70 Holiday Trivia Questions and Answers for Every Celebration

Think you know your holiday traditions well enough to win a trivia night? Whether you're hosting a game night, running a round at a holiday dinner, or just curious how much you know about the customs you've been repeating your whole life, this is your complete guide to holiday trivia.

Questions span every major holiday and difficulty level, from easy Santa Claus warm-ups to deep cuts on ancient Roman festivals. Each answer comes with enough context to make it interesting.

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Five things worth knowing before you start.

• Questions cover Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and New Year's Eve, sorted into easy, medium, and hard rounds.
• Mix difficulty levels so everyone from first-timers to history buffs stays engaged.
• Many traditions have surprising origins: turnips before pumpkins, a Babylonian root behind New Year's resolutions, and a 1974 marketing campaign behind Japan's KFC Christmas.
• Movies, music, and global customs make for the strongest trivia categories.
• Building broad knowledge through short daily habits makes trivia far more fun, and that's exactly what the Nibble app is built for.

✨ The bizarre history behind a custom is what keeps a dinner party engaged. Explore the unexpected origins of global traditions through quick, five-minute cultural modules on Nibble.

Start here if you want everyone at the table in the game from the first round.

1. Who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve? A: Santa Claus delivers presents to children around the world on Christmas Eve.

2. Which reindeer has a glowing red nose? A: Rudolph is Santa's most famous reindeer, known for his bright red nose.

3. What green plant do people traditionally bring indoors and decorate with tinsel? A: A Christmas tree, usually a pine or fir, is the centerpiece of holiday home decorating.

4. Which song mentions a one-horse open sleigh? A: 'Jingle Bells' describes a ride through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh.

5. What striped, peppermint-flavored treat is shaped like a cane? A: Candy canes are the classic red-and-white peppermint sweets of Christmas.

6. Which animated character has a heart two sizes too small? A: The Grinch, Dr. Seuss's grumpy green creature, famously has a heart two sizes too small.

7. What is the name of the magical snowman who comes to life with an old hat? A: Frosty the Snowman springs to life when a magic hat lands on his head.

8. Where does Santa run his workshop? A: Santa's workshop is at the North Pole, where elves help prepare gifts all year round.

9. What creamy holiday drink is made with milk, eggs, and sugar? A: Eggnog is the traditional festive drink made with milk, eggs, and sugar.

10. What hanging plant traditionally prompts people to kiss beneath it? A: Mistletoe is the plant hung in doorways that traditionally prompts people to kiss.

11. What bird is the centerpiece of a traditional Thanksgiving feast? A: Turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner, tracing back to the earliest harvest celebrations.

12. Which ship brought the Pilgrims to America? A: The Mayflower carried the Pilgrims across the Atlantic in 1620.

13. Which US president made Thanksgiving a permanent national holiday? A: Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

14. What giant parade takes place in New York City every Thanksgiving morning? A: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has run every Thanksgiving in New York City since 1924.

15. What do children say at the door to receive candy? A: "Trick or treat" is the phrase children call out at doors during Halloween.

16. Which vegetable was originally carved before pumpkins became popular? A: Turnips were the original carved lanterns in Ireland and Scotland before pumpkins took over.

17. Which famous magician died on Halloween in 1926? A: Harry Houdini, the legendary escape artist, died on October 31, 1926.

18. Where does the famous ball drop at midnight on New Year's Eve? A: Times Square in New York City hosts the iconic ball drop every New Year's Eve.

19. Which ancient civilization started the tradition of making New Year's resolutions? A: The ancient Babylonians started the tradition of making resolutions over 4,000 years ago.

20. What animal represents the year 2026 in the Chinese zodiac? A: 2026 is the Year of the Horse, beginning with Lunar New Year on February 17.

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Step up the difficulty for round two, once the room has warmed up.

21. Which fast-food chain is wildly popular for Christmas dinner in Japan? A: KFC became a beloved Christmas Eve tradition in Japan after a 1974 marketing campaign.

22. What is the name of the eight-day Jewish festival of lights? A: Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil burning for eight days in the rededicated Temple.

23. Which celebration runs from December 26 to January 1? A: Kwanzaa celebrates African American heritage and culture from December 26 to January 1.

24. What large log is traditionally burned during winter celebrations? A: A Yule log is a large piece of wood burned in the hearth during winter celebrations.

