Play 102 Christmas song trivia questions with answers, from carols and crooners to pop, country, films, and novelty songs. Choose one category for a short round or mix several for a longer game. Each answer follows its question so you can read aloud or play in teams.
For more seasonal rounds, browse our holiday trivia guide.
Carols and traditional songs
- Q: Which carol begins with “Stille Nacht” in its original German? A: Silent Night
- Q: Whose melody from Festgesang was later used for “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”? A: Felix Mendelssohn. Source
- Q: Which 1857 tune imagines “dashing through the snow”? A: Jingle Bells Source
- Q: The French poem “Minuit, chrétiens” became which soaring carol? A: O Holy Night
- Q: “Let nothing you dismay” is a line from which traditional carol? A: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
- Q: Which wassailing song demands “figgy pudding”? A: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Q: “Good King Wenceslas” takes place on what feast day? A: The Feast of Stephen (Dec 26)
- Q: A partridge in a pear tree stars in which cumulative song? A: The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Q: What child-focused carol borrows the melody of “Greensleeves”? A: What Child Is This?
- Q: Which carol adapts the Ukrainian song “Shchedryk”? A: Carol of the Bells. Source
- Q: Which 1962 Christmas song begins with the night wind speaking to a lamb? A: Do You Hear What I Hear?
- Q: Which Latin-origin carol starts “Veni, veni Emmanuel”? A: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- Q: Which carol addresses the birthplace with “how still we see thee lie”? A: O Little Town of Bethlehem
- Q: Which English carol contrasts two plants in its title? A: The Holly and the Ivy
- Q: Christina Rossetti penned which carol depicting “snow on snow”? A: In the Bleak Midwinter
- Q: Which English carol sees “three ships come sailing in”? A: I Saw Three Ships
Crooners and midcentury hits
- Q: In Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” what roasts on an open fire? A: Chestnuts
- Q: Eartha Kitt purrs a wish list in which 1953 classic? A: Santa Baby
- Q: Which song from the 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid evokes busy city sidewalks? A: Silver Bells. Source
- Q: Which Elvis Presley holiday song pleads “won’t be the same dear, if you’re not here”? A: Blue Christmas
- Q: Which 1944 Judy Garland film introduced “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”? A: Meet Me in St. Louis. Source
- Q: Which 1958 novelty hit features speedy chipmunk voices? A: The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) Source
- Q: Rosemary Clooney dueted “Snow” with Bing Crosby in what movie? A: White Christmas
- Q: Which snowy Dean Martin standard never uses the word “Christmas” in its title or lyrics? A: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
- Q: Which crooner invites listeners to “have a cup of cheer” in “A Holly Jolly Christmas”? A: Burl Ives
- Q: In “Mele Kalikimaka,” Bing Crosby teaches which language’s phrase for Merry Christmas? A: Hawaiian
- Q: Who sang “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on the 1963 Phil Spector holiday album? A: Darlene Love. Source
- Q: Who first recorded Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” in 1963? A: Roy Orbison. Source
- Q: Chuck Berry’s 1958 holiday rocker is titled what? A: Run Rudolph Run
- Q: “Little Saint Nick” revved up which surf-rock band’s sleigh in 1963? A: The Beach Boys Source
Rock and pop classics
- Q: Which glam-rock band shouted “So here it is, Merry Christmas!” in 1973? A: Slade (“Merry Christmas Everybody”)
- Q: Which two artists recorded the 1971 single “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”? A: John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
- Q: Which Paul McCartney holiday single was released in 1979? A: Wonderful Christmastime. Source
- Q: Which rock super-group pleaded “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in 1984? A: Band Aid
- Q: Who reached the UK Christmas No. 1 in 1988 with “Mistletoe and Wine”? A: Cliff Richard. Source
- Q: Queen released which soulful holiday single in 1984? A: Thank God It’s Christmas
- Q: Which Run-D.M.C. Christmas song samples Clarence Carter’s “Back Door Santa”? A: Christmas in Hollis.
- Q: Which Pretenders song laments lovers separated “2000 miles” apart at Christmas? A: 2000 Miles
- Q: Wham!’s heartbroken 1984 hit has given love “the very next day” away—title? A: Last Christmas
- Q: Who recorded the 1973 single “Step into Christmas”? A: Elton John. Source
- Q: Which Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers holiday song appeared on A Very Special Christmas 2? A: Christmas All Over Again.
- Q: Which 1973 hit by Wizzard boasts “I wish it could be Christmas every day”? A: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
- Q: What is the title of the Waitresses’ 1981 holiday song? A: Christmas Wrapping.
