they saw the cartoon.
- [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen%27s_Day.
- [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas.
