I’ve always believed that holiday gatherings need that special something to bring everyone together, and in my experience, nothing breaks the ice quite like a good trivia game! Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, planning a New Year’s Eve celebration, or just looking to add some fun to a family dinner, these 100+ holiday trivia questions are exactly what you need.
Growing up, my family would always play trivia games after our holiday meals, and those moments remain some of my fondest memories. I still remember my dad’s shocked face when my little sister correctly answered a question about the origin of Christmas trees that stumped all the adults!
This collection includes everything from Christmas classics to New Year traditions, Halloween history, and Easter facts – perfect for any holiday celebration throughout the year. So grab some hot cocoa (or your holiday beverage of choice), gather your loved ones, and get ready to test your knowledge!
Christmas Trivia Questions
Christmas is filled with fascinating traditions, stories, and cultural elements that make for excellent trivia. These questions range from the story of Santa Claus to the history of Christmas trees and everything in between!
- In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” how many lords are leaping?
Answer: Ten - Which country started the tradition of putting up Christmas trees?
Answer: Germany - Who was the author of “A Christmas Carol”?
Answer: Charles Dickens - In the movie “Home Alone,” where were the McCallisters flying to when they left Kevin behind?
Answer: Paris - The song “Silent Night” was first performed in which country?
Answer: Austria - Which reindeer is known for having a red nose?
Answer: Rudolph - What color are mistletoe berries?
Answer: White - In which modern-day country was St. Nicholas born?
Answer: Turkey (in the ancient Greek city of Patara) - When was “Jingle Bells” originally written?
Answer: 1857 (and it was actually written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas!) - In the movie “Elf,” what was the first rule of The Code of Elves?
Answer: “Treat every day like Christmas” - Who invented electric Christmas lights?
Answer: Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward H. Johnson - What Christmas decoration was originally made from strands of silver?
Answer: Tinsel - Which popular Christmas beverage is also called “milk punch”?
Answer: Eggnog - Which Christmas-themed ballet premiered in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1892?
Answer: The Nutcracker - In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” what happens every time a bell rings?
Answer: An angel gets its wings - What does the word “Noel” mean in Latin?
Answer: Birthday - Which plant, with red and green leaves, is known as the “Christmas Flower”?
Answer: Poinsettia - Who created the character of Ebenezer Scrooge?
Answer: Charles Dickens - What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding?
Answer: A coin - Which US state was the first to recognize Christmas as an official holiday?
Answer: Alabama (in 1836) - What was the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time (as of 2024)?
Answer: “Home Alone” - Who wrote the poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”?
Answer: Clement Clarke Moore - In the song “Winter Wonderland,” what do we build in the meadow?
Answer: A snowman (named Parson Brown) - How many ghosts appear in “A Christmas Carol”?
Answer: Four (Jacob Marley plus the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future) - What is the best-selling Christmas single of all time?
Answer: “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
Looking for more holiday fun? Explore our Christmas would you rather questions for festive choices that will get everyone talking!
Halloween Trivia Questions
Halloween combines spooky fun with fascinating historical traditions. Test your knowledge about this creepy holiday with these tricky questions!
- What Celtic festival is Halloween based on?
Answer: Samhain - Which country originated the jack-o’-lantern tradition?
Answer: Ireland - What vegetable were jack-o’-lanterns originally made from?
Answer: Turnips - In what year was the movie “Halloween” released?
Answer: 1978 - Which phobia is the fear of Halloween?
Answer: Samhainophobia - What does the orange color of Halloween represent?
Answer: The harvest and autumn - In Mexico, what holiday coincides with Halloween?
Answer: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - Which historical figure is said to have been born on Halloween night?
Answer: Harry Houdini - What was candy corn originally called?
Answer: “Chicken Feed” - In which US city is it illegal to dress up as a nun or priest on Halloween?
Answer: Alabama - What was the original name of the Snickers candy bar?
Answer: Marathon - What is the most commercially successful horror movie of all time?
Answer: “It” (2017) - Which Halloween candy is the most popular in America according to sales?
Answer: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups - What supernatural creature is said to be born from a seventh son of a seventh son?
Answer: Werewolf - Who directed the original “Nightmare on Elm Street”?
Answer: Wes Craven - What does seeing a spider on Halloween symbolize?
Answer: The spirit of a loved one watching over you - Which planet’s year is almost exactly the same length as our Halloween season?
Answer: Mars (Martian year is about 687 Earth days) - What animal is said to bring bad luck if it crosses your path on Halloween?
Answer: Black cat - In which country did trick-or-treating originate?
Answer: Ireland (as “souling”) - What are pumpkins?
Answer: Fruits (technically, they’re berries)
For more mind-bending questions perfect for your Halloween party, check out our collection of philosophical questions that will really make you think!
