Looking for the perfect way to bring festive cheer to your holiday gatherings? Our collection of 50 Christmas quiz questions is just what you need! From Christmas history to movies, songs, and worldwide traditions, this comprehensive quiz has something for everyone. Each question comes with multiple-choice options and difficulty ratings, making it perfect for family get-togethers, virtual celebrations, or classroom activities.
Ready to Start the Christmas Fun?
Download our printable version of this Christmas quiz to use at your next holiday gathering!
How to Use This Christmas Quiz
Our festive quiz is designed to be flexible for various holiday occasions. Here are some ideas for making the most of these Christmas quiz questions:
Family Gatherings
Divide family members into teams mixing different generations. Award small Christmas treats as prizes for correct answers. Use the difficulty ratings to ensure everyone can participate!
Virtual Parties
Share the quiz with friends and family joining remotely. Have one person act as quiz master while others submit answers via chat. Perfect for connecting with loved ones who can’t be there in person.
Classroom Activities
Teachers can use these questions for end-of-term fun. Adapt the difficulty levels based on student ages and consider using the emoji puzzles as a creative warm-up activity.
Quiz Master Tip: For each question, read all options before participants answer. Allow 15-20 seconds per question and consider playing festive music between rounds!
Category 1: Christmas History & Origins
Test your knowledge about the historical roots and origins of Christmas traditions around the world.
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When was the first Christmas card sent? (Easy)
- A) 1823
- B) 1843
- C) 1863
- D) 1883
View Answer
Answer: B) 1843 – The first commercial Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley.
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Which country started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree? (Easy)
- A) United States
- B) England
- C) Germany
- D) France
View Answer
Answer: C) Germany – The tradition began in Germany in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.
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In which year did Christmas become an official holiday in the United States? (Medium)
- A) 1836
- B) 1856
- C) 1870
- D) 1890
View Answer
Answer: C) 1870 – President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law making Christmas a federal holiday in the United States in 1870.
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Who wrote the poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”? (Medium)
- A) Charles Dickens
- B) Clement Clarke Moore
- C) Washington Irving
- D) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
View Answer
Answer: B) Clement Clarke Moore – He wrote the poem, originally titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” in 1823.
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What was the original color of Santa’s suit before Coca-Cola’s influence? (Medium)
- A) Blue
- B) Green
- C) Brown
- D) Various colors
View Answer
Answer: D) Various colors – Before Coca-Cola’s advertising in the 1930s, Santa was depicted in various colors including green, blue, and brown, though red was already common.
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When did the term “Xmas” first come into use? (Hard)
- A) 14th century
- B) 16th century
- C) 18th century
- D) 20th century
View Answer
Answer: B) 16th century – The “X” represents the Greek letter Chi, the first letter of “Christ” in Greek (Χριστός). The abbreviation has been used since the 16th century.
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What was Christmas pudding originally? (Hard)
- A) A fruit cake
- B) A soup/porridge
- C) A bread pudding
- D) A meat dish
View Answer
Answer: B) A soup/porridge – Originally called “frumenty,” it was a porridge made with beef, mutton, raisins, currants, prunes, wine, and spices.
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Where was St. Nicholas born? (Medium)
- A) Turkey
- B) Greece
- C) Italy
- D) Germany
View Answer
Answer: A) Turkey – St. Nicholas was born in Patara, a city in ancient Lycia, in modern-day Turkey around 280 A.D.
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What did “Noel” originally mean in Latin before being associated with Christmas? (Hard)
- A) Birth
- B) New
- C) Snow
- D) Star
View Answer
Answer: A) Birth – “Noel” derives from the Latin word “natalis,” meaning “birth.”
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Which British monarch delivered the first royal Christmas broadcast? (Hard)
- A) Queen Victoria
- B) King Edward VII
- C) King George V
- D) King George VI
View Answer
Answer: C) King George V – The first royal Christmas broadcast was delivered by King George V in 1932.
Category 2: Christmas Movies & Entertainment
How well do you know your Christmas films and entertainment? Test your knowledge with these festive questions!
