That little tree has survived more holiday stress than most of us. These 120 questions cover Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, the school play, the unforgettable music, and the production story behind the 1965 classic.
Charlie Brown, Lucy & the Christmas Blues
Q: Who is the central character of A Charlie Brown Christmas?
A: Charlie Brown, the thoughtful and often discouraged leader of the Peanuts gang.
Q: What troubles Charlie Brown at the beginning of the special?
A: He feels depressed even though Christmas is approaching.
Q: To whom does Charlie Brown first describe his holiday sadness?
A: Linus van Pelt, his closest friend.
Q: What winter activity are the children enjoying during the opening scene?
A: They are skating on a frozen pond.
Q: Which character grabs Linus's blanket and sends him spinning?
A: Snoopy grabs it while skating past him.
Q: What song plays over the opening skating sequence?
A: Christmas Time Is Here.
Q: What does Charlie Brown say he does not understand?
A: He does not understand Christmas or why he feels unhappy during it.
Q: What kind of business does Lucy operate from a booth?
A: A psychiatric help booth that charges five cents.
Q: How much does Lucy charge Charlie Brown for her advice?
A: Five cents.
Q: What diagnosis does Lucy jokingly suggest Charlie Brown might have?
A: Pantophobia, which she describes as the fear of everything.
Q: What suggestion does Lucy make to involve Charlie Brown in Christmas?
A: She recommends that he direct the school Christmas play.
Q: Why does Charlie Brown accept the directing job?
A: He hopes participation will help him find the proper Christmas spirit.
Q: What does Charlie Brown discover at his mailbox?
A: He discovers that nobody has sent him a Christmas card.
Q: Whom does Charlie Brown sarcastically thank for a Christmas card?
A: He thanks Violet after she says she did not send him one.
Q: What does Sally ask Charlie Brown to help her write?
A: A letter to Santa Claus.
Q: What gift does Sally initially request from Santa?
A: She asks for many presents or, alternatively, money in large bills.
Q: How does Charlie Brown react to Sally's cash request?
A: He becomes frustrated by what he sees as greed.
Q: What does Sally say she wants as her fair share?
A: She says she only wants what is coming to her.
Q: What holiday decoration contest interests Snoopy?
A: A neighborhood contest offering money for the best-decorated doghouse.
Q: How does Charlie Brown react to Snoopy's decorating plans?
A: He sees them as another example of Christmas becoming commercial.
Q: What does Snoopy use to decorate his doghouse?
A: He covers it with colorful lights and Christmas decorations.
Q: Who asks Charlie Brown whether he knows how to pick a Christmas tree?
A: Lucy asks him before sending him to find one.
Q: What kind of Christmas tree does Lucy want?
A: A large, shiny aluminum tree.
Q: What color aluminum tree does Lucy specifically request?
A: She asks for a pink aluminum tree.
Q: Who accompanies Charlie Brown to the tree lot?
A: Linus goes with him.
Q: What surrounds the one real tree at the lot?
A: Rows of brightly colored aluminum trees surround it.
Q: Why does Charlie Brown choose the small real tree?
A: He believes it needs him and may represent the true spirit of Christmas.
Q: What happens when Charlie Brown touches the little tree?
A: Many of its needles fall off.
Q: How does Linus initially describe the tree?
A: He calls it a poor little tree and acknowledges that it is not bad at heart.
Q: What warning does Linus give about bringing the tree back?
A: He predicts the others will laugh at Charlie Brown.
The School Play, the Little Tree & Linus’s Speech
Q: Where is the gang preparing its Christmas production?
A: They rehearse in the school auditorium.
Q: Who plays the Christmas Queen in the production?
A: Lucy assigns herself the role.
Q: What role does Lucy give Frieda?
A: Frieda is cast as the innkeeper's wife.
Q: What distinctive feature does Frieda mention repeatedly?
A: Her naturally curly hair.
Q: Who is cast as the innkeeper?
A: Pig-Pen receives the part.
