40 Christmas Trivia Questions and Answers for Seniors

1. In which year did Queen Elizabeth II omit her Christmas Broadcast while the Royal Family documentary was repeated?

2. In 1957, the royal Christmas message was shown on television for the first time. Who gave it?

3. Under Italian rules, raisins and candied citrus together must make up at least what share of panettone?

4. Which Boston printer is known as the father of the American Christmas card?

5. The first indoor Christmas tree at the White House was put up in 1889 for which president's family?

6. Which president lit the first National Christmas Tree near the White House in 1923?

7. A 4-cent stamp with a wreath and two candles became America's first Christmas stamp in which year?

8. Protected Dresden stollen must contain butter equal to at least what share of its flour weight?

9. Three keepsake ornaments—a star, a bird and a bell—hang at the top, middle and bottom. The bird is directly below the star, and the star is not in the middle. Which ornament is in the middle?

10. Which small silver coin was traditionally stirred into a British Christmas pudding for luck?

11. In England, which name for the Christmas gift-bringer is older than Santa Claus?

12. Which Pennsylvania town has called itself Christmas City, U.S.A. since 1937?

13. The small city of North Pole, where many streets have holiday names, is in which U.S. state?

14. At which ancient Irish monument does the winter solstice sunrise shine down a passage into an inner chamber?

15. Before turkey became the favorite, which bird was the classic Christmas roast for many Victorian English families?

16. The poem A Visit from St. Nicholas first appeared anonymously in 1823 in a newspaper from which New York town?

17. Which large bulb, with trumpet-shaped red or white flowers, is a favorite to grow indoors for the holidays?

18. The sugarplums of old Christmas stories were usually what?

19. In Italy, which kindly old woman on a broom brings gifts to children on the eve of Epiphany?

20. What is the name of the big Swedish Christmas buffet with ham, herring and meatballs?

21. Which small, hand-painted clay figures fill the Christmas nativity scenes of Provence, France?

22. The Christmas rose, which can bloom white in midwinter, is a kind of which garden plant?

23. The word cookie came into American English from which language?

24. The name panforte is commonly translated from Italian as what?

25. In Newfoundland, people in disguise who visit neighbors' homes during the Christmas season are called what?

26. Which constellation, famous for the three stars of its belt, rides high in the winter evening sky?

27. Buttery shortbread, a favorite holiday biscuit, is a traditional treat from which country?

28. Christmas Day did not become a public holiday in Scotland until which decade?

29. A Christingle, made for many church services at Christmas, is a candle set in which fruit?

30. Which kind of comic family stage show, with a dame and plenty of audience shouting, is a classic British Christmas outing?

31. Brussels sprouts, a fixture of many Christmas dinners, are named after the capital of which country?

32. The Advent wreath was first made in 1839 by a pastor running a home for children in which German city?

33. Michael Faraday began a famous series of science talks for young people at Christmas in 1825. Which London institution still hosts them?

34. Besides children, Saint Nicholas is best known as the patron saint of which group?

35. In folklore, which character is said to nip noses and paint icy patterns on windows?

36. In Ireland, what is traditionally placed in the window on Christmas Eve as a sign of welcome?

37. In the far north of Norway, Sweden and Finland, reindeer have long been herded by which Indigenous people?

38. In the Gospel of Matthew, the wise men bring gold, frankincense and which third gift?

39. In the nativity story, the baby is laid in a manger. What is a manger?

40. Prince Albert, who helped make the Christmas tree fashionable in Britain, was born in which modern-day country?