Christmas Trivia
Test your holiday knowledge with 40+ free, family-friendly Christmas trivia questions and answers. Pick from movies, music, traditions, history, and food — no account needed.
Ready to test your Christmas knowledge?
10 multiple-choice questions across movies, music, traditions, history, and food. No account needed — just play.
- 10 questions drawn from a bank of 46+
- A fun fact after every answer
- Reshuffles every time you play again
How it works
Start playing
Hit Start the Quiz — no sign-up, no download. Ten questions are drawn at random from our holiday bank.
Answer & learn
Pick from four choices. After each answer you'll see the correct one plus a fun holiday fact.
Score & share
Get your final score out of 10, share it with friends, and play again for a freshly shuffled round.
All 46 Christmas trivia questions and answers
Prefer a printable list for your party? Here is the full bank with answers — the interactive quiz above pulls 10 at a time.
- 1.
In "Home Alone," which city are the McCallisters flying to when they leave Kevin behind?
Answer: Paris
The McCallisters fly to Paris for Christmas, accidentally leaving 8-year-old Kevin at home in the Chicago suburbs.
- 2.
In "Elf," what are the four main food groups according to Buddy the Elf?
Answer: Candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup
Buddy declares the four main food groups are "candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup."
- 3.
What is the name of the Grinch's loyal dog in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"?
Answer: Max
Max the dog is the Grinch's only companion and reluctantly helps him disguise himself as Santa.
- 4.
In "A Christmas Story," what gift does Ralphie desperately want?
Answer: A Red Ryder BB gun
Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB gun, repeatedly warned he'll "shoot his eye out."
- 5.
In "It's a Wonderful Life," what does an angel get every time a bell rings?
Answer: Its wings
Zuzu says, "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings" — and George realizes Clarence earned his.
- 6.
In "The Polar Express," what is the first gift of Christmas?
Answer: A silver bell from Santa's sleigh
The hero boy receives the first gift of Christmas — a silver sleigh bell that only true believers can hear ring.
- 7.
In "Frosty the Snowman," what magical item brings Frosty to life?
Answer: An old silk hat
An old silk top hat placed on Frosty's head brings him to life on a snowy day.
- 8.
In "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," what does Hermey the elf want to become instead of a toymaker?
Answer: A dentist
Hermey dreams of being a dentist, which makes him an outcast at Santa's workshop.
- 9.
In "The Nightmare Before Christmas," who is the main character who discovers Christmas Town?
Answer: Jack Skellington
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, stumbles upon Christmas Town and tries to take over the holiday.
- 10.
In "Miracle on 34th Street," which department store does Kris Kringle work for?
Answer: Macy's
Kris Kringle is hired as the Santa for Macy's flagship store during the Thanksgiving Day parade.
- 11.
In "The Twelve Days of Christmas," what gift is given on the fifth day?
Answer: Five golden rings
The fifth day famously brings "five golden rings," the long-held note in the song.
- 12.
Which Christmas song is the best-selling single of all time?
Answer: "White Christmas"
Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (1942) is widely recognized as the best-selling single of all time.
- 13.
In "Jingle Bells," what kind of sleigh is mentioned in the song?
Answer: One-horse open sleigh
"Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh" — the song was originally written for Thanksgiving.
- 14.
Who sings the hit holiday song "All I Want for Christmas Is You"?
Answer: Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in 1994, and it returns to the charts every year.
- 15.
In "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which reindeer is named just before Rudolph in the song's opening list?
Answer: Blitzen
The song lists "Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen" — Blitzen comes last before Rudolph.
- 16.
In "Frosty the Snowman," what does Frosty say when he comes to life?
Answer: "Happy Birthday!"
When the magic hat brings him to life, Frosty's first words are "Happy Birthday!"
- 17.
The carol "Silent Night" was originally written in which language?
Answer: German
"Silent Night" ("Stille Nacht") was first performed in German in Austria in 1818.
- 18.
In "Let It Snow," what does the singer say since "we've no place to go"?
Answer: "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful... since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."
- 19.
What plant are you traditionally meant to kiss under?
Answer: Mistletoe
Kissing under the mistletoe is a tradition with roots in ancient European customs.
- 20.
In many traditions, what is left out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve?
Answer: Milk and cookies
Leaving milk and cookies for Santa (and sometimes carrots for the reindeer) is a beloved Christmas Eve tradition.
- 21.
What color is traditionally associated with Santa Claus's suit?
Answer: Red
Santa's red suit was popularized in 20th-century illustrations and advertising, building on earlier depictions.
