These Christmas trivia questions for adults stay on the holiday itself: how December 25 came to be kept, customs from Finland to Venezuela, gift-bringers, food and the carol of the twelve days. Every question has four choices and a reason.
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Christmas party trivia games for adults: host a round
After a set of ten, the end card has Host a round. It shows each question with nothing to pick. Teams write, you press Show the answer, and four teams wait below: press the plus under a team for a point, or Add a team.
Christmas traditions trivia questions, round by round
Customs around the world runs from the Christmas Peace of Turku to parang in Trinidad. Plants, trees and decorations has a golden sickle and trees of goose feathers. The calendar from Advent to Candlemas asks about Distaff Day and Plough Monday. Gift-bringers meets Olentzero and Knecht Ruprecht.
Tips
For obscure Christmas trivia questions, open More options on the end card and choose Gift-bringers under Topic: by our estimate it is the hardest round.
Christmas words is the gentlest round, by our estimate: eight questions, enough for one course of dinner.
Questions and answers
Are these Christmas trivia questions multiple choice?
Yes. Every question has four choices, lettered A to D, and one right answer. Tap a choice and a line says why it is right, with a link to the page it was checked on.
Can I get free printable Christmas trivia questions and answers?
Yes. Finish a set of ten, then press Print question sheet on the end card for a sheet of 20. Print answer key is under More options. Your browser prints the page; there is nothing to download.
Are there 12 days of Christmas trivia questions and answers?
Yes. The carol of the twelve days has eight: when the words were first printed, what the four calling birds were first called, what kind of game the carol probably began as, who arranged the tune sung today, and what the ten lords are doing.
Why is Christmas on December 25?
The oldest record of the feast on that date is in a text written in Rome in AD 336. By one account, the emperor Aurelian set a festival of the Invincible Sun on December 25 in AD 274, the Roman date of the winter solstice.
The Armenian Apostolic Church keeps Christmas on which date?Answer: January 6. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas
By one account, the emperor Aurelian set a festival on December 25 in AD 274. Whose birthday did it mark?Answer: Sol Invictus, the Invincible Sun. Source: Wikipedia: Sol Invictus
Christmas Day was not a public holiday in Scotland until which year?Answer: 1958. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas in Scotland
The churches that keep Christmas by the Julian calendar celebrate on January 7. How many days does the Julian calendar now run behind the Gregorian?Answer: 13. Source: Wikipedia: Julian calendar
In 1659 keeping Christmas was outlawed in Boston. What was the fine?Answer: Five shillings. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas controversies
In England, which officer was appointed by lot at Christmastide to preside over the Feast of Fools?Answer: The Lord of Misrule. Source: Wikipedia: Lord of Misrule
In medieval England, a boy bishop was elected from among the choristers on the feast of which saint?Answer: Saint Nicholas. Source: Wikipedia: Boy bishop
In which year did England's Puritan-led Parliament ban the celebration of Christmas?Answer: 1647. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas
The oldest known record of a feast of Christmas on December 25 dates from the year 336. In which city was it kept?Answer: Rome. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas
On Christmas Eve 1968, the crew of which space mission made a television broadcast while orbiting the Moon?Answer: Apollo 8. Source: Wikipedia: Apollo 8
On Christmas night in 1776, George Washington led his army across which icy river?Answer: The Delaware. Source: Wikipedia: George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River
On June 28 of which year was Christmas formally made an American federal holiday?Answer: 1870. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas
Which British monarch gave the first royal Christmas message, by radio, in 1932?Answer: George V. Source: Wikipedia: Royal Christmas message
Which king of the Franks was baptized at Reims on a Christmas Day around the year 500?Answer: Clovis I. Source: Wikipedia: Clovis I
Which scientist, who set out the laws of motion, was born on Christmas Day in 1642 by the calendar then used in England?Answer: Isaac Newton. Source: Wikipedia: Isaac Newton
Who was crowned King of England in London on Christmas Day, 1066?Answer: William the Conqueror. Source: Wikipedia: William the Conqueror
Who wrote the words of the first royal Christmas message, broadcast in 1932?Answer: Rudyard Kipling. Source: Wikipedia: Royal Christmas message
The calendar from Advent to Candlemas 16
A forty-day fast before Christmas was once called Saint Martin's Lent. On which date is St. Martin's Day?Answer: November 11. Source: Wikipedia: St. Martin's Day
Advent begins on which Sunday before Christmas?Answer: The fourth. Source: Wikipedia: Advent