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In the movie “Home Alone,” where was Kevin’s family traveling to when they left him behind? (Easy)
- A) London
- B) Paris
- C) Rome
- D) New York
View Answer
Answer: B) Paris – The McCallister family was heading to Paris for Christmas vacation.
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What year was the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” released? (Medium)
- A) 1936
- B) 1946
- C) 1956
- D) 1966
View Answer
Answer: B) 1946 – Directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart, it has become a Christmas classic.
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In the movie “Elf,” what are the four main food groups according to Buddy the Elf? (Easy)
- A) Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup
- B) Sugar, chocolate, cookies, and ice cream
- C) Pasta, bread, cereal, and cake
- D) Candy, chocolate, cookies, and cake
View Answer
Answer: A) Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup – Buddy tells this to his biological father when discussing his diet.
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Which department store is featured in the movie “Miracle on 34th Street”? (Medium)
- A) Bloomingdale’s
- B) Macy’s
- C) Gimbels
- D) Saks Fifth Avenue
View Answer
Answer: B) Macy’s – The story revolves around a man who claims to be the real Santa Claus after being hired as a Macy’s department store Santa.
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In “A Christmas Carol,” what is the first name of Scrooge? (Easy)
- A) Jacob
- B) Ebenezer
- C) Timothy
- D) Charles
View Answer
Answer: B) Ebenezer – The full name of the main character is Ebenezer Scrooge.
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How many ghosts visit Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”? (Easy)
- A) Three
- B) Four
- C) Five
- D) Six
View Answer
Answer: B) Four – Jacob Marley’s ghost and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
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In the movie “The Polar Express,” what is the first gift of Christmas that the boy asks for? (Medium)
- A) A toy train
- B) A bell from Santa’s sleigh
- C) A teddy bear
- D) A candy cane
View Answer
Answer: B) A bell from Santa’s sleigh – The boy asks for one of the bells from Santa’s sleigh as his Christmas gift.
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In “Home Alone 2,” who does Kevin run into in the hotel lobby? (Medium)
- A) The hotel manager
- B) His teacher
- C) Donald Trump
- D) A famous actor
View Answer
Answer: C) Donald Trump – Trump, who owned the Plaza Hotel at the time, made a cameo appearance in the film.
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What is the name of the Grinch’s dog in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? (Easy)
- A) Fred
- B) Max
- C) Spot
- D) Rex
View Answer
Answer: B) Max – Max is the Grinch’s loyal dog who helps him steal Christmas from Whoville.
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In the movie “The Holiday,” what is Iris’s job? (Hard)
- A) Teacher
- B) Journalist
- C) Doctor
- D) Lawyer
View Answer
Answer: B) Journalist – Iris, played by Kate Winslet, works as a journalist for a newspaper in London.
Category 3: Christmas Songs & Music
From classic carols to modern hits, test your knowledge of Christmas music with these melodious questions!
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What is the best-selling Christmas single of all time? (Medium)
- A) “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
- B) “Last Christmas” by Wham!
- C) “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
- D) “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms
View Answer
Answer: C) “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby – According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it has sold over 50 million copies worldwide.
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In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” how many lords are leaping? (Easy)
- A) Eight
- B) Nine
- C) Ten
- D) Twelve
View Answer
Answer: C) Ten – “Ten lords a-leaping” is the gift on the tenth day of Christmas.
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Which Christmas song was actually written for Thanksgiving? (Medium)
- A) “Jingle Bells”
- B) “Winter Wonderland”
- C) “Let It Snow”
- D) “Sleigh Ride”
View Answer
Answer: A) “Jingle Bells” – It was originally written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 for a Thanksgiving program at his church.
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What year was Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” released? (Medium)
- A) 1984
- B) 1994
- C) 2004
- D) 2014
View Answer
Answer: B) 1994 – The song was released as part of Carey’s album “Merry Christmas” in 1994.
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In total, how many gifts are given in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”? (Hard)
- A) 78
- B) 144
- C) 364
- D) 12
View Answer
Answer: C) 364 – The calculation is the sum of all gifts: (1×12) + (2×11) + (3×10) + … + (12×1) = 364 gifts.
