Christmas Trivia Questions: 50 Fun Questions for Families (With Answers)
Santa, reindeer, holiday movies, festive food and traditions from around the world, all in one Christmas quiz
Christmas is the one time of year when the whole family ends up around the same table: grandparents, cousins, little ones and teenagers who would usually be on their phones. A round of Christmas trivia is one of the easiest ways to get everyone talking, laughing and competing (politely) for bragging rights until next December.
We've put together 50 Christmas trivia questions with answers, split into five festive categories. There are easy questions for young kids, trickier ones for grown-ups, and a few surprises that will stump even the biggest Christmas fan in your house. Tap "Show Answer" to reveal each one.
How to Host a Christmas Trivia Game
👨👩👧👦 Mix Up the Teams
Pair a younger child with a grandparent or an older cousin. Kids usually know the movies, while adults know the history, so mixed teams stay close all game long.
🎁 Play for Festive Prizes
Chocolate coins, the first pick from the cookie plate or the right to choose the next Christmas movie all make great prizes.
🕯️ Pick the Right Moment
Christmas Eve after dinner, while the turkey is roasting, or on a long drive to see relatives are all perfect times for a quick round.
⭐ Let Everyone Pick a Category
Give each player or team a turn choosing the next category below. Movie fans and foodies both get their moment to shine.
50 Christmas Trivia Questions (With Answers)
🌍 Christmas Traditions Around the World
In which country did the tradition of decorating Christmas trees begin?
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Answer: Germany
What do children in the Netherlands put out for Sinterklaas to fill with treats?
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Answer: Their shoes (often with a carrot or hay for his horse)
In Mexico, what are the nine nights of candlelit processions before Christmas called?
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Answer: Las Posadas
What fast food do many families in Japan eat on Christmas Eve?
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Answer: Fried chicken from KFC
In Italy, which kind witch brings presents to children on the night before Epiphany?
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Answer: La Befana
What plant do people traditionally kiss under at Christmas?
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Answer: Mistletoe
What do people in the UK pull at the dinner table that goes "bang" and has a paper crown inside?
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Answer: A Christmas cracker
What season is it in Australia at Christmas time?
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Answer: Summer
In Iceland, how many mischievous Yule Lads visit children in the days before Christmas?
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Answer: 13
Which red Christmas plant originally comes from Mexico?
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Answer: The poinsettia
🎬 Christmas Movies and Stories
In the movie "Elf," what is the name of Will Ferrell's character?
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Answer: Buddy
What is the name of the Grinch's loyal dog?
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Answer: Max
In "Home Alone," which city is Kevin's family flying to when they leave him behind?
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Answer: Paris
In "The Polar Express," what is the first gift of Christmas that the boy receives?
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Answer: A silver bell from Santa's sleigh
In "A Charlie Brown Christmas," what kind of Christmas tree does Charlie Brown choose?
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Answer: A small, droopy real tree that nobody else wants
What brings Frosty the Snowman to life?
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Answer: A magic hat
In "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!", what is the name of the town where the Whos live?
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Answer: Whoville
Who wrote "A Christmas Carol"?
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Answer: Charles Dickens
How many ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"?
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Answer: Four: Jacob Marley, then the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come
In "The Nutcracker" ballet, what is the name of the girl who receives the nutcracker?
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Answer: Clara (called Marie in some versions)
🎅 Santa and His Reindeer
Where does Santa Claus live?
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Answer: The North Pole
How many reindeer pull Santa's sleigh, counting Rudolph?
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Answer: Nine
Which reindeer has a glowing red nose?
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Answer: Rudolph
What is the name of Santa's wife?
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Answer: Mrs. Claus
Which saint is Santa Claus based on?
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Answer: Saint Nicholas
What snack do children in the United States traditionally leave out for Santa?
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Answer: Milk and cookies
What treat do children in the UK often leave out for Santa?
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Answer: A mince pie (and a carrot for the reindeer)
According to tradition, what does Santa leave for naughty children?
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Answer: A lump of coal
Who helps Santa make toys in his workshop?
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Answer: Elves
Which famous poem, first published in 1823, gave Santa's reindeer their names?
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Answer: "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"
🍪 Christmas Food and Treats
What letter does a candy cane look like?
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Answer: The letter J
Which spice gives gingerbread its name?
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Answer: Ginger
What creamy holiday drink is made from milk, eggs and sugar?
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Answer: Eggnog
Which British Christmas dessert is sometimes set on fire before serving?
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Answer: Christmas pudding
What tall Italian sweet bread full of dried fruit is popular at Christmas?
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Answer: Panettone
What German Christmas bread is dusted with powdered sugar?
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Answer: Stollen
What French Christmas cake is shaped like a log?
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Answer: Bûche de Noël (Yule log)
Which bird is the most traditional Christmas dinner in the UK and the US?
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Answer: Turkey
What small object is traditionally hidden in a Christmas pudding for good luck?
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Answer: A silver coin
What do families build out of gingerbread and candy at Christmas?
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Answer: A gingerbread house
❄️ Christmas History and Fun Facts
The word "Noel" comes from a Latin word meaning what?
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Answer: Birth
What does the "X" in "Xmas" stand for?
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Answer: The Greek letter chi, the first letter of "Christ" in Greek
On what date do many Orthodox Christians, such as those in Russia, celebrate Christmas?
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Answer: January 7
How many gifts are given in total in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?
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Answer: 364
Which country sends a giant Christmas tree to London's Trafalgar Square every year?
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Answer: Norway
Before electric lights, what did people use to light up Christmas trees?
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Answer: Candles
In which New York City landmark is a famous giant Christmas tree lit every year?
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Answer: Rockefeller Center
What is a baby reindeer called?
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Answer: A calf
Do female reindeer grow antlers?
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Answer: Yes. Reindeer are the only deer where both males and females grow antlers
Which Bing Crosby song is the best-selling Christmas single of all time?
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Answer: "White Christmas"
🎄 Want Endless Christmas Trivia?
Ran out of questions before the pudding came out? In the Family Trivia app, each player picks a topic like Christmas, Christmas movies or winter animals, plus their own difficulty level. Grandpa can take on hard Christmas history while your six-year-old answers easy questions about Santa, all on one phone or tablet.
Tips for a Merry Trivia Night
1. Give Little Ones a Head Start
Read questions aloud for younger kids and offer two or three answer choices when a question is tricky. A quick win keeps them excited for the next round.
2. Save the Hardest Questions for a Tie-Breaker
Questions like the total number of gifts in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" make perfect tie-breakers. Closest guess wins.
3. Share the Story Behind the Answer
Did you know that both male and female reindeer grow antlers? Little facts like this spark conversations and turn a quiz into a family memory.
4. Make It a Yearly Tradition
Crown a Christmas trivia champion every year. A paper crown from a Christmas cracker makes the perfect trophy.
More Trivia for the Holidays
Need more rounds once the Christmas questions run out? Try our Disney movie trivia for movie lovers, these trivia questions for adults for after the kids go to bed, or browse more family game night ideas for the rest of the school holidays.
🎉 Ready for another family round? Download Family Trivia!
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