Christmas Trivia Game

Our homemade Christmas trivia game has become a beloved tradition. It offers lighthearted, healthy competition that brings friends and family together for quality bonding time. Win or lose, it always ends up being a fun activity that creates memories to cherish each year. It’s the perfect way to spread cheer and celebrate our favorite holiday! Planning a cozy evening with family? A festive gathering with friends? Our Christmas trivia game is the perfect way to spread joy and test your knowledge of all things Christmas.

Instructions for Christmas Trivia

What You’ll Need

• Questions– Prepare a list of Christmas-themed trivia questions.
• Teams- Divide your players into teams. You can get creative with team names, which we’ll discuss later
• Scoring– Designate a scoring system and appoint someone as the scorekeeper.
• Prizes– Consider some festive prizes to make the game even more exciting.

How to Play

• Gather Your Participants- Invite your family, friends, or a mix of both to join in on the fun. The more, the merrier!
• Form Teams- Divide the participants into teams. You can keep it simple with two teams or get creative with team names and themes.
• Choose a Host- Select one person to be the host. Their role is to read out the questions, keep track of scores, and maintain a lively atmosphere.
• Set the Rules- Clarify the game’s rules, including the time limit for each question (usually 30 seconds to 1 minute) and how scoring will work (one point granted for each correct answer)
• Start the Game- The host begins by asking questions from the categories provided below. Teams take turns answering.
• Keep Score- Award points for correct answers, and make sure the host records scores. Adjust the difficulty level and point values based on the group’s preferences.
• Declare a Winner- At the end of the game, tally up the scores and declare a winning team. You can offer small prizes or simply revel in the joy of friendly competition.

Categories for Christmas Trivia

The categories and questions are what make a trivia game truly amazing. Naturally, you’ll want a variety of topics and question types to appeal to all interests and levels of Christmas knowledge. Here are some classic Christmas trivia categories to include: 

• Christmas Movies– Fun facts and trivia about films like Elf, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, The Grinch, and more.
• Name That Christmas Tune- Play clips of popular Christmas songs 
• Christmas Traditions-  advent calendars, lighting candles, leaving out milk and cookies for Santa, 
• Christmas Literature- Questions about classic Christmas stories
• Christmas Around the World- Facts about how Christmas is celebrated in other countries and cultures.
• Santa Claus- Facts and history about the legend of Santa
• Holiday Food & Drink-  teams identify holiday treats  like eggnog, gingerbread, fruitcake, etc
• Christmas Decorations- Indoor and outdoor home decor and symbols
• Pop Culture-  Christmas references in TV shows, movies, songs, and books
• Christmas History-  Christmas origins, customs, events, and mythologies
• Fun Facts- A miscellaneous category of interesting Christmas facts
• Religious Christmas- Questions about the nativity story
• Christmas Crafts– Homemade crafts and gifts
• Christmas Plants & Flowers– Trivia about poinsettias, mistletoe, and other plants related to the holidays.
• Christmas Animals- Trivia related to animals like reindeer, donkeys, and camels associated with Christmas.

Questions for Christmas Trivia

Below is a selection of questions to kickstart the competition. From classic Christmas movies to yuletide traditions around the world, there is a little something for everyone.