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What is the opening line to “Merry Christmas Everyone” by Shakin’ Stevens? (Medium)
- A) “Snow is falling, all around me”
- B) “It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid”
- C) “So here it is, Merry Christmas”
- D) “I don’t want a lot for Christmas”
View Answer
Answer: A) “Snow is falling, all around me” – This is the opening line of the popular Christmas song released in 1985.
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Which Christmas song did astronauts broadcast from space in 1965? (Hard)
- A) “Jingle Bells”
- B) “Silent Night”
- C) “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
- D) “White Christmas”
View Answer
Answer: A) “Jingle Bells” – Astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford played “Jingle Bells” on a smuggled harmonica and bells during the Gemini 6 mission.
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How many “la”s are there in the chorus of “Deck the Halls”? (Hard)
- A) 32
- B) 64
- C) 96
- D) 128
View Answer
Answer: C) 96 – There are 4 “fa la la la la, la la la la” sequences in each chorus, with each sequence containing 9 “la”s, and the chorus is typically sung 2-3 times.
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What kind of Christmas does Elvis sing about in his famous holiday song? (Easy)
- A) White Christmas
- B) Blue Christmas
- C) Merry Christmas
- D) Rocking Christmas
View Answer
Answer: B) Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley’s famous holiday song is “Blue Christmas,” released in 1957.
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Which song plays at the end of the 1988 film “Die Hard”? (Hard)
- A) “Winter Wonderland”
- B) “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”
- C) “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
- D) “Jingle Bell Rock”
View Answer
Answer: B) “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” – The Vaughn Monroe version of this song plays as the credits roll.
Category 4: Christmas Traditions Worldwide
Discover how Christmas is celebrated around the globe with these questions about international traditions!
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In which country is it a tradition to eat KFC for Christmas dinner? (Medium)
- A) South Korea
- B) China
- C) Japan
- D) Thailand
View Answer
Answer: C) Japan – Due to a successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, eating KFC on Christmas Eve has become a popular tradition in Japan.
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What is “Stollen”? (Medium)
- A) A German Christmas fruit cake
- B) A Swedish Christmas decoration
- C) An Italian Christmas song
- D) A French Christmas game
View Answer
Answer: A) A German Christmas fruit cake – Stollen is a traditional German fruit bread containing dried fruit and covered with powdered sugar.
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In which direction should you stir mincemeat for good luck? (Easy)
- A) Clockwise
- B) Counterclockwise
- C) In a figure-eight pattern
- D) It doesn’t matter
View Answer
Answer: A) Clockwise – According to tradition, mincemeat should be stirred clockwise for good luck.
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Which country donates the Christmas tree that stands in Trafalgar Square, London? (Medium)
- A) Sweden
- B) Finland
- C) Denmark
- D) Norway
View Answer
Answer: D) Norway – Norway has donated a Christmas tree to London every year since 1947 as a token of gratitude for British support during World War II.
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What is a “Bûche de Noël”? (Medium)
- A) A French Christmas log cake
- B) A Belgian Christmas candle
- C) A Swiss Christmas ornament
- D) A Canadian Christmas drink
View Answer
Answer: A) A French Christmas log cake – Also known as a Yule Log, it’s a traditional dessert served during the Christmas season in France and other francophone countries.
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In Spain, when do people typically exchange Christmas gifts? (Hard)
- A) Christmas Eve
- B) Christmas Day
- C) New Year’s Eve
- D) January 6th (Epiphany)
View Answer
Answer: D) January 6th (Epiphany) – In Spain, the main gift-giving day is January 6th, which celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos).
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What do Swedish children traditionally leave out for Santa? (Hard)
- A) Cookies and milk
- B) Porridge with butter
- C) Coffee
- D) Gingerbread and wine
View Answer
Answer: C) Coffee – Swedish children traditionally leave a cup of coffee for Santa Claus (Jultomten) to keep him awake during his long journey.
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What is “Glühwein”? (Easy)
- A) A German Christmas cookie
- B) A Swiss Christmas decoration
- C) A German mulled wine
- D) An Austrian Christmas cake
View Answer
Answer: C) A German mulled wine – Glühwein is a hot spiced wine popular at Christmas markets throughout Germany and other European countries.