Modern holiday pop
- Q: Which Mariah Carey single was released on her 1994 album Merry Christmas? A: All I Want for Christmas Is You. Source
- Q: Which Kelly Clarkson holiday song was released on her 2013 album Wrapped in Red? A: Underneath the Tree. Source
- Q: Sia’s 2017 album spawned which sticky-sweet hit about a melting companion? A: Snowman
- Q: Justin Bieber serenades a holiday kiss under which shrub in 2011? A: Mistletoe
- Q: Jonas Brothers’ 2019 track declares “Like it’s Christmas” when what happens? A: When you’re here
- Q: What was the title of Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s 2021 Christmas duet? A: Merry Christmas. Source
- Q: Coldplay’s 2010 bittersweet tune sees regrets on which “Bells” title? A: Christmas Lights
- Q: Which boy band recorded the 1998 single “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays”? A: *NSYNC. Source
- Q: Which pop singer released “Cozy Little Christmas”? A: Katy Perry. Source
- Q: Kelly Clarkson & Brett Eldredge duet on which 2020 big-band number? A: Under the Mistletoe
Songs in films and TV specials
- Q: Which 1942 film introduced “White Christmas”? A: Holiday Inn Source
- Q: Which 1966 animated TV special features the Whos singing “Welcome Christmas”? A: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
- Q: Which 2004 animated film features the song “Believe” and a conductor voiced by Tom Hanks? A: The Polar Express.
- Q: In “Elf,” Buddy duets “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with whom in the shower? A: Jovie (Zooey Deschanel)
- Q: “Somewhere in My Memory” serves as the theme to which 1990 film? A: Home Alone
- Q: Which 1993 stop-motion film features the song “What’s This?” A: The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- Q: Which two songs did Bing Crosby and David Bowie blend in their 1977 TV duet? A: Peace on Earth and The Little Drummer Boy.
- Q: Who sang “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in the original 1966 TV special? A: Thurl Ravenscroft.
- Q: Which Rankin/Bass special features “Put One Foot in Front of the Other”? A: Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.
- Q: Which 1970 musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol includes the song “Thank You Very Much”? A: Scrooge.
- Q: Which song from “The Snowman” begins “We’re walking in the air”? A: Walking in the Air
- Q: In which 2003 film does a schoolgirl perform “All I Want for Christmas Is You”? A: Love Actually.
- Q: Which jazz pianist wrote the music for “Christmas Time Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas? A: Vince Guaraldi. Source
Country Christmas
- Q: Which country singer recorded “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1949? A: Gene Autry.
- Q: Which country songwriter wrote “Pretty Paper”? A: Willie Nelson.
- Q: “Hard Candy Christmas” features in which Dolly Parton film? A: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
- Q: “Christmas Cookies” is a humorous 2002 hit for which Texas legend? A: George Strait
- Q: Which country singer recorded “Where Are You Christmas?” for the 2000 Grinch film? A: Faith Hill.
- Q: Which country singer recorded “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy”? A: Buck Owens.
- Q: Which two singers duet on the holiday song “Glow”? A: Kelly Clarkson and Chris Stapleton.
- Q: “All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan” is by which island-loving star? A: Kenny Chesney
Novelty songs
- Q: “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” was first sung by which duo? A: Elmo & Patsy
- Q: What frosty friend “was a jolly happy soul”? A: Frosty the Snowman
- Q: “Dominick the Donkey” helps Santa climb hills in which country? A: Italy
- Q: “The Twelve Pains of Christmas” lampoons which frustrating seasonal task first? A: Finding a Christmas Tree
- Q: Which jazz trumpeter recorded “Zat You, Santa Claus?” A: Louis Armstrong.
- Q: Which band recorded “The Man with All the Toys”? A: The Beach Boys. Source
- Q: Who recorded the novelty song “Santa Claus Is Watching You”? A: Ray Stevens. Source
- Q: “Green Chri$tma$” satirized holiday commercialism for which comedian? A: Stan Freberg
- Q: “Snoopy’s Christmas” recounts a WWI truce between Snoopy and which pilot? A: The Red Baron
Hymns and sacred music
- Q: What Latin title is also used for “O Come, All Ye Faithful”? A: Adeste Fideles.
- Q: “Angels from the Realms of Glory” invites worshippers to do what? A: Come and worship
- Q: Which French carol translates to “He is born, the divine Christ child”? A: Il est né, le divin Enfant
- Q: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” originated in which language? A: German
- Q: Which carol traditionally opens the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge? A: Once in Royal David’s City. Source
- Q: “Good Christian Men, Rejoice” is also known by which Latin phrase? A: In Dulci Jubilo
- Q: Which singer recorded the hit “Mary’s Boy Child” in the 1950s? A: Harry Belafonte.
- Q: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” was penned by which Methodist founder? A: Charles Wesley
- Q: Which musical tradition gave us “Go Tell It on the Mountain”? A: The African American spiritual tradition.
- Q: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is traditionally sung during which liturgical season? A: Advent
- Q: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” uses the melody of which Beethoven symphony? A: Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy)
- Q: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was adapted from a poem by whom? A: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Q: Which poet wrote “Love Came Down at Christmas”? A: Christina Rossetti.
Songs from around the world
- Q: “Feliz Navidad” mixes English and which other language? A: Spanish
- Q: Band Aid’s 1984 single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” raised money for famine relief in which country? A: Ethiopia.
- Q: “Gaudete” became a 1973 UK hit for which folk-rock group? A: Steeleye Span
- Q: Which German carol repeats “O Tannenbaum”? A: O Christmas Tree
- Q: “Mi Burrito Sabanero” follows a boy traveling with what animal? A: A little donkey
- Q: In which Austrian town was “Silent Night” first performed in 1818? A: Oberndorf. Source
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