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50 Christmas Trivia Questions and Answers

Fifty Christmas trivia questions that skip the stale stuff. Expect arsonists targeting a straw goat, a war-thanks tree, astronauts with a harmonica and a riot over eggnog. Print it, pass it round the table and let the cracker-hat champion be crowned.

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A child trying to phone Santa in 1955 reached which unlikely place instead?A US air-defence command centre in Colorado Springs, which started the tradition now known as NORAD Tracks Santa.Accounts differ on whether a Sears newspaper ad misprinted the number or the child misdialled. Colonel Harry Shoup answered and played along.
What postal code does Canada Post reserve for Santa Claus?H0H 0H0Around a million letters a year arrive bearing it.
Which London confectioner invented the Christmas cracker?Tom Smith
What made the snap in Tom Smith's crackers go bang?Friction between two paper strips, one coated with silver fulminate
Who added paper hats to Christmas crackers?Walter Smith, Tom Smith's son
Who sent the first commercial Christmas card, in 1843?Henry Cole, later the first director of London's V&A museum1,000 were printed and sold for a shilling each. They were too pricey for most people, and the venture flopped.
Which US military academy had an 'Eggnog Riot' at Christmas 1826?West Point
In which Swedish town is a giant straw Christmas goat built, and often set on fire?GävleSince 1966 it has been damaged or destroyed more than 40 times. The very first one burned on New Year's Eve.
What do millions of Swedes watch on TV at 3pm on Christmas Eve?A Donald Duck Christmas special, known as 'Kalle Anka'
On 23 December, the Mexican city of Oaxaca holds a carving contest using which vegetable?Radishes. The event is called the Night of the Radishes.It has been an official competition since 1897.
After a 1974 ad campaign, which fast food became a Christmas tradition in Japan?KFCThe slogan was 'Kentucky for Christmas!'. Christmas isn't a national holiday in Japan.
Who put the first electric lights on a Christmas tree, in 1882?Edward H. Johnson, a business associate of Thomas EdisonThe 80 hand-wired bulbs were red, white and blue.
When did General Electric start selling ready-wired Christmas light strings?1903
In a 2016 YouGov poll, roughly what share of Germans had heard of the 'German' Christmas pickle ornament?About 7%
Which act broke the Beatles' record with five UK Christmas No. 1s?LadBaby, who had five in a row from 2018 to 2022
When did Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' finally reach UK No. 1?1 January 2021, 36 years after it was releasedIn 1984 it was kept off the top by Band Aid, a record George Michael also sang on.
Die Hard is based on which novel?'Nothing Lasts Forever' by Roderick Thorp (1979)
Because of that novel's backstory, which star had to be offered the role of John McClane?Frank SinatraThe book was a sequel to The Detective, which Sinatra had filmed in 1968, so the studio was contractually obliged to offer him the part. Then in his 70s, he turned it down.
Which real building played Nakatomi Plaza in Die Hard?Fox Plaza in Century City, Los Angeles
Which classic Christmas film was released in June 1984?Gremlins
In 1930, the Addis company made artificial Christmas trees from bristles normally used for what?Toilet brushes
Which 1965 TV special is blamed for ending the aluminium Christmas tree craze?A Charlie Brown Christmas
What instrument did astronaut Wally Schirra play in a 'Jingle Bells' broadcast from Gemini 6 in 1965?A tiny harmonica
Before settling on Rudolph, which names did Robert L. May consider?Rollo and Reginald
Whose 1949 recording made 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' a No. 1 hit?Gene AutryThe song was written by Johnny Marks, May's brother-in-law.

Which reindeer usually still have antlers at Christmas, males or females?Females, because males usually shed theirs by early winterThis has led some to claim Santa's team must be female. Sled teams often use castrated males, though, so it's not proven.
In which month was Miracle on 34th Street first released?June 1947
Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar for playing which character?Kris Kringle, in Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
What did It's a Wonderful Life win its only Oscar for?A Technical Achievement Award for its new fake snowThe mix of foamite, soap flakes, water and sugar replaced crunchy, noisy cornflakes.
Was It's a Wonderful Life a box-office hit in 1946?No, it was a commercial failure. TV repeats later made it a classic.
The short story behind It's a Wonderful Life was rejected by publishers. What did its author do?He self-published it in 1943 for about 200 friends and family
Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas?Henry Selick. Tim Burton wrote the story and produced it.
How many years after its release did 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' first top the US Hot 100?25 years (1994 to 2019)
Which film introduced the song 'White Christmas'?Holiday Inn (1942)The Holiday Inn hotel chain took its name from the film.
Which queen had a Christmas tree in England in 1800, decades before Prince Albert made them fashionable?Queen CharlotteShe put it up at Queen's Lodge, Windsor, for a children's party.
Where did the first known department-store Santa appear, in 1890?Brockton, Massachusetts, at James Edgar's store
Which famous photo of Earth was taken on Christmas Eve 1968?Earthrise, taken by William Anders on Apollo 8
How did Australia's Christmas Island get its name?A sea captain sailed past it on Christmas Day 1643
What is Iceland's Jólabókaflóð?The 'Christmas Book Flood', the custom of giving books on Christmas Eve and reading them that nightEvery household gets a catalogue of new books in November.
How many Yule Lads visit Icelandic homes before Christmas?13They include Spoon Licker, Door Slammer and Sausage Swiper.
In Icelandic folklore, who does the Yule Cat eat?Anyone who hasn't got new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve
Which Finnish city declares 'Christmas Peace' at noon on Christmas Eve?Turku, Finland's former capital
'Wassail' comes from an Old Norse toast meaning what?'Be healthy' (ves heill)
Why do only some holly bushes have berries?Only female plants produce berries, and they need a male plant nearby
On a poinsettia, what are the red 'petals' really?Bracts, which are a kind of leafThe deadly poinsettia is a myth too. In a review of nearly 23,000 reported ingestions, over 92% of people had no ill effects.
What test do growers use to sort good cranberries from bad?A bounce test: firm berries bounce and damaged ones don't
Is a Douglas fir a true fir?No. Its genus name, Pseudotsuga, means 'false hemlock'.
Why does Oslo send London a Christmas tree every year?As thanks for British support during the Second World War
What decorated the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 1931?Paper garlands, cranberries and tin cans. Construction workers put it up.
What share of UK weather stations had snow on the ground on Christmas Day 2010?83%, the highest on record

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Fact-checked 31 Oct 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it in public.

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