A Holiday Quiz for You and Your Family
Test your knowledge on everything from turkeys and jingles to reindeer and bells with this holiday quiz.
It’s equal parts holiday history, pop culture, and trivia of the season. As you enjoy the challenge of the quiz, you and your children will also learn some fun facts about holiday traditions and history.
Click on each answer, individually, or see all the answers at once at the bottom.
1. According to the poem “Twas The Night Before Christmas,” which is not one of Santa’s eight reindeer?
A. Prancer
B. Comet
C. Archer
D. Cupid
2. Roughly translated, the song title of the New Year’s Eve standard Auld Lang Syne means:
A. Peace be With You
B. Good Old Times
C. Best Wishes to You
D. Watch Your Back
3. It is said that the Three Wise Men (also known as Magi) came to Bethlehem bearing what three gifts?
A. Goats, sheep, and song birds
B. Silk, wine, and perfume
C. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh
D. Corn, camel hair, and olive oil
4. Who is credited with writing the 1857 version of the song Jingle Bells, which went on to become one of the most performed and recognizable holiday songs in history?
A. James Lord Pierpont
B. John Philip Sousa
C. Frank Bridge
D. Stephen Foster
5. Turkey makes for a favorite holiday feast. Which two states lead the U.S. in turkey production, combining to account for about 32 percent of all birds?
A. South Carolina and Tennessee
B. Indiana and Ohio
C. California and Arkansas
D. Minnesota and North Carolina
6. Which statement concerning Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is not true?
A. He had a very shiny nose
B. He first appeared in 1937 in ads for General Electric
C. He was forbidden from playing “Reindeer Games”
D. He was created to promote Montgomery Ward department stores in 1939
7. According to Dr. Seuss, the Grinch is “cuddly as a cactus” and has “termites in his smile.” But what is the No. 1 reason for him disliking Christmas?
A. His dog Max is allergic to wreaths
B. He was once poisoned by arsenic in his eggnog
C. All the Hoos in Hooville sing out of tune
D. His heart is two sizes too small
8. Which is not an ingredient in traditional plum pudding (also known as Christmas pudding)?
A. Plums
B. Eggs
C. Raisins
D. Suet (beef or mutton fat)
9. According to Forbes, the top-grossing Christmas movie of all time is?
A. Elf
B. White Christmas
C. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
D. The Polar Express
10. Cornucopia is another name for?
A. Santa’s workshop at the North Pole
B. The horn of plenty, filled with festive fruits and vegetables
C. A partridge, often found in pear trees
D. Holiday sales with items at least 50 percent off
11. Kwanzaa, the African-American celebration of life, runs from December 26 through January 1 and celebrates?
A. Family, Community, and Culture
B. Food, Faith, and Education
C. Rivers, Mountains, and Wildlife
D. Song, Dance, and Creative Art
12. In the most common version of the song Twelve Days of Christmas, what does my true love send to me on the 11th day?
A. 11 Calling Birds
B. 11 Lords a Leaping
C. 11 Maids a Milking
D. 11 Pipers Piping
13. During the Jewish Festival of Lights, how many candles does a Hanukkah menorah hold?
A. Three
B. Seven
C. Eight
D. Nine
14. What does Frosty the Snowman do when a magic hat is placed on his head?
A. He begins to melt
B. He begins to dance around
C. He drops his comb and picks up a broomstick
D. He grins with glee
15. In the film classic It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, what happens every time a bell rings?
A. It begins to snow
B. Santa comes to town
C. Dinner is placed on the table
D. An angel gets his wings
16. On New Year’s Eve in New York’s Times Square, an LED-lit crystal ball drops at midnight. Atop what building is that ball located?
A. The Empire State Building
B. One Times Square
C. The Chrysler Building
D. Radio City Music Hall
17. At Hanukkah, children traditionally spin a “dreidel” to win small prizes. What toy does a dreidel most resemble?
A. Wooden top
B. Hula hoop
C. Pinwheel
D. Roulette wheel
18. According to Billboard Magazine, the artist with the best-selling Christmas album of all-time is?
A. Nat King Cole
B. Mariah Carey
C. Bing Crosby
D. Elvis Presley
19. A character by the name of Kris Kringle stars in what story?
A. Miracle on 34th Street
B. A Christmas Carol
C. Deck the Halls
D. A Visit from St. Nicholas
20. According to StatisticBrain.com the most common New Year’s resolutions among adults is?
A. Traveling more
B. Spending less money
C. Staying fit/losing weight
D. Better organization
Bonus Question: The first official White House greeting card was authorized in the 20th century by which U.S. President?
A. Teddy Roosevelt
B. Dwight Eisenhower
C. John F. Kennedy
D. Howard Taft
Quiz Answers: 1-C, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A, 5-D, 6-B, 7-D, 8-A, 9-C, 10-B, 11-A, 12-D, 13-D, 14-B, 15-D, 16-B, 17-A, 18-D, 19-A, 20-C, Bonus-B
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Seth Livingstone
Seth Livingstone is a veteran writer and editor who has spent much of his career in sports journalism covering multiple Olympic Games, Super Bowls, World Series, and Daytona 500s. He covered the Boston Red Sox throughout the 1980s and 1990s before joining USA Today and Baseball Weekly in 1999. He maintains his membership in the Baseball Writers Association of America and is a Hall of Fame voter. Seth holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University and has also worked as a substitute teacher (all grades and subjects). He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and has two grown children.