Thanksgiving Trivia Questions
Thanksgiving is rich with history and traditions. These questions will test your knowledge about this important holiday of gratitude and abundance.
- In which year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?
Answer: 1621 - How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last?
Answer: Three days - Which president made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln - What meat did the Pilgrims most likely eat at the first Thanksgiving?
Answer: Venison (deer meat) - Which Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
Answer: Wampanoag - What year did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade first include giant balloons?
Answer: 1927 - Which president was the first to pardon a turkey?
Answer: John F. Kennedy (though the formal tradition began with George H.W. Bush) - What is the name of the famous rock where the Pilgrims were said to have landed?
Answer: Plymouth Rock - In Canadian Thanksgiving, which month is the holiday celebrated?
Answer: October - What food did the Pilgrims definitely NOT eat at the first Thanksgiving?
Answer: Potatoes - In which decade did football become a Thanksgiving tradition?
Answer: 1870s - What percentage of American homes serve turkey on Thanksgiving?
Answer: About 90% - Which state produces the most turkeys annually in the U.S.?
Answer: Minnesota - What dish did Green Giant create specifically for Thanksgiving in 1955?
Answer: Green bean casserole - Which president moved Thanksgiving up a week to extend the Christmas shopping season?
Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt - What is the average number of calories consumed during a typical Thanksgiving meal?
Answer: 3,000-4,500 calories - What is the most popular pie flavor for Thanksgiving?
Answer: Pumpkin - What traditional Thanksgiving food is actually native to North America?
Answer: Cranberries - In what year did Sarah Josepha Hale convince President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Answer: 1863 - What event marked the end of the first Thanksgiving celebration?
Answer: A three-day feast and athletic competitions
Want to have more meaningful conversations around your Thanksgiving table? Our deep topics to talk about are perfect for creating meaningful family discussions.
Easter Trivia Questions
Easter combines religious significance with fun traditions. These questions cover everything from the origins of Easter to modern celebrations.
- Which animal, other than the rabbit, is a symbol of Easter in some countries?
Answer: The fox (in Germany) - What was the first company to commercially produce chocolate Easter eggs?
Answer: Cadbury - In which year were the first chocolate Easter eggs made?
Answer: 1873 - In Greek Orthodox tradition, what color are Easter eggs dyed?
Answer: Red - What type of meat is traditionally served at Easter dinner?
Answer: Ham - Which president started the White House Easter Egg Roll tradition?
Answer: Rutherford B. Hayes - Where is the world’s largest Easter egg located?
Answer: Vegreville, Alberta, Canada - What fruit cake is traditionally eaten in the UK at Easter?
Answer: Simnel cake - What is the Monday after Easter Sunday called?
Answer: Easter Monday - Which flower is associated with Easter?
Answer: Lily - In which country do people crack eggs against each other on Easter?
Answer: Greece - What organization did the Easter Bunny first appear in American folklore through?
Answer: The Pennsylvania Dutch - What is the name of the week leading up to Easter?
Answer: Holy Week - In Australia, which native animal is trying to replace the Easter Bunny as a symbol?
Answer: The bilby - What is the first Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox called?
Answer: Easter Sunday - Which candy brand produces the famous chocolate egg with a toy surprise inside?
Answer: Kinder - In Polish Easter tradition, what do families bring to church for blessing?
Answer: Baskets of food - What dessert is traditionally served at the end of Passover that coincides around Easter time?
Answer: Matzo - In which country do children collect eggs laid by the “Easter Bell”?
Answer: France - What percentage of Americans list chocolate bunnies as their favorite Easter treat?
Answer: About 60%
For more family-friendly activities, explore our collection of how well do you know me questions that make for great Easter Sunday fun!
New Year Trivia Questions
New Year’s celebrations are filled with interesting customs and traditions from around the world. Test your knowledge with these fascinating questions.
- What is the name of the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop location?
Answer: Times Square - In which year did the first Times Square ball drop occur?
Answer: 1907 - What does the traditional southern New Year’s dish of black-eyed peas represent?
Answer: Good luck and prosperity - Which country is the first to celebrate the New Year?
Answer: Kiribati (Christmas Island) - Which ancient culture was the first to celebrate the New Year?
Answer: Babylonians (around 4,000 years ago) - What is the name of the Scottish New Year celebration?
Answer: Hogmanay - In Spain, what do people traditionally eat at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
Answer: 12 grapes - What percentage of New Year’s resolutions are broken by February?
Answer: About 80% - Which famous song is traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve?
Answer: “Auld Lang Syne” - Who wrote “Auld Lang Syne”?
Answer: Robert Burns - In Denmark, what do people throw at their friends’ doors for good luck on New Year’s?
