Question 1 of 20Santa and his reindeerEasy
Christmas trivia for kids
Settle in by the tree for 20 questions of Christmas trivia for kids that the whole family can play together. Santa and his reindeer, snowy winter animals, favorite holiday stories, sparkly decorations and festive treats from around the world are all here, with a fun fact after every answer.
A free quiz from Megan Moran, author of The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book.
Question 2 of 20Santa and his reindeerEasy
On Christmas Eve, what do children traditionally hang by the fireplace for Santa to fill?
Question 3 of 20Snow and winter animalsMedium
What is a baby reindeer called?
Question 4 of 20Snow and winter animalsEasy
Santa's North Pole is in the Arctic. Which of these animals does NOT live in the wild there?
Question 5 of 20Around the worldMedium
In Sweden, what do families traditionally leave out on Christmas Eve for the tomte, a little gnome said to guard the farm?
Question 6 of 20DecorationsHard
In 1882, the first Christmas tree lit with electric bulbs glowed in a New York home. It belonged to a business associate of which famous inventor?
Question 7 of 20Christmas storiesMedium
In Dr. Seuss's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, what is the name of the town where the Whos live?
Question 8 of 20Around the worldEasy
In which language does "Feliz Navidad" mean "Merry Christmas"?
Question 9 of 20Around the worldMedium
In Ukraine, what do many families add to their Christmas trees for good luck, thanks to an old folk tale?
Question 10 of 20Snow and winter animalsHard
In 1885, a Vermont farmer named Wilson Bentley became the first person to photograph a single what?
Question 11 of 20Around the worldMedium
At Mexican Christmas parties called posadas, children take turns hitting what with a stick until candy spills out?
Question 12 of 20Christmas storiesEasy
In A Christmas Carol, what does grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge famously grumble about Christmas?
Question 13 of 20Santa and his reindeerMedium
Canada Post gives Santa his very own postal code for letters to the North Pole. What is it?
Question 14 of 20DecorationsHard
When tinsel was first made in Germany around 1610, what was it made from?
Question 15 of 20Snow and winter animalsMedium
Which Arctic animal usually swaps its brown summer coat for a snowy white one in winter?
Question 16 of 20TreatsEasy
Along with cookies for Santa, what do many children leave out for his reindeer on Christmas Eve?
Question 17 of 20TreatsMedium
Stollen, a fruity Christmas bread dusted with powdered sugar, is a traditional treat from which country?
Question 18 of 20Santa and his reindeerHard
Many reindeer make a surprising noise with every step they take. What is it?
Question 19 of 20Around the worldMedium
Santa Claus Village, near the city of Rovaniemi in Lapland, is in which country?
Question 20 of 20Christmas storiesHard
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, what kind of creature is Mr. Tumnus, the first Narnian Lucy meets?
Answer all 20 to see your score.
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Show all the answers, with the facts behind them
- Which of Santa's reindeer has a shiny red nose that lights the way on foggy nights? RudolphHis creator, Robert L. May, thought about calling him Rollo or Reginald before settling on Rudolph.
- On Christmas Eve, what do children traditionally hang by the fireplace for Santa to fill? StockingsAn old legend says Saint Nicholas once dropped bags of gold into stockings that had been hung by the fire to dry.
- What is a baby reindeer called? A calfReindeer babies are born in May or June and weigh about 13 pounds at birth.
- Santa's North Pole is in the Arctic. Which of these animals does NOT live in the wild there? Emperor penguinEmperor penguins live only around Antarctica, where dads keep an egg warm on their feet for about two months.
- In Sweden, what do families traditionally leave out on Christmas Eve for the tomte, a little gnome said to guard the farm? A bowl of porridgeIn Norway and Denmark he is called the nisse, and stories say he likes a pat of butter on top.
- In 1882, the first Christmas tree lit with electric bulbs glowed in a New York home. It belonged to a business associate of which famous inventor? Thomas EdisonThe tree had 80 red, white and blue bulbs and slowly turned on a spinning box.
- In Dr. Seuss's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, what is the name of the town where the Whos live? WhovilleThe story appeared in Redbook magazine in 1957, the same year it was first published as a book.
- In which language does "Feliz Navidad" mean "Merry Christmas"? SpanishIn Spanish, Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena, meaning "the Good Night," and it is often the time for a big family feast.
- In Ukraine, what do many families add to their Christmas trees for good luck, thanks to an old folk tale? Spider websUkrainian spider ornaments are called pavuchky, meaning "little spiders," and are traditionally made from straw.
- In 1885, a Vermont farmer named Wilson Bentley became the first person to photograph a single what? SnowflakeNicknamed "Snowflake Bentley," he photographed more than 5,000 snow crystals during his lifetime.
- At Mexican Christmas parties called posadas, children take turns hitting what with a stick until candy spills out? A piñataTraditional Christmas versions are shaped like a star with seven points, a design linked to the Star of Bethlehem.
- In A Christmas Carol, what does grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge famously grumble about Christmas? Bah! Humbug!A "humbug" is a fraud or a hoax, so Scrooge is really calling Christmas a big fake.
- Canada Post gives Santa his very own postal code for letters to the North Pole. What is it? H0H 0H0Thousands of current and retired postal workers help Santa reply, and every letter is answered in the language it was written in.
- When tinsel was first made in Germany around 1610, what was it made from? Real silverThe word "tinsel" comes from an Old French word meaning "sparkle."
- Which Arctic animal usually swaps its brown summer coat for a snowy white one in winter? Arctic foxIts scientific name, lagopus, means "hare foot," after the thick fur that covers the bottoms of its paws.
- Along with cookies for Santa, what do many children leave out for his reindeer on Christmas Eve? CarrotsIn the Netherlands, children leave a carrot or some hay in their shoe for Sinterklaas's horse.
- Stollen, a fruity Christmas bread dusted with powdered sugar, is a traditional treat from which country? GermanyEvery Advent, the city of Dresden parades a giant stollen weighing several tons through its streets, then cuts it with a huge knife.
- Many reindeer make a surprising noise with every step they take. What is it? A clicking soundThe clicks can be heard from far away, and scientists think they help reindeer show off their size, because bigger reindeer make louder clicks.
- Santa Claus Village, near the city of Rovaniemi in Lapland, is in which country? FinlandA white line painted across the village marks the Arctic Circle, so visitors can step right into the Arctic.
- In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, what kind of creature is Mr. Tumnus, the first Narnian Lucy meets? A faunWhen Lucy first meets him in the snowy wood, he is carrying an umbrella and an armful of parcels.