• Which famous Christmas song was actually written by a Jewish composer named Irving Berlin?   (White Christmas)
• What 1983 film follows a young boy’s quest to receive a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas? (A Christmas Story)
• In the movie “Home Alone,” what is the name of the young boy who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on vacation for Christmas? (Kevin McCallister)
• What is the Italian Christmas Eve tradition where families gather for a festive meal featuring seven different types of seafood dishes? (Feast of the Seven Fishes)
• In Dr. Seuss’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” what is the Grinch’s plan to stop Christmas from coming to Whoville? (He plans to steal all the presents and decorations)
• Who wrote the poem “The Night Before Christmas? (Clement Clarke Moore)
• In what South American country is “Nochebuena” celebrated with a midnight feast on Christmas Eve and the breaking of a piñata filled with candies and small toys? (Mexico)
• In the United Kingdom, Santa Claus is known by a different name. What is he called there?(Father Christmas)
• In which city is the original and famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring Santa Claus as its grand finale, held annually? (New York City) 
• What Christmas beverage is made from eggs, sugar, milk, and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, and sometimes spiked with alcohol? (Eggnog)
• What type of nut is typically roasted and enjoyed during the Christmas season? (Chestnuts)
• In Italy, it’s a tradition to eat a sweet, fruit-filled bread during the Christmas season. Name that bread. (Panettone)
• What plant, with bright red berries and green leaves, is often used as a decorative symbol of Christmas? (Holly) 
• What is the name of the holiday plant that hangs as a decorative ball and brings good luck during the Christmas season? (Mistletoe)
• In the 2003 holiday film, Elf, what’s the name of the department store where Buddy the Elf works?  (Gimbels)
• Which popular American singer recorded the hit song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 1994, which has become a modern Christmas classic? (Mariah Carey)
• In the 2000 film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, who plays the role of the Grinch? (Jim Carrey) 
• In the classic Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” which bird is given on the third day? (Three French hens)
• In the song, Frosty the Snowman,  what kind of animal was Frosty’s companion that served as his brother?  (A rabbit) 
• What popular Christmas song was written during a heatwave in July? (Jingle Bells)

Team Names for Christmas Trivia

Have the teams take a few minutes to come up with a name for themselves. Get fun and creative with  holiday-themed team names to really get everyone into the Christmas spirit! Here are some fun team name ideas:

• Santa’s Elves
• The Mistletoes 
• Jingle Bell Rockers
• The Naughty & Nice 
• Kris Kringle & Co.
• The Holiday Ham
• Team Tinseltown Trivia 
• Frankincense & Myrrh-Us
• Jolly Old St. Nicholases 
• Team Reindeer Games
• Holly Jolly Geniuses
• The Christmas Carol Singers
• Twelve Days of Quizzmas 
• Holiday Trivia Whizzes
• Dashers, Dancers, Prancers & Vixens

Prizes

In the end, Christmas trivia champion will have their pick from a sleigh-full of festive and fun prizes! The  possibilities are endless! Get creative with fun treats, festive home goods, or cozy accessories to reward the Christmas trivia winners. Here  are a few prize ideas:

• Christmas cookies or other homemade holiday baked goods
• Hot cocoa or apple cider mix + festive mugs
• Candy canes
• Christmas ornaments 
• Mini Christmas trees
• Holiday-scented candles
• Santa hats or reindeer antlers
• Christmas movies or music on DVD or CD
• Tins of gourmet popcorn or nuts
• Holiday coffee or hot chocolate sampler packs
• Gift cards for coffee shops like Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts
• Festive holiday socks or slippers
• Christmas tree earrings or other jewelry
• Peppermint bark or other chocolate treats
• Gingerbread house kits
• Ugly Christmas sweaters

Variations of Christmas Trivia Game

To keep the game fresh and exciting year after year, here are several fun variations you can try:

• Speed Round- Set a timer for each question and teams must answer quickly. The team with the most correct answers wins!
• Themed Rounds- Dedicate rounds to specific categories and award bonus points for correct answers in the chosen category.
• White Elephant Trivia- Combine your gift exchange with trivia. In this case, each correct answer allows a team to “steal” a gift from another team. 
• Elimination Round- Teams take turns answering questions. If they answer incorrectly, they’re out for that round.
• Christmas Trivia Tournament- Host a series of Christmas trivia games over several days or weeks, with the winners of each game advancing to the next round. Naturally, this format can lead to an ultimate champion.
• Multiple Choice Questions- Provide multiple-choice options for answers. Naturally, this variation can make the game more accessible and increase the chances of correct responses.
• Secret Santa Trivia- Each player draws a name and becomes the “Secret Santa” for that person. Correct answers earn you clues to guess your Secret Santa’s identity.                                                                                 

There you have it, a Christmas trivia extravaganza that will become a cherished tradition for your family and friends. With a variety of categories, fun variations, and fun prizes, your holiday gatherings will be filled with laughter, friendly competition, and festive spirit. Gather your loved ones, put on your Santa hats, and let the merriment begin. May your Christmas season have joy, laughter, and memorable moments!