How do I play the Christmas trivia quiz?

Click Start the Quiz and answer 10 multiple-choice questions one at a time. After each answer you'll see whether you were right, the correct answer, and a fun fact. At the end you get your score out of 10, which you can share or replay. No sign-up or download is required — it's completely free.

How many Christmas trivia questions are there?

Each round draws 10 questions from a bank of 40+ family-friendly Christmas and holiday trivia questions spanning movies, music, traditions, history, and food. The questions reshuffle every time you play again, so you'll get a fresh mix on every round.

Is this Christmas trivia good for kids and families?

Yes. Every question is written to be family-friendly and covers a wide range of difficulty, so kids, teens, and adults can all play together. It's a great activity for classroom parties, family gatherings, and holiday get-togethers.

Can I use this for a Christmas party or gift exchange?

Absolutely — trivia is a perfect icebreaker before a Secret Santa or White Elephant. If you're hosting, you can organize the whole gift exchange for free on GiftList with automatic name drawing, wish lists, and budget tracking.

In "Elf," what are the four main food groups according to Buddy the Elf?

Candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup

Cookies, cake, pie, and ice cream

Sugar, chocolate, marshmallows, and gum

Maple syrup, sprinkles, frosting, and soda

In "The Polar Express," what is the first gift of Christmas?

A silver bell from Santa's sleigh

Which Christmas song is the best-selling single of all time?

"All I Want for Christmas Is You"

In "Let It Snow," what does the singer say since "we've no place to go"?

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

Free Holiday Game

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.

Question Bank

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.