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Christmas trivia questions and answers

By Votense · Published 2026-10-11 · Updated 2026-10-11

These are Christmas trivia questions and answers grouped by theme, so you can run a round on traditions, another on songs, or mix them for a party. The answers follow each question. Read the question aloud, let people guess, then show the answer. Most rooms get the easy ones, and the origin questions usually start an argument.

Want the questions in a form people can answer on their phones? The Christmas trivia quiz template carries ten of these questions with their answers marked, ready to host live or share as a link. For a larger set, build your own in the quiz maker.

How to run a Christmas trivia round

Pick one group for each round so the topic stays clear. Traditions suit a mixed family, songs suit a party with singers, and films suit an office lunch. Keep each round to about ten questions. Give longer questions, such as the song lyrics or the Advent calendar, a little more time before you reveal the answer.

If you want a scored game, run the quiz live. Players answer from their own phones and the leaderboard updates after each question. Our guide to writing multiple choice questions explains how to add wrong answers that sound plausible, which makes a round harder without making it unfair.

Traditions and origins

  1. What is the name of the Christmas poem that begins “’Twas the night before Christmas”? Answer: “A Visit from St. Nicholas”.
  2. Which bishop’s legend helped shape the modern Santa Claus? Answer: Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop.
  3. Myra, where Saint Nicholas served as bishop, is in which modern country? Answer: Turkey.
  4. Which country is widely credited with popularising the decorated Christmas tree? Answer: Germany.
  5. What is the poinsettia named after? Answer: Joel Poinsett, a US diplomat who introduced the plant to the United States.
  6. Under which plant is a kiss traditionally exchanged? Answer: Mistletoe.
  7. What is the day after Christmas Day called in the UK and many Commonwealth countries? Answer: Boxing Day, 26 December.
  8. On what date is Christmas Day? Answer: 25 December.
  9. What is the evening of 5 January traditionally called? Answer: Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany.
  10. Who traditionally brings gifts on 6 January in Spain? Answer: The Three Kings, or Los Reyes Magos.
  11. Which Italian witch is said to deliver gifts at Epiphany? Answer: La Befana.
  12. What three gifts did the Magi bring in the Gospel of Matthew? Answer: Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
  13. How many windows does a traditional Advent calendar have? Answer: 24, one for each day from 1 to 24 December.
  14. Who commissioned the first commercial Christmas card, in 1843? Answer: Sir Henry Cole.
  15. In which Austrian town was “Silent Night” first performed, in 1818? Answer: Oberndorf, near Salzburg.

Songs

  1. Who wrote “White Christmas”? Answer: Irving Berlin.
  2. Which singer released “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 1994? Answer: Mariah Carey.
  3. What was “Jingle Bells” first called when it was written? Answer: “One Horse Open Sleigh”, by James Lord Pierpont.
  4. How many days of Christmas does “The Twelve Days of Christmas” count? Answer: Twelve.
  5. How many lords are a-leaping in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”? Answer: Ten.
  6. What gift is given on the fifth day in the song? Answer: Five golden rings.
  7. Which reindeer with a glowing red nose appears in the 1949 song by Johnny Marks? Answer: Rudolph.
  8. Which department store first published the story of Rudolph in 1939? Answer: Montgomery Ward.
  9. How many reindeer does the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” name? Answer: Eight.
  10. What is the name of the first reindeer named in that poem? Answer: Dasher.

Films, books and stories

  1. Which 1843 novella by Charles Dickens features Ebenezer Scrooge? Answer: A Christmas Carol.
  2. Who wrote “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? Answer: Dr. Seuss, Theodor Geisel.
  3. In “Home Alone” (1990), where does the McCallister family go on holiday? Answer: Paris.
  4. Which 1947 film centres on a man who says he is Santa Claus? Answer: “Miracle on 34th Street”.
  5. Who directed “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)? Answer: Henry Selick.
  6. In which city is the 1988 action film “Die Hard” set? Answer: Los Angeles.
  7. Which character is a green creature who steals Christmas in Dr. Seuss’s book? Answer: The Grinch.

More holiday and quiz resources

For a different season, see the Halloween trivia questions and the Thanksgiving trivia questions. For a general knowledge round with no seasonal theme, the trivia questions and answers template has ten questions ready to play. The quiz maker lets you edit any of them.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn these into a quiz that people can take?

Use the Christmas trivia quiz template. It opens in the quiz editor with its questions and correct answers already filled in, so you can change any question and share the link or host it live.

Are the answers checked?

Each answer is a long-established fact, chosen to avoid disputed dates and claims. Traditions vary by country and family, so check any answer against a source you trust before a formal event.

Can I use the questions as a poll instead?

Yes. Paste a question into a multiple choice poll and remove the answer line. Poll results show the spread of guesses, which works well as an icebreaker before the reveal.