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What is “Wassailing”? (Hard)
- A) Decorating the Christmas tree
- B) Singing carols door-to-door
- C) Making Christmas pudding
- D) Wrapping presents
View Answer
Answer: B) Singing carols door-to-door – Wassailing is the tradition of going door-to-door singing carols and offering good wishes during the Christmas season.
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Which Christmas decoration do the British Royal Family traditionally not have on their trees? (Hard)
- A) Tinsel
- B) Lights
- C) Baubles
- D) Stars
View Answer
Answer: A) Tinsel – The Royal Family traditionally does not use tinsel on their Christmas trees, preferring more elegant decorations.
Category 5: Christmas Fun Facts
Impress your friends with these interesting and unusual facts about Christmas!
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How many points does a snowflake traditionally have? (Easy)
- A) Four
- B) Six
- C) Eight
- D) Twelve
View Answer
Answer: B) Six – Snowflakes typically have six points due to the molecular structure of ice.
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What fruit is traditionally placed in Christmas stockings? (Easy)
- A) Apple
- B) Pear
- C) Orange or tangerine
- D) Banana
View Answer
Answer: C) Orange or tangerine – This tradition dates back to when oranges were exotic and expensive treats.
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What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding for good luck? (Medium)
- A) A silver coin
- B) A button
- C) A thimble
- D) A ring
View Answer
Answer: A) A silver coin – Finding the coin in your portion was said to bring wealth in the coming year.
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How many towns in the United States are named “Christmas”? (Medium)
- A) One
- B) Two
- C) Three
- D) Four
View Answer
Answer: B) Two – Christmas, Florida and Christmas, Michigan are the two towns named after the holiday.
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Which Christmas plant is actually a parasitic plant? (Medium)
- A) Holly
- B) Poinsettia
- C) Mistletoe
- D) Christmas cactus
View Answer
Answer: C) Mistletoe – Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that attaches to and penetrates the branches of a tree or shrub.
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What is the most common choice of meat for Christmas dinner in the UK? (Easy)
- A) Ham
- B) Turkey
- C) Goose
- D) Beef
View Answer
Answer: B) Turkey – Turkey became the traditional Christmas meat in the UK during the Victorian era.
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When should Christmas decorations traditionally be taken down? (Medium)
- A) December 31st
- B) January 1st
- C) January 5th
- D) January 6th
View Answer
Answer: C) January 5th – Traditionally, decorations should be down by Twelfth Night (January 5th), the eve of Epiphany.
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How tall was the world’s tallest cut Christmas tree? (Hard)
- A) 67 meters
- B) 76 meters
- C) 85 meters
- D) 94 meters
View Answer
Answer: B) 76 meters – The tallest cut Christmas tree was a 76-meter Douglas fir erected at Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington, in 1950.
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In “The Night Before Christmas” poem, what did children have visions of dancing in their heads? (Easy)
- A) Toys
- B) Candy canes
- C) Sugar plums
- D) Presents
View Answer
Answer: C) Sugar plums – “While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads” is a famous line from the poem.
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What is the 359th day of the year? (Hard)
- A) Christmas Eve
- B) Christmas Day
- C) Boxing Day
- D) New Year’s Eve
View Answer
Answer: B) Christmas Day – December 25th is the 359th day of the year in a non-leap year.
Bonus Round: Name That Christmas Carol (Emoji Edition)
Can you guess these Christmas carols and songs represented by emojis? Test your festive music knowledge with this fun visual challenge!
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🔔🔔🔔🛷
View Answer
Answer: “Jingle Bells”
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👶🌟🌃
View Answer
Answer: “Silent Night”
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🎅🏻🏙️🏃♂️
View Answer
Answer: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
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❄️☃️❄️
View Answer
Answer: “Let It Snow”
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🤶🏻💋🎅🏻
View Answer
Answer: “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
Ready to Host Your Christmas Quiz?
Now you have everything you need to host a fantastic Christmas quiz! Whether you’re gathering with family, connecting with friends online, or organizing a classroom activity, these 50 questions (plus bonus emoji puzzles) will bring festive fun to your holiday celebrations.
Share the Christmas Spirit!
Download our printable version of this Christmas quiz to share with friends and family!
“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”