- 22.
What do children traditionally hang by the fireplace for Santa to fill?
Answer: Stockings
Hanging stockings by the chimney comes from the legend of St. Nicholas leaving coins in dried socks.
- 23.
What is the name of the doll-like elf that 'reports back' to Santa in a popular modern tradition?
Answer: Elf on the Shelf
The Elf on the Shelf tradition began with a 2005 children's book and became a worldwide holiday phenomenon.
- 24.
In the Christian calendar, what does the season of Advent lead up to?
Answer: Christmas
Advent is the four-week period of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas Day.
- 25.
What festival of lights is celebrated by Jewish people, often around the same time of year as Christmas?
Answer: Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrated by lighting the menorah.
- 26.
Kwanzaa, celebrated in late December, honors heritage from which continent?
Answer: Africa
Kwanzaa, established in 1966, celebrates African heritage and culture over seven days from December 26 to January 1.
- 27.
What do people traditionally place on the very top of a Christmas tree?
Answer: A star or angel
A star (symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem) or an angel is the most common Christmas tree topper.
- 28.
What item, often striped red and white, is a popular Christmas candy shaped like a shepherd's crook?
Answer: Candy cane
The candy cane's hook shape is often said to represent a shepherd's staff.
- 29.
On what date is Christmas Day celebrated in most of the world?
Answer: December 25
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25 in most Western Christian traditions.
- 30.
The modern figure of Santa Claus is largely based on which historical saint?
Answer: St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for secret gift-giving, is the inspiration for Santa Claus.
- 31.
Which country is widely credited with starting the tradition of decorating Christmas trees?
Answer: Germany
The Christmas tree tradition is widely traced to 16th-century Germany before spreading across Europe and beyond.
- 32.
Which author wrote the classic 1843 novella "A Christmas Carol"?
Answer: Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol," featuring Ebenezer Scrooge and the three Christmas spirits.
- 33.
In "A Christmas Carol," what is the name of the miserly main character?
Answer: Ebenezer Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts and learns the spirit of Christmas. His catchphrase is "Bah! Humbug!"
- 34.
What name is given to the night of December 24, the evening before Christmas?
Answer: Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve, December 24, is celebrated with church services, gift exchanges, and family gatherings in many cultures.
- 35.
Boxing Day, a holiday in the UK and several Commonwealth countries, falls on which date?
Answer: December 26
Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26 and is traditionally associated with giving to those in need.
- 36.
According to the song and tradition, how many reindeer (including Rudolph) pull Santa's sleigh?
Answer: Nine
There are nine reindeer when Rudolph leads the eight named in the classic poem (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen).
- 37.
In which town was Jesus born according to the Christmas story?
Answer: Bethlehem
The Nativity story places the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, where the Star of Bethlehem guided the Magi.
- 38.
What gifts did the three wise men (Magi) traditionally bring?
Answer: Gold, frankincense, and myrrh
The Magi are said to have brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts.
- 39.
What spiced, often boozy, dairy-based drink is popular at Christmas?
Answer: Eggnog
Eggnog is a rich, creamy holiday drink made with milk, cream, sugar, eggs, and often nutmeg or spirits.
- 40.
What kind of cookie is traditionally decorated and shaped like a person at Christmas?
Answer: Gingerbread man
Gingerbread men and gingerbread houses are a Christmas baking staple, spiced with ginger and cinnamon.
- 41.
What is the traditional centerpiece meat of many British Christmas dinners?
Answer: Roast turkey
Roast turkey became the centerpiece of the British Christmas dinner, popularized in the Victorian era.
- 42.
What rich, steamed dessert is traditionally served flaming at a British Christmas?
Answer: Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding (or 'figgy pudding') is a dense, fruity steamed dessert often flambéed with brandy.
- 43.
A 'Yule log' dessert is traditionally shaped to look like what?
Answer: A log or tree branch
The Yule log (bûche de Noël) is a rolled sponge cake frosted and shaped to resemble a wooden log.
- 44.
What small, round green vegetable is a famously divisive part of Christmas dinner?
Answer: Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a traditional (and famously love-it-or-hate-it) Christmas dinner side dish.
- 45.
What flavor is most associated with a classic candy cane?
Answer: Peppermint
The classic candy cane is peppermint-flavored, though many fruit and seasonal varieties now exist.
- 46.
Stollen, a fruit-filled bread dusted with powdered sugar, is a traditional Christmas treat from which country?
Answer: Germany
Stollen is a German Christmas bread filled with dried fruit and marzipan, dusted with powdered sugar to resemble snow.