25. How many total presents does someone receive across all 12 days of Christmas in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'? A: 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' adds up to 364 total presents across twelve cumulative days of gift-giving.

26. What edible structure made of baked dough and icing is a classic Christmas decoration? A: A gingerbread house is assembled with royal icing and decorated with candy, one of the most recognizable Christmas traditions.

27. What do people traditionally mail to friends and family to spread festive cheer? A: Christmas cards are the seasonal greetings people send to loved ones each year.

28. What spice is traditionally grated on top of eggnog? A: Nutmeg is the spice most commonly grated on top of eggnog.

29. Which company used Santa Claus in its advertisements starting in the 1930s? A: Coca-Cola's 1930s Santa Claus ads helped cement the modern image of the jolly, red-suited figure.

30. What potato pancakes are fried in oil during Hanukkah? A: Latkes are the crispy potato pancakes fried in oil during Hanukkah.

31. Which pop group released 'Last Christmas' in 1984? A: Wham!, the British duo of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, released 'Last Christmas' in 1984.

32. Who performs the iconic 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'? A: Mariah Carey released it in 1994, and it has since become the most-streamed Christmas song on Spotify.

33. Who recorded the most successful version of 'White Christmas'? A: Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas' is recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling single of all time.

34. What rock legend sang 'Blue Christmas' in 1957? A: Elvis Presley recorded 'Blue Christmas' in 1957, one of the most beloved holiday songs in rock history.

35. Which song begins with chestnuts roasting on an open fire? A: 'The Christmas Song' was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946.

36. What classical piece by Tchaikovsky is performed by ballet companies every winter? A: 'The Nutcracker' is Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet performed worldwide each December.

37. What are all the names of Santa's reindeer from the classic poem? A: The poem names Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.

38. Which historic figure is the modern image of Santa Claus based upon? A: St. Nicholas of Myra, also written as Saint Nicholas, was a 4th-century bishop famous for his secret gift-giving.

39. What alternative to a real pine tree became popular in the 20th century? A: Artificial Christmas trees became popular in the 20th century as a convenient, reusable alternative.

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For the serious quiz fans. These go deep on history, religion, and rare milestones. Many of these customs have roots stretching back to ancient civilizations, the same world covered in Nibble's Greek mythology trivia.

40. Which English author wrote the famous 1843 novella 'A Christmas Carol'?A: Charles Dickens wrote 'A Christmas Carol' in six weeks, and it's credited with reviving the celebration of Christmas in Victorian England.

41. Which US president brought the first decorated Christmas tree to the White House?A: President Franklin Pierce is said to have displayed the first decorated Christmas tree inside the White House in 1856.

42. Which US president later banned the Christmas tree from the White House?A: Theodore Roosevelt banned it for environmental reasons, though his sons famously snuck one in anyway.

43. What famous poem begins with the line 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'? A: The poem is officially titled 'A Visit from St. Nicholas.'

44. What year did Christmas become an official federal holiday in the United States?A: Christmas became a US federal holiday in 1870, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.

45. Which ancient Roman festival celebrated the winter solstice with feasting and gift-giving? A: Saturnalia honored Saturn with feasting, role reversals, and gift-giving, all customs that influenced later Christmas traditions.

46. What does the Hebrew word Hanukkah translate to in English? A: Hanukkah translates to "dedication," marking the rededication of the Second Temple in 164 BCE.

47. What are the seven core principles of Kwanzaa called? A: The seven principles are the Nguzo Saba, a Swahili term covering unity, self-determination, and collective work, among others.

48. Which candle is lit first on a Kwanzaa kinara? A: The black candle is lit first from the center of the kinara, representing the unity of the people.

49. In which country do people roller-skate to church on Christmas morning? A: In Venezuela, people roller-skate to early morning Christmas Mass, with streets closed to cars.

50. What unique item do Swedish families watch on television every Christmas Eve? A: Swedish families have watched Donald Duck cartoons on public television every Christmas Eve since 1958.

51. In Oaxaca, Mexico, what vegetable is carved into sculptures on December 23? A: Radishes are carved into elaborate sculptures for the Night of the Radishes festival every December 23.

52. What unusual ornament is placed on Ukrainian Christmas trees for good luck? A: In Ukrainian tradition, an artificial spider web on the tree brings good luck, based on a folk tale about a golden web.

