Christmas Song Trivia: 40 Questions and Answers
Test what you know about carols and holiday hits with 40 Christmas song trivia questions and answers, from Silent Night to Mariah Carey, plus easy game rules.
Players2+Ages10+Time30 minutes
What You Need
These 40 Christmas song trivia questions cover old carols, pop hits and the stories behind them. Use them for a family night, a party or a classroom quiz.
How to Play Christmas Trivia
- Choose a host to read the questions and keep score.
- Make teams and give each one paper and a pen.
- Read each question once, then repeat it. Teams have 20 seconds to write an answer.
- Give 1 point for every right answer.
- Add up the points after question 40. The highest score wins. Break a tie with a bonus question.
Carols and Their History
- In what year was “Silent Night” first performed? Answer: 1818
- Which country was the church in where “Silent Night” was first sung? Answer: Austria (in the village of Oberndorf)
- Which priest wrote the words to “Silent Night”? Answer: Joseph Mohr
- Who composed the music for “Silent Night”? Answer: Franz Xaver Gruber
- Which hymn writer wrote the words to “Joy to the World”? Answer: Isaac Watts
- Which Philadelphia minister wrote “O Little Town of Bethlehem”? Answer: Phillips Brooks
- Which Methodist leader wrote the words to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”? Answer: Charles Wesley
- What is the Latin title of “O Come, All Ye Faithful”? Answer: “Adeste Fideles”
- The tune of “Deck the Halls” comes from an old song from which country? Answer: Wales
- “Carol of the Bells” is based on a folk chant from which country? Answer: Ukraine
- Which French poem became the carol “O Holy Night”? Answer: “Minuit, chrétiens” by Placide Cappeau
- “Good King Wenceslas” begins on which day after Christmas? Answer: The Feast of Stephen (December 26)
- “The Twelve Days of Christmas” gives how many gifts in total across all 12 verses? Answer: 364
- In “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” what is the gift on the fifth day? Answer: Five gold rings
- What was the original title of “Jingle Bells” when it was published in 1857? Answer: “One Horse Open Sleigh”
- In 1965, “Jingle Bells” became one of the first songs played in space. Which NASA mission did it? Answer: Gemini 6
- Which composer wrote the music for the ballet “The Nutcracker”? Answer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Artists and Hits
- Which singer made “White Christmas” famous? Answer: Bing Crosby
- Who wrote “White Christmas”? Answer: Irving Berlin
- Which singer released “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 1994? Answer: Mariah Carey
- Which band released “Last Christmas” in 1984? Answer: Wham!
- Which singer was just 13 years old when she recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”? Answer: Brenda Lee
- Who recorded the most famous version of “The Christmas Song” (the one about chestnuts)? Answer: Nat King Cole
- Which group of famous singers recorded “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in 1984 to raise money for famine relief? Answer: Band Aid
- Who sang “Jingle Bell Rock” in 1957? Answer: Bobby Helms
- Which singer performed “A Holly Jolly Christmas” in the 1964 TV special about Rudolph? Answer: Burl Ives
- Which singer recorded “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” in 1963? Answer: Darlene Love
- Which rock and roll star recorded “Blue Christmas” in 1957? Answer: Elvis Presley
- Who sang “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in 1963? Answer: Andy Williams
- Which Puerto Rican singer wrote and recorded “Feliz Navidad”? Answer: José Feliciano
- Which Beatle released “Wonderful Christmastime” in 1979? Answer: Paul McCartney
- Which singer purred “Santa Baby” in 1953? Answer: Eartha Kitt
- Which cowboy singer recorded “Frosty the Snowman” in 1950? Answer: Gene Autry
Behind the Songs
- “Let It Snow” was written during a heat wave in which US state? Answer: California (in Hollywood, in 1945)
- Which 1944 movie musical introduced “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”? Answer: “Meet Me in St. Louis” (sung by Judy Garland)
- Which store created Rudolph in 1939 for a coloring booklet? Answer: Montgomery Ward
- What was the first title of “The Little Drummer Boy”? Answer: “Carol of the Drum”
- “Sleigh Ride” was first written as what kind of music? Answer: An orchestral piece without words (by Leroy Anderson, 1948)
- Which jazz pianist wrote the music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” including “Christmas Time Is Here”? Answer: Vince Guaraldi
- “White Christmas” first appeared in which 1942 movie? Answer: “Holiday Inn”
Tips for a Fun Trivia Night
- Play ten seconds of each song after the answer, so the room can sing along.
- Add a “name that tune” bonus round by humming a carol.
- Allow partial credit when a team gets the singer but not the year.
- Keep a printed copy of the answers so the host never has to guess.
- Offer hot chocolate to the winning team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good Christmas song trivia questions?
Good questions ask who sang a song, who wrote a carol, or when a song first came out. Mix famous pop hits with old carols so everyone has a chance.
What is the best-selling Christmas song of all time?
"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby is widely listed as the best-selling single of all time. It was written by Irving Berlin.
How do you play a Christmas music trivia game?
Read a question, give teams 20 seconds to write an answer, then reveal it. For a bonus round, play ten seconds of a song and ask players to name it.
