Christmas Trivia Questions and Answers
Our main round of 40 well-checked Christmas trivia questions, with hidden answers and a fun fact for each. Then dive into the themed rounds below for movies, music, kids, food, the Bible and the hard stuff.
Quick answer
Here are five favourite Christmas trivia questions to start: Which country started the Christmas tree tradition? Germany. How many gifts in total are given in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'? 364. Where does London's Trafalgar Square tree come from? Norway. What's the best-selling single ever? 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby. In which country is KFC a Christmas tradition? Japan.
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In which country did the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree start?
Answer
Germany
Decorated trees were popular in German homes by the 1600s; Prince Albert helped popularise them in Britain in the 1840s.
What are the names of Santa's nine reindeer (including Rudolph)?
Answer
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph
The first eight come from the 1823 poem 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'. Rudolph was added in 1939.
Which reindeer has a red nose?
Answer
Rudolph
Rudolph was created by Robert L. May for a Montgomery Ward booklet in 1939.
What do people traditionally kiss under at Christmas?
Answer
Mistletoe
How many gifts are given in total in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' song?
Answer
364
Adding up every gift on every day (including repeats) gives 364.
What did the 'true love' give on the first day of Christmas?
Answer
A partridge in a pear tree
Which country gifts London the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree every year?
Answer
Norway
Oslo has sent a tree every year since 1947 as thanks for British support during World War II.
What colour are a poinsettia's showy 'petals' traditionally?
Answer
Red
The red parts are actually leaves called bracts; the flowers are the small yellow centres.
Which country is the poinsettia native to?
Answer
Mexico
In what year was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the United States?
Answer
1870
Which saint is Santa Claus based on?
Answer
Saint Nicholas
Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra, in modern-day Turkey.
What is the name of the Grinch's dog?
Answer
Max
Where does Santa live?
Answer
The North Pole
Finland claims Santa lives in Lapland, but in most English-speaking countries it's the North Pole.
What is the name of Santa's wife in popular tradition?
Answer
Mrs. Claus
In the song 'Frosty the Snowman', what brings Frosty to life?
Answer
An old silk hat
What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding for luck?
Answer
A silver coin (sixpence)
Which popular Christmas decoration was originally made from strips of silver?
Answer
Tinsel
Tinsel was invented in Germany around 1610 and was made of real silver.
What is the day after Christmas called in the UK, Canada and Australia?
Answer
Boxing Day
What Christmas plant was once known as 'Christ's thorn'?
Answer
Holly
In which country is it a tradition to eat KFC for Christmas dinner?
Answer
Japan
It began with a 1974 'Kentucky for Christmas' ad campaign.
What do children in the Netherlands leave out for Sinterklaas's horse?
Answer
Carrots or hay in their shoes
In Iceland, how many Yule Lads visit children before Christmas?
Answer
13
What is the best-selling Christmas single of all time?
Answer
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Guinness lists it as the best-selling single worldwide, with an estimated 50 million copies.
Who wrote 'A Christmas Carol'?
Answer
Charles Dickens
It was published in December 1843.
What is Ebenezer Scrooge's famous catchphrase?
Answer
Bah! Humbug!
How many ghosts visit Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol' (including Marley)?
Answer
Four
Jacob Marley plus the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
What is the name of the clerk Scrooge employs?
Answer
Bob Cratchit
What shape are candy canes said to represent, when turned upside down?
Answer
The letter J
A popular legend says J stands for Jesus, though the shape most likely began as a shepherd's crook.
In what country did eggnog originate?
Answer
Britain (England)
It descends from 'posset', a medieval British milk-and-ale drink.
Which US state was first to make Christmas an official holiday?
Answer
Alabama
Alabama did so in 1836.
What is a 'Yule log' traditionally?
Answer
A large log burned at Christmas (and now a chocolate cake)
In the Christmas song, what does Grandma get run over by?
Answer
A reindeer
The Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve is a tradition of which community?
Answer
Italian-American
How many points does a traditional snowflake have?
Answer
Six
Water molecules freeze in a hexagonal pattern.
What were the gifts of the Magi?
Answer
Gold, frankincense and myrrh
What is the name of the angel in 'It's a Wonderful Life'?
Answer
Clarence
Clarence Odbody, Angel Second Class.
Which department store created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
Answer
Montgomery Ward
What date is Epiphany (Three Kings' Day)?
Answer
6 January
What is the most popular Christmas tree species in the UK?
Answer
Nordmann fir
How to run a Christmas quiz night
- Pick 4–5 rounds from the themed pages (movies, music, food, general, and one hard round).
- Split guests into teams of 3–5 with a team name and an answer sheet.
- Read each question twice; give 30 seconds per question.
- Swap answer sheets for marking, then reveal the answers with the fun facts.
- Finish with a tie-breaker: closest guess to 'How many lights on Clark Griswold's house?' (25,000).
Frequently asked questions
How do you host a Christmas trivia night?
Split into teams of 3–5, run 4–5 rounds of 10 questions (mix general, movies, music and a picture or 'finish the lyric' round), have one quizmaster read questions and mark answers, and keep a small prize for the winners. Our trivia game can run rounds on a phone or TV.
How many questions should a Christmas quiz have?
40–50 questions fills about an hour for a party. For a family dinner, one round of 10–15 is plenty.