December brings holiday traditions, winter weather in many places, and memorable dates in history and popular culture. Try these 53 trivia questions with friends, family, or a quiz team.
For another month, browse our January–December trivia guide.
Pick a round or play straight through. Each question has its answer directly beneath it.
Christmas traditions and winter
Q: What is the best-selling Christmas song of all time?
A: "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby
Q: Which eight reindeer are traditionally named as pulling Santa’s sleigh, excluding Rudolph?
A: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, and Blitzen. Source
Q: In which country is the tradition of "KFC Christmas" celebrated?
A: Japan
Q: What color are the berries of the mistletoe plant?
A: White
Q: What is the name of the Grinch's dog in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"?
A: Max
Q: What beverage is often associated with holiday cheer, made from rum, milk, sugar, and eggs?
A: Eggnog
Q: Which fruit is typically placed in stockings during Christmas in the U.S.?
A: Oranges
Q: Which country celebrates "Las Posadas" during December?
A: Mexico
Q: Which Jewish Festival of Lights begins on the 25th of Kislev and often falls in December?
A: Hanukkah. Source
Q: In which country do people celebrate Saint Lucia's Day on December 13th?
A: Sweden
Q: Where does the tradition of the Christmas market originate from?
A: Germany
Q: Which U.S. city is famous for its annual "Christmas in the Park" event?
A: San Jose, California
Q: Which tree is commonly associated with Christmas, often used as a decoration?
A: Evergreen pine tree
Q: What’s the name of the red-nosed reindeer in the famous Christmas song?
A: Rudolph
Q: Which Christmas character is known for saying, "Bah, humbug!"?
A: Ebenezer Scrooge
Q: In what year did Christmas become an official holiday in the United States?
A: 1870
Q: What is the shortest day of the year, occurring around December 21st?
A: Winter Solstice
Q: Which city is known for the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, displayed in December?
A: New York City
Q: Which African country celebrates Christmas with a warm climate and beach celebrations?
A: South Africa
Q: Which holiday food is made from molasses and is often shaped into little men?
A: Gingerbread
Q: What is the name of the sweet pastry filled with marzipan, popular in many European countries during the holiday season?
A: Stollen
Q: What is the name of the star that is said to have led the Wise Men to Bethlehem?
A: The Star of Bethlehem
December history and sports
Q: What year did the Pearl Harbor attack take place?
A: 1941
Q: By A.D. 336, Christians in which city observed the Feast of the Nativity on December 25?
A: Rome. Source
Q: Which singer born on December 12, 1915, was nicknamed “Ol’ Blue Eyes”?
A: Frank Sinatra. Source
Q: What team won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France?
A: United States
Q: In which year did Michael Jordan announce his first retirement from basketball?
A: 1993
Q: Which protest took place in Boston on December 16, 1773?
A: The Boston Tea Party. Source
Q: In what year did the NFL stage its first one-game playoff, between the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans?
A: 1932. Source
Q: Who was the first athlete to win the prestigious "Sports Illustrated" Sportsman of the Year in December 1954?
A: Roger Bannister
Holiday music and pop stars
Q: Which song is traditionally sung on New Year's Eve to ring in the new year?
A: "Auld Lang Syne"
Q: Which famous singer released the holiday album "Merry Christmas" in 1994?
A: Mariah Carey
Q: Which famous pop singer was born on December 13, 1989?
A: Taylor Swift
Q: Which Christmas song was first performed by Judy Garland in 1944?
A: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Q: Who is the lead singer of the band Wham, who made the song "Last Christmas"?
A: George Michael
Q: What is the title of the classic Christmas song sung by Nat King Cole in 1961?
A: "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
Q: Which Christmas song was originally written in 1847 by Adolphe Adam?
A: "O Holy Night"
Movies, television, and books
Q: In the movie "Home Alone," where are the McCallisters going when they leave Kevin behind?
A: Paris
Q: Which popular Christmas movie features a character named Buddy the Elf?
A: Elf
Q: Who played Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol"?
A: Alastair Sim
Q: Which famous author wrote "A Christmas Carol"?
A: Charles Dickens
Q: What book by Dr. Seuss is about a green creature who attempts to ruin Christmas?
A: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Q: What is the common nickname of the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas?
A: The Night Before Christmas. Source
Q: Which 2008 science-fiction film starring Keanu Reeves opened on December 12?
A: The Day the Earth Stood Still. Source
Q: Which actor born on December 18, 1963, starred in Fight Club and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?
A: Brad Pitt. Source
Q: Which blockbuster movie, released in December 2009, was directed by James Cameron?
A: Avatar
Q: Which popular "Star Wars" movie debuted on December 18, 2015?
A: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Q: In the movie "A Christmas Story," what does Ralphie want for Christmas?
A: A Red Ryder BB Gun
Q: Which popular "Lord of the Rings" movie was released on December 17, 2003?
A: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Q: Which 1991 film starring Robin Williams as an adult Peter Pan opened on December 11?
A: Hook. Source
Q: Which Peanuts television special first aired on December 9, 1965?
A: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Source
Q: Who wrote the famous holiday book, "The Polar Express"?
A: Chris Van Allsburg
Q: What is the title of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s 1816 story that inspired The Nutcracker ballet?
A: Nutcracker and Mouse King. Source
Conclusion
You have finished all 53 December trivia questions. Revisit a round or use the questions to host your next holiday quiz.
For more seasonal rounds, browse the holiday trivia guide.
Ellie Simons creates and edits Random Trivia. She researches trivia using primary and authoritative sources whenever possible and is currently reviewing the site's older trivia library for accuracy, clarity, and playability. Read more on the About page.
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