50 Christmas Trivia Questions for Kids (With Answers)

By Cedar & Ledger

These 50 Christmas trivia questions are written for kids about 6 to 12, with the answer right after each one so a grown-up can read them aloud. They cover traditions around the world, winter science, food and Christmas songs, and none of them depend on a particular movie, so every child has a fair shot.

Christmas around the world

1. In which country did decorating Christmas trees first become popular? Germany
2. What is "Merry Christmas" in Spanish? Feliz Navidad
3. In Italy, what is the name of the kind witch who brings gifts on January 6? La Befana
4. In Australia, what season is it at Christmas? Summer
5. In the Netherlands, children leave out shoes for which gift-giver? Sinterklaas
6. In Mexico, what are the nine nights of celebration before Christmas called? Las Posadas
7. In the UK, what do people pull at dinner that goes "bang"? Christmas crackers
8. How many Yule Lads visit children in Iceland? 13
9. In Sweden, a festival of light on December 13 honors which saint? Saint Lucy
10. What date is Boxing Day? December 26

Winter science

1. How many sides does a snowflake usually have? Six
2. At what temperature does water freeze in Fahrenheit? 32 degrees
3. What is the shortest day of the year called? The winter solstice
4. Which is the coldest continent? Antarctica
5. Which animal lives near the North Pole: polar bears or penguins? Polar bears
6. Reindeer are called what in North America? Caribou
7. Do female reindeer grow antlers? Yes, both males and females do
8. What colorful lights can be seen in the sky near the North Pole? The northern lights
9. Why do evergreen trees stay green in winter? They keep their needles all year
10. What do many bears do for most of the winter? Rest in their dens

Christmas food

1. Which spice gives gingerbread its name? Ginger
2. What two colors are candy canes usually? Red and white
3. What do children often leave out for Santa? Milk and cookies
4. What do children leave out for the reindeer? Carrots
5. A Yule log cake is made to look like what? A log of wood
6. Which nut is famous for roasting on an open fire? Chestnuts
7. What Italian sweet bread full of dried fruit is eaten at Christmas? Panettone
8. Peppermint comes from what kind of plant? A mint plant
9. What topping often floats on hot cocoa? Marshmallows
10. What Mexican holiday food is cooked wrapped in corn husks? Tamales

Songs and traditions

1. Which song begins "Dashing through the snow"? Jingle Bells
2. In "The Twelve Days of Christmas," what is given on the first day? A partridge in a pear tree
3. How many golden rings are in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? Five
4. "Silent Night" was first written in which language? German
5. In "Jingle Bells," what pulls the open sleigh? One horse
6. What red-and-green plant from Mexico is popular at Christmas? Poinsettia
7. What do people hang by the fireplace for Santa to fill? Stockings
8. What is a ring of evergreen branches on a door called? A wreath
9. An Advent calendar counts down to which day? Christmas
10. What German song is called "O Christmas Tree" in English? O Tannenbaum

Santa and the North Pole

1. Santa Claus is based on which real saint? Saint Nicholas
2. Where does Santa live, according to tradition? The North Pole
3. How many reindeer pull the sleigh in the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas"? Eight
4. Name one reindeer from that poem. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner or Blitzen
5. Who helps Santa make toys? Elves
6. What do people in the UK often call Santa? Father Christmas
7. What do naughty children get in their stockings, according to legend? Coal
8. In the 1823 poem, what were the children dreaming of? Sugar plums
9. Which group tracks Santa's flight every Christmas Eve? NORAD
10. On which night does Santa deliver presents? Christmas Eve

How to play it as a game

• Teams: split into two or more teams. Read a question; the first team to raise a hand answers. Wrong answers pass to the next team.
• Paper round: read 10 questions, have teams write answers, then swap papers and mark them.
• Little kids: turn any question into multiple choice by giving three options out loud.
• Classroom: do one section a day in the last week before winter break.

Printable version

Want the ready-to-print version? Christmas Trivia for Kids & Families has 100 original multiple-choice questions in 5 rounds, with answer keys, team answer sheets and a scoreboard. For more party ideas, see our list of Christmas party games for kids, or get five game sets in the Christmas Party Games Mega Pack.

Related template: Christmas Trivia for Kids & Families. Also see: Christmas Party Games Mega Pack · Christmas Categories Game

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