25 Fun and Surprising Christmas Trivia Questions to Stump Even Santa’s Elves

A Festive Holiday Challenge

The twinkling lights are up, cocoa mugs are out, and the scent of gingerbread fills the air — which means it’s the perfect time for some holiday trivia!
Sure, you might know how many reindeer Santa has or the color of Rudolph’s nose, but this quiz digs a little deeper into Christmas history, global traditions, and quirky facts that even the jolliest trivia lovers might miss.

So grab your eggnog, gather your friends, and see who really knows their holly from their jolly!

25 Fun & Unexpected Christmas Trivia Questions

1. Which country is credited with starting the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree?
   A. England
   B. Germany
   C. Norway
   D. Austria
2. What was the first song ever played on the radio on Christmas Eve in 1906?
   A. “O Holy Night”
   B. “Silent Night”
   C. “Joy to the World”
   D. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
3. Which U.S. state was the first to officially recognize Christmas as a holiday?
   A. Pennsylvania
   B. Alabama
   C. Massachusetts
   D. Virginia
4. People in what country exchange books on Christmas Eve and then spend the evening reading them while eating chocolate?
   A. Iceland
   B. Finland
   C. Sweden
   D. Denmark
5. In the song “Twelve Days of Christmas,” how many total gifts are given?
   A. 78
   B. 144
   C. 364
   D. 312
6. What color were candy canes originally?
   A. All white
   B. Red and white
   C. Green and white
   D. Gold
7. Which reindeer’s name means “thunder” in German?
   A. Donner
   B. Blitzen
   C. Comet
   D. Dasher
8. What North American aerospace organization tracks Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve?
   A. NASA
   B. NORAD
   C. SpaceX
   D. Blue Origin
9. In what modern-day country was St. Nicholas born?
   A. Greece
   B. Turkey
   C. Italy
   D. Croatia
10. Are Santa’s reindeer male or female?
    A. Male
    B. Female
    C. Both
    D. None — they’re mythical!
11. Which Christmas movie features a cameo by Donald Trump?
    A. Elf
    B. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
    C. The Santa Clause
    D. Miracle on 34th Street
12. In Japan, which fast-food restaurant is a traditional Christmas dinner choice?
    A. McDonald’s
    B. KFC
    C. Burger King
    D. Domino’s
13. What do the 12 Days of Christmas actually signify?
    A. Days of shopping before Christmas
    B. The days between the birth of Jesus and the visit of the three Wise Men
    C. Santa’s travel days
    D. The countdown to the winter solstice
14. What famous 225-ton gift was given on Christmas Day in 1886?
    A. Liberty Bell
    B. Statue of Liberty
    C. Eiffel Tower piece
    D. Big Ben clock
15. Which Christmas decoration was originally made from strands of real silver?
    A. Tinsel
    B. Garland
    C. Icicles
    D. Ornaments
16. What figure from English folklore inspired Santa Claus?
    A. Green Man
    B. Father Christmas
    C. Robin Goodfellow
    D. Old King Cole
17. In the movie Elf, what is the first rule of The Code of Elves?
    A. There’s room for everyone on the Nice List
    B. Treat every day like Christmas
    C. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear
    D. Always believe in Santa
18. What’s the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time (as of 2025)?
    A. Home Alone
    B. The Grinch (2018)
    C. Elf
    D. The Polar Express
19. What Christmas tradition did Theodore Roosevelt famously ban from the White House?
    A. Hanging stockings
    B. Decorating a Christmas tree
    C. Gift exchanges
    D. Carol singing
20. What is the real town called “North Pole” located in?
    A. Alaska
    B. Canada
    C. Greenland
    D. Finland
21. A famous Christmas truce was a series of ceasefires along the Western Front during which war?
    A. American Civil War
    B. World War I
    C. World War II
    D. The Crimean War
22. According to YouGov, what is the most popular Christmas cookie in the U.S.?
    A. Sugar cookies
    B. Gingerbread cookies
    C. Chocolate chip cookies
    D. Snickerdoodles
23. What country is known for hiding brooms on Christmas Eve to ward off witches?
    A. Norway
    B. Finland
    C. Iceland
    D. Sweden
24. What was the first Christmas song ever broadcast from space?
    A. “Silent Night”
    B. “Jingle Bells”
    C. “O Holy Night”
    D. “Deck the Halls”
25. What do the “X” and “mas” in “Xmas” actually represent?
    A. Cross and Mass
    B. Greek letter Chi and Mass
    C. Christ’s Cross and Mass
    D. Holy Cross and Mass

The Answer Key

1. B — Germany
2. A — “O Holy Night”
3. B — Alabama
4. A — Iceland
5. C — 364
6. A — All white
7. A — Donner
8. B — NORAD
9. B — Turkey
10. B — Female. Male reindeer lose their antlers in November, while female reindeer keep theirs through the winter.
    Most depictions of Santa’s reindeer show antlers.
11. B — Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12. B — KFC
13. B — The days between the birth of Jesus and the visit of the three Wise Men
14. B — Statue of Liberty
15. A — Tinsel
16. B — Father Christmas
17. B — Treat every day like Christmas
18. B — The Grinch (2018)
19. B — Decorating a Christmas tree
20. A — Alaska
21. B — World War I
22. A — Sugar cookies
23. A — Norway
24. B — “Jingle Bells”
25. B — Greek letter Chi and Mass

Wrap It Up Like a Present

Whether you sleighed the quiz or found a few lumps of trivia coal, we hope you learned something new about the wonderful, weird, and worldwide traditions of Christmas!

Keep the holiday spirit alive by sharing this quiz with your family, friends, or co-workers at your next holiday gathering — and remember: it’s all fun and festive cheer until someone eats the last sugar cookie.

Merry Christmas, and may your trivia game be as strong as Santa’s coffee on Christmas Eve!

“Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing.”
~ Elf Judy in The Santa Claus