Advent Sunday moves from year to year. Which is the earliest date it can be?Answer: November 27. Source: Wikipedia: Advent Sunday
Candlemas falls 40 days after Christmas. On which date is it kept?Answer: February 2. Source: Wikipedia: Candlemas
Christmas is one of the four English quarter days, when rents fell due. Which of these is another?Answer: Michaelmas. Source: Wikipedia: Quarter days
December 25 is which numbered day of an ordinary year?Answer: The 359th. Source: Wikipedia: December 25
December 26 is the feast day of which saint in Western churches?Answer: Saint Stephen. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Stephen's Day
Distaff Day was the day when women went back to their spinning after the twelve days of Christmas. On which date did it fall?Answer: January 7. Source: Wikipedia: Distaff Day
Epiphany is kept on January 6. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning what?Answer: Manifestation or appearance. Source: Wikipedia: Epiphany (holiday)
Gaudete Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent. Which color is the wreath candle lit that day?Answer: Rose. Source: Wikipedia: Gaudete Sunday
In Colombia, the Christmas season opens with the Day of the Little Candles. On which date is it held?Answer: December 7. Source: Wikipedia: Day of the Little Candles
In England, Plough Monday marked the start of the farming year. When does it fall?Answer: The first Monday after Epiphany. Source: Wikipedia: Plough Monday
In Ireland, January 6 is called Nollaig na mBan. What does the name mean?Answer: Women's Christmas. Source: Wikipedia: Little Christmas
In Spain, a parade of the Three Kings winds through towns on the evening of which date?Answer: January 5. Source: Wikipedia: Cavalcade of Magi
What does the Latin word adventus, the source of the name Advent, mean?Answer: Coming. Source: Wikipedia: Advent
Who made the first Advent wreath with candles, at a mission school in Hamburg in 1839?Answer: Johann Hinrich Wichern. Source: Wikipedia: Advent wreath
Customs around the world 20
At Christmas in New Mexico, walls and paths are lined with luminarias. What is a luminaria?Answer: A candle set in sand inside a paper bag. Source: Wikipedia: Luminaria
Carols by Candlelight, an Australian Christmas tradition, was popularized in which city in 1938?Answer: Melbourne. Source: Wikipedia: Carols by Candlelight
The first formal service of Nine Lessons and Carols was held on Christmas Eve 1880. Who conducted it?Answer: The Bishop of Truro. Source: Wikipedia: Nine Lessons and Carols
The Giant Lantern Festival is held each December in San Fernando, which is known as the Christmas capital of which country?Answer: The Philippines. Source: Wikipedia: Giant Lantern Festival
In a Christmas custom of Scandinavian origin, people in masks and costumes go door to door while neighbors try to guess who they are. What is it called?Answer: Julebukking. Source: Wikipedia: Julebukking
In Denmark, woven paper hearts hang on the Christmas tree. The oldest known one was made in 1860 by which writer?Answer: Hans Christian Andersen. Source: Wikipedia: Pleated Christmas hearts
In Finland, the Declaration of Christmas Peace is read aloud at noon on Christmas Eve in which city?Answer: Turku. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas Peace
In Greek folklore, the kallikantzaroi come to the surface during the twelve days of Christmas. What are they?Answer: Goblins. Source: Wikipedia: Kallikantzaros
In Icelandic folklore, whom does the Yule Cat eat at Christmas?Answer: Those who did not get new clothes. Source: Wikipedia: Yule cat
In Poland, families break and share an opłatek at the Christmas Eve table. What is an opłatek?Answer: A thin wafer. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas wafer
In Puerto Rico, a parranda surprises friends at home in the Christmas season. What is a parranda?Answer: A group that arrives at night playing music. Source: Wikipedia: Parranda
In Russia, the decorated tree called a yolka is put up mainly for which holiday?Answer: New Year. Source: Wikipedia: New Year's tree
In Serbia, a badnjak is cut early on the morning of Christmas Eve. From which tree is it preferably cut?Answer: A young oak. Source: Wikipedia: Badnjak (Serbian)
In South Africa, December 26 is a public holiday with which name?Answer: Day of Goodwill. Source: Wikipedia: Boxing Day
In Ukraine, a Christmas decoration called a didukh stands in the house through the holidays. What is it made from?Answer: A sheaf of wheat. Source: Wikipedia: Didukh
Parang music is performed from house to house around Christmas on which Caribbean island?Answer: Trinidad. Source: Wikipedia: Parang
Plygain is a Christmas service sung very early in the morning. In which country is it a tradition?Answer: Wales. Source: Wikipedia: Plygain
What forms the body of a Christingle?Answer: An orange. Source: Wikipedia: Christingle
Which Christmas-time tradition of house visiting in disguise is practiced in Newfoundland and Labrador?Answer: Mummering. Source: Wikipedia: Mummering
The zampogna is now mostly associated with Christmas in Italy. What kind of instrument is it?Answer: A bagpipe. Source: Wikipedia: Zampogna
Gift-bringers 12
The American name Kris Kringle is a changed form of which German word?Answer: Christkindl. Source: Wikipedia: Christkind
