75 Christmas Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Saint Nicholas, the bishop who inspired Santa Claus, served in Myra. Myra is in which modern-day country?

2. The first electrically lit Christmas tree glowed in 1882 in the home of Edward Johnson, a business partner of which inventor?

3. The first Christmas tree at New York's Rockefeller Center site went up in 1931. Who put it there?

4. Which 19th-century cartoonist's drawings in Harper's Weekly helped create the modern image of Santa Claus?

5. The poinsettia's English name honors Joel Roberts Poinsett. What was his role in Mexico?

6. From 1659 to 1681, celebrating Christmas was against the law in which American colony?

7. Which U.S. president signed the 1870 law that made Christmas a federal holiday?

8. The name 'Kris Kringle' comes from 'Christkindl', a German word meaning what?

9. According to its famous origin story, a 1955 Sears newspaper ad with a Santa phone number led to which Christmas Eve tradition?

10. Erwin Perzy received an early patent for a snow globe in 1900 in which city?

11. Hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments were first made in the 1800s in which German town?

12. The word 'Christmas' comes from an Old English phrase meaning what?

13. Who drew the artwork on the first commercial Christmas card in 1843?

14. In the Nativity story, the Magi brought gold, frankincense and what third gift?

15. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with staging an early Nativity scene in 1223 in which country?

16. Which ancient Roman festival in December featured feasting and gift-giving?

17. Yule was originally a midwinter festival of which peoples?

18. In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7. What is it called?

19. In Russia, the winter gift-bringer Ded Moroz has a name meaning what?

20. Who travels with Ded Moroz as his helper?

21. In parts of Germany and Austria, which gift-bringer traditionally brings presents on Christmas Eve?

22. In Alpine folklore, which horned figure accompanies Saint Nicholas to scold naughty children?

23. In Poland, the Christmas Eve supper called Wigilia traditionally begins when what appears?

24. In Spain, which figures traditionally bring children gifts on January 6?

25. The Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve is a tradition mainly associated with which community?

26. In the Netherlands, families usually swap Sinterklaas gifts on the evening of which date?

27. 'Buon Natale' means Merry Christmas in which language?

28. 'Frohe Weihnachten' means Merry Christmas in which language?

29. 'Nadolig Llawen' means Merry Christmas in which language?

30. In the Philippines, Christmas decorations and music often appear starting in which month?

31. Iceland's Jólabókaflóð tradition centers on giving what on Christmas Eve?

32. Which straw animal is a classic Scandinavian Christmas decoration?

33. Which comic, family-friendly theater show is a British Christmas-season tradition?

34. The Sámi people of northern Scandinavia are famous for herding which animal?

35. Stollen, a fruit bread dusted with powdered sugar, is especially linked to which German city?

36. Lebkuchen is a famous gingerbread-like treat from which German city?

37. Speculaas, a thin spiced cookie, is traditionally eaten for which Dutch holiday?

38. Marzipan, used in many Christmas sweets, is made mainly from sugar and what?

39. Mince pies are filled with fruit today, but what did they originally contain?

40. In Portugal, what salted fish is the star of the Christmas Eve dinner?

41. In the UK, 'Stir-up Sunday' is the traditional day to make which festive food?

42. Peppermint, the flavor of many holiday sweets, is a natural hybrid of watermint and which other mint?

43. Which spice comes from the same fruit as nutmeg?

44. What is traditionally hidden inside a Mexican Rosca de Reyes, eaten on January 6?

45. Tourtière, a spiced meat pie, is a classic Christmas Eve dish in which Canadian province?

46. Turrón, a Spanish Christmas nougat, is traditionally made with honey, sugar and which nut?

47. In the old name 'plum pudding', what did 'plum' usually mean?

48. In Denmark, whoever finds the whole hidden almond in the Christmas rice pudding wins what?

49. Swedish Lucia buns get their golden color from which spice?

50. What is the main meat in a traditional Christmas dinner in the United Kingdom today?

51. Reindeer eyes change color with the seasons. What color do they turn in winter?

52. Reindeer can see a kind of light that humans can't. Which kind?

53. In which month is Earth closest to the Sun?

54. On holly bushes, which plants grow the red berries?

55. Where does mistletoe usually grow?

56. Despite its name, the popular Douglas fir Christmas tree is not a true what?

57. A snowflake starts forming when water vapor freezes onto what?

58. Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean, is famous for the yearly migration of millions of which animals?

59. How often does the sun rise at the North Pole in late December?

60. The December solstice is the longest day of the year in which hemisphere?

61. What are soft, small snow pellets formed when supercooled droplets freeze onto snowflakes called?

62. Frankincense, one of the gifts of the Magi, is made from what?

63. The bright 'Christmas Star' seen on December 21, 2020, was a close meeting of which two planets?

64. A traditional Polish Wigilia supper has how many dishes?

65. Epiphany, which marks the visit of the Magi, falls on which date in Western churches?

66. The evening of January 5, the eve of Epiphany, is traditionally called what?

67. December comes from the Latin word for ten. Why?

68. The word 'Noel' comes from a Latin word meaning what?

69. Why do some Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7?

70. Simbang Gabi in the Philippines is a series of how many dawn Masses before Christmas?

71. Christmas Island was named on Christmas Day in which year?

72. Johnson's first electric Christmas tree in 1882 had how many bulbs?

73. How tall was the very first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 1931?

74. Christmas Island is an external territory of which country?

75. In Germany, which word is used for the Santa-like 'Christmas Man' who brings gifts in many regions?