53. Where is the iconic New York City Christmas tree displayed each year? A: Rockefeller Center hosts the tree, lit with more than 50,000 LED lights each season.

54. How many holiday cards are sent in the United States every year? A: Americans send over one billion Christmas cards each year, making it one of the biggest greeting card seasons in the world.

55. Which movie is the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time? A: The 2018 animated 'The Grinch' earned over $511 million globally, making it the top-grossing Christmas film ever.

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Knowing where these customs come from makes you the most entertaining person at the table.

56. Why do people decorate Christmas trees? A: Ancient cultures brought evergreen boughs indoors as a symbol of life during the dark winter months. The modern decorated tree traces its roots to 16th-century Germany, spreading worldwide from there.

57. Why do people carve pumpkins on Halloween? A: The tradition comes from Irish folklore about a trickster named Jack. People in Ireland originally carved turnips to ward off evil spirits, and pumpkins only took over after Irish immigrants arrived in America. The custom is recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

58. Which song is traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve? A: 'Auld Lang Syne' is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788, later set to a folk melody and sung worldwide as the clock strikes midnight.

59. Where does Hanukkah come from? A: Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in 164 BCE, after Jewish fighters reclaimed it from the Seleucid Empire. A single day's oil miraculously burned for eight days, and that's the festival.

60. What about Kwanzaa? A: Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 to celebrate African American heritage through seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith, observed December 26 through January 1.

Festive films are as much a part of the season as the food itself. If your curiosity drifts beyond the atmosphere, Nibble's space trivia covers the universe one bite at a time.

61. What 1946 film starring James Stewart features the town of Bedford Falls? A: 'It's a Wonderful Life' follows George Bailey through a Christmas Eve visit from his guardian angel.

62. Which 1947 movie centers on a legal case to prove a department store Santa is real? A: 'Miracle on 34th Street' is the courtroom Christmas film in which a Macy's Santa insists he is the real deal.

63. Which film features the line "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings"?A: 'It's a Wonderful Life' features that iconic line, spoken near the end of the film.

64. Which 1990 film features eight-year-old Kevin defending his house from burglars?A: 'Home Alone' follows Kevin McCallister, left behind in Chicago while his family vacations in Paris.

65. What 2003 film stars Will Ferrell as a human raised by Santa's helpers?A: 'Elf' follows Buddy the Elf traveling from the North Pole to New York City to find his biological father.

66. What 2004 animated film features a magical train ride to the North Pole?A: 'The Polar Express' follows a boy who boards a mysterious Christmas Eve train to the North Pole.

67. Which 1966 television special features a small, overlooked pine tree?A: 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' follows Charlie Brown as he rescues a tiny tree and discovers the meaning of the holiday.

68. What 1992 puppet film features Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge?A: 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' adapts the Dickens classic with Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit as Bob Cratchit.

69. Which 2000 film features Jim Carrey in full green makeup? A: 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' stars Jim Carrey as the green creature who tries to ruin Christmas for the Whos.

70. In the animated special 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer', what is the island of unwanted toys called? A: The Island of Misfit Toys is where all the forgotten, unloved toys live until Rudolph helps them find a home.

You don't need a buzzer system or an event kit. Just good categories, balanced teams, and a format that keeps things close until the last question.

Mix your categories. Alternate Christmas movies with holiday music to keep energy up across age groups. Nibble's biology trivia makes a great bonus round if your group enjoys the natural world.

Balance your teams. Put the history teacher and the pop culture expert on different sides so scores stay close.

Add a wagering final round. Each team bets points before hearing the last question. Instant tension, zero prep needed.

Keep the format varied. Play song snippets for the music round and show movie stills for the film round. Nibble's sports trivia makes a strong bonus category. The less it feels like a test, the more people stay in it.

Holiday trivia is more rewarding when you understand the context. Not just that 'A Christmas Carol' was written by Charles Dickens, but that he wrote it in six weeks under financial pressure, and it's widely credited with reviving the popular celebration of Christmas in Victorian England.

The Nibble app is built for exactly that. Short lessons on history, culture, and traditions, all in ten minutes or less, designed to fit into real life rather than compete with it.

Research suggests short, focused mobile lessons can improve knowledge retention by up to 20% compared to traditional training. Replace ten minutes of scrolling with something that sticks.

Download the Nibble app and start building the kind of knowledge that makes every conversation more interesting.