Before he was joined with Santa Claus, what did the English figure of Old Father Christmas stand for?Answer: Feasting and good cheer. Source: Wikipedia: Father Christmas
The Canadian postal service gives the North Pole which postal code?Answer: H0H 0H0. Source: Wikipedia: Santa Claus
The famous reply that begins 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus' was printed in a newspaper in 1897. In which city?Answer: New York. Source: Wikipedia: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
In 1087 merchants removed the major bones of Saint Nicholas from his tomb and took them to their own city in Italy. Which city?Answer: Bari. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Nicholas
In Basque Christmas tradition, what is the trade of the gift-bringer Olentzero?Answer: Charcoal burner. Source: Wikipedia: Olentzero
In France, who brings the presents at Christmas?Answer: Père Noël. Source: Wikipedia: Père Noël
In German folklore, which companion of Saint Nicholas carries a long staff and a bag of ashes?Answer: Knecht Ruprecht. Source: Wikipedia: Knecht Ruprecht
In the Netherlands, gifts are given on Saint Nicholas' Eve. Which date is that?Answer: December 5. Source: Wikipedia: Sinterklaas
Mrs. Claus was first mentioned in an 1849 short story by which Philadelphia writer?Answer: James Rees. Source: Wikipedia: Mrs. Claus
Sinterklaas, the source of the name Santa Claus, is a word of which language?Answer: Dutch. Source: Wikipedia: Santa Claus
Which Roman goddess gave her name to étrennes, the French word for New Year gifts?Answer: Strenia. Source: Wikipedia: Strenua
Plants, trees and decorations 13
A Christmas pyramid is a wooden carousel with figures that turn. What makes it spin?Answer: Warm air rising from candles. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas pyramid
The Christmas cactus belongs to the genus Schlumbergera. In which country do these cacti grow wild?Answer: Brazil. Source: Wikipedia: Schlumbergera
The first artificial Christmas trees were made in Germany in the 1800s. What were their branches made from?Answer: Goose feathers dyed green. Source: Wikipedia: Artificial Christmas tree
In 1848 a London illustrated paper showed a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle on its cover, with a royal family round it. Who was the queen?Answer: Victoria. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas tree
In an account by the Roman writer Pliny, a priest in white climbs an oak and cuts down mistletoe with what?Answer: A golden sickle. Source: Wikipedia: Ritual of oak and mistletoe
In the 1400s and 1500s the Brotherhood of Blackheads put up holiday trees in its guild houses in two cities that are capitals today. Which two?Answer: Tallinn and Riga. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas tree
The Moravian star began in the 1830s as a geometry lesson at a boys' school in which German town?Answer: Niesky. Source: Wikipedia: Moravian star
The plant called the Christmas rose is not a rose. What is it?Answer: A hellebore. Source: Wikipedia: Helleborus niger
The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, who brought it to the United States in the 1820s. Which post did he hold?Answer: First United States minister to Mexico. Source: Wikipedia: Poinsettia
What is the botanical name of the genus of the hollies?Answer: Ilex. Source: Wikipedia: Holly
What is traditionally done with a Yule log?Answer: It is burned on the hearth. Source: Wikipedia: Yule log
Which American president lit the first National Christmas Tree in Washington, in 1923?Answer: Calvin Coolidge. Source: Wikipedia: National Christmas Tree (United States)
Which president do the more credible sources credit with the first Christmas tree inside the White House?Answer: Benjamin Harrison. Source: Wikipedia: White House Christmas tree
Food of the season 17
A popular story says a Christmas pudding should be made with how many ingredients?Answer: 13. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas pudding
At a Swedish julbord, the Christmas table, which is the most important of the cold cuts?Answer: Christmas ham. Source: Wikipedia: Smorgasbord
Bacalhau is the traditional Christmas Eve dinner in some parts of Portugal. What is it?Answer: Dried and salted cod. Source: Wikipedia: Bacalhau
By tradition, who invented the Christmas cracker in London in 1847?Answer: Tom Smith. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas cracker
The Christmas ham is thought to have grown out of an old Germanic custom that involved which animal?Answer: A wild boar. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas ham
Christmas pudding is also called plum pudding, yet it holds no plums. What did 'plum' mean when the name was given?Answer: Raisins. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas pudding
Dresden's Christmas market, founded in 1434, is the Striezelmarkt. What was a Striezel?Answer: A cake now known as Stollen. Source: Wikipedia: Striezelmarkt
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a Christmas Eve meal in which community?Answer: Italian Americans. Source: Wikipedia: Feast of the Seven Fishes