Answer: Broken plates - What is the traditional New Year’s food in Japan?
Answer: Soba noodles - Which country celebrates New Year with a tradition called “La Tamborrada”?
Answer: Spain (specifically in San Sebastián) - What color underwear do people in Latin America wear on New Year’s Eve for good luck?
Answer: Yellow - Which U.S. city drops a giant peach on New Year’s Eve?
Answer: Atlanta, Georgia - In which country do people bang bread against the walls to chase away bad spirits on New Year’s Eve?
Answer: Ireland - What is the name of the traditional Russian New Year’s figure similar to Santa Claus?
Answer: Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) - In which decade did Dick Clark first host New Year’s Rockin’ Eve?
Answer: 1970s (1972) - What do Greeks hang outside their doors on New Year’s Eve?
Answer: Onions - Which zodiac calendar begins its new year in late January or early February?
Answer: Chinese zodiac
If you’re planning a New Year’s party, you might want to prepare some two truths and a lie ideas for another fun game to play with your guests!
Valentine’s Day Trivia Questions
Valentine’s Day is more than just chocolates and roses. These questions explore the fascinating history and quirky facts about this day of love.
- Approximately how many Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually?
Answer: 145 million - In which century did exchanging Valentine’s cards become popular?
Answer: 18th century - Which Roman god is associated with Valentine’s Day?
Answer: Cupid - What was the first company to mass-produce Valentine’s Day chocolate boxes?
Answer: Cadbury - Which country celebrates Valentine’s Day as “Friend’s Day”?
Answer: Finland - What flower did the Victorians say meant “I’ll never tell”?
Answer: The rose - Which famous candies were created specifically for Valentine’s Day in 1902?
Answer: Conversation hearts - Which king of England established Valentine’s Day as an official holiday?
Answer: King Henry VIII - What percentage of pet owners give Valentine’s gifts to their pets?
Answer: About 27% - In Japan, what are women expected to give men on Valentine’s Day?
Answer: Chocolate - What’s the name of the Valentine’s Day for singles celebrated in China?
Answer: Singles’ Day (though it’s actually celebrated on November 11) - Who receives the most Valentine’s cards: teachers, mothers, wives, or girlfriends?
Answer: Teachers - In medieval times, what food did young women eat on Valentine’s Day to dream of their future husband?
Answer: Unusual vegetables and fruits - What item did the ancient Romans use as a Valentine greeting card?
Answer: Clay tablets - Which country banned Valentine’s Day celebrations in 2011?
Answer: Iran - What color rose symbolizes friendship on Valentine’s Day?
Answer: Yellow - When did chocolate become associated with Valentine’s Day?
Answer: The 1840s - In South Korea, what do women give to men who didn’t receive gifts on Valentine’s Day?
Answer: Black Day noodles (on April 14) - What is the approximate amount Americans spend on Valentine’s Day each year?
Answer: $20 billion - Which saint’s feast day falls on February 14th?
Answer: Saint Valentine
Looking for romantic conversation starters this Valentine’s Day? Check out our questions to ask your crush over text for some inspiration!
Why Holiday Trivia Makes Any Gathering Better
Holiday trivia is more than just a game; it’s a wonderful way to engage everyone at your gathering while teaching them something new about their favorite celebrations. I’ve found that even the most reluctant participants usually can’t resist jumping in once the questions get going!
Last Christmas, I brought a stack of holiday trivia cards to my in-laws’ dinner, and what started as a casual after-dinner activity turned into a two-hour tournament with teams, scorekeeping, and plenty of friendly competition. The best part? Everyone from my 10-year-old niece to my 85-year-old grandmother was fully engaged.
Holiday trivia also connects us to the rich histories and traditions behind our celebrations, making them more meaningful and appreciated. You might be surprised how many fascinating facts there are behind the holidays we celebrate year after year!
If you’re looking for more conversation starters to liven up your gatherings, check out our collection of interesting topics to talk about.
Final Thoughts
I hope these 100+ holiday trivia questions bring as much joy to your celebrations as they have to mine! Whether you’re looking to break the ice at a holiday party, entertain the family during a long holiday weekend, or just learn something new about your favorite celebrations, trivia is always a winner.
My family now has a tradition of playing holiday trivia after our Thanksgiving meal while we’re all too full to move but not quite ready for dessert. It’s become something everyone looks forward to, and I’m constantly updating our question bank with new and interesting facts.
Did you know all the answers? Which holiday had the most surprising facts for you? I’d love to know which questions stumped you or which ones you’re excited to share with friends and family!
For more conversation starters and fun activities to enjoy during your holiday gatherings, be sure to check out our other articles, like our popular funny ways to say happy birthday collection that will make any celebration more memorable!