Hallacas are served in Venezuela during the Christmas season. What are they folded in before they are boiled?Answer: Plantain leaves. Source: Wikipedia: Hallaca
In Britain, Stir-up Sunday is linked with making the Christmas puddings. When does it fall?Answer: The last Sunday before Advent. Source: Wikipedia: Stir-up Sunday
In the Czech Republic, which fried fish is the traditional Christmas dinner on the evening of December 24?Answer: Carp. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas dinner
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, what are pigs in blankets?Answer: Small sausages wrapped in bacon. Source: Wikipedia: Pigs in blankets
Kutia is one of the two essential dishes of the Christmas Eve supper in Ukraine. What is its main grain?Answer: Wheat berries. Source: Wikipedia: Kutia
Pandoro, the Christmas sweet bread with an eight-pointed shape, is typically a product of which Italian city?Answer: Verona. Source: Wikipedia: Pandoro
Puto bumbong is a purple rice cake sold in the Philippines during the Christmas season. What is it steamed in?Answer: Bamboo tubes. Source: Wikipedia: Puto bumbong
The sugar plums of old Christmas verse are not plums. What are they?Answer: Small round hard candies. Source: Wikipedia: Sugar plum
Which bird remained the predominant Christmas roast in England until the Victorian era?Answer: Goose. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas dinner
Christmas words 8
The English word Christmas is first recorded in 1038, as Crīstesmæsse. What does it mean?Answer: Christ's Mass. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas
In Christmas decorating, what is a crèche?Answer: A nativity scene. Source: Wikipedia: Nativity scene
In Mexico the poinsettia is called flor de Nochebuena. What does that mean?Answer: Christmas Eve flower. Source: Wikipedia: Poinsettia
In Spanish, Christmas Eve is Nochebuena. What does that mean, word for word?Answer: Good night. Source: Wikipedia: Christmas Eve
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark, what is Christmas called?Answer: Jul. Source: Wikipedia: Yule
Mistletoe joins the older name mistle to the Old English word tan. What is a tan?Answer: Twig. Source: Wikipedia: Mistletoe
The word tinsel comes from the Old French estincele. What does it mean?Answer: Sparkle. Source: Wikipedia: Tinsel
The word Yule goes back to the Old English geol and to jól in which language?Answer: Old Norse. Source: Wikipedia: Yule
The carol of the twelve days 8
Folk songs are numbered in the Roud Folk Song Index. Which number does 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' carry?Answer: 68. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
In the 1780 printing of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', the four birds were not calling birds. What were they?Answer: Colly birds. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
In the usual modern words of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', what are the ten lords doing?Answer: Leaping. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
Some writers see signs that 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' came to England from which country?Answer: France. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
The tune now sung for 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' comes from a 1909 arrangement by which English composer?Answer: Frederic Austin. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
'The Twelve Days of Christmas' very probably began as a children's game of which kind?Answer: A memory and forfeit game. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
Which pair of birds joins the partridge in the second verse of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'?Answer: Two turtle doves. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
The words of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' were first printed in England in a children's book of which year?Answer: 1780. Source: Wikipedia: The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
How this list was compiled
Written for this site; nothing was copied from another list. Every question, wrong choice and explanation is our own wording. Each answer agrees with a sentence in the English Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org, text under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license) named and linked beside the question, read on 2026-10-02; every extra claim in an explanation was read the same day on that page. Where an article reports a tradition, a popular story or a disputed date, the question says so (by one account, by tradition, a popular story). Feast days and church customs are asked plainly, as calendar facts: a date, a name and what it means. Left out on purpose: films, shows and recorded songs, shops and makers, living people, drinks, and figures that change by year. The only song is the traditional carol of the twelve days. Facts that the site's Christmas pack for kids, its holiday pack for work and its Christmas cookie, winter, New Year and history packs already ask were dropped, so no question here repeats one of theirs word for word as they stood on 2026-10-02. Levels are our estimate for a table of adults; each round is stored easiest first. Licence: own work