Q: What joke does Pig-Pen make about his dusty appearance?
A: He says he may have the soil of ancient civilizations on him.
Q: Who is cast as a shepherd?
A: Shermy is assigned a shepherd role.
Q: What does Shermy complain about every Christmas?
A: He complains that he is always cast as a shepherd.
Q: What role does Snoopy play during rehearsal?
A: He imitates several animals and performs as needed for the play.
Q: Which animal does Snoopy imitate when Lucy gives him directions?
A: He imitates a sheep, cow, and penguin among other comic impressions.
Q: What happens when Charlie Brown first tries to organize rehearsal?
A: The children ignore him and begin dancing to the music.
Q: Who supplies the piano music for the rehearsal?
A: Schroeder plays the piano.
Q: Which piece does Lucy ask Schroeder to play for the Christmas play?
A: She asks for Jingle Bells.
Q: How does Schroeder first perform Jingle Bells?
A: He plays an elaborate classical-sounding version.
Q: What simpler instrument does Schroeder imitate for Lucy?
A: He plays the melody one note at a time like a child using one finger.
Q: How does Lucy respond to Schroeder's simple Jingle Bells?
A: She still says it is not right.
Q: Which composer does Schroeder admire above all others?
A: Ludwig van Beethoven.
Q: What statue appears on Schroeder's piano during Beethoven's birthday celebration?
A: A bust of Beethoven.
Q: Why does Lucy threaten to slug Schroeder?
A: She becomes angry when he ignores her romantic attention and keeps playing.
Q: What happens when Charlie Brown presents the real tree?
A: The cast laughs at both him and the tree.
Q: What does Lucy call Charlie Brown after seeing his choice?
A: She calls him a blockhead.
Q: What question does Charlie Brown finally shout in frustration?
A: He asks whether anyone knows what Christmas is all about.
Q: Who answers Charlie Brown's question?
A: Linus steps forward to answer him.
Q: From which Gospel does Linus quote?
A: He recites from the Gospel of Luke.
Q: Which biblical event does Linus describe?
A: He describes angels announcing the birth of Jesus to shepherds.
Q: What happens to Linus's blanket during his speech?
A: He briefly drops it while saying the words fear not.
Q: What does Linus say after finishing the passage?
A: He tells Charlie Brown that this is what Christmas is all about.
Q: How does the speech affect Charlie Brown?
A: It reassures him and gives him a clearer sense of Christmas.
Q: Where does Charlie Brown take the little tree afterward?
A: He carries it home to decorate it himself.
Q: What object does Charlie Brown place on the tree?
A: He places a large red ornament from Snoopy's doghouse on it.
Snoopy, the Peanuts Gang & Memorable Details
Q: What happens after Charlie Brown hangs the large ornament?
A: The tree bends nearly to the ground under its weight.
Q: What does Charlie Brown fear he has done to the tree?
A: He worries that he has killed it.
Q: Who follows Charlie Brown and discovers the bent tree?
A: Linus and the rest of the gang follow him.
Q: How does Linus support the little tree?
A: He wraps his blue security blanket around its base.
Q: What do the children add to the tree?
A: They move decorations from Snoopy's doghouse onto its branches.
Q: How does the tree look after the gang finishes decorating?
A: It appears full, balanced, and beautifully decorated.
Q: What do the children say about Charlie Brown's tree?
A: They decide it was not such a bad little tree after all.
Q: What greeting does the gang give Charlie Brown at the end?
A: They call out Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.
Q: What song does everyone sing in the final scene?
A: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
Q: Where is Charlie Brown when the gang begins singing?
A: He has returned to the decorated tree and joins them.
Q: Which character is known for carrying a blue blanket?
A: Linus van Pelt.
Q: How is Lucy related to Linus?
A: Lucy is his older sister.
Q: Which character frequently calls Charlie Brown a blockhead?
A: Lucy van Pelt.
Q: Which character has a cloud of dust around him?
A: Pig-Pen.
Q: Which girl boasts about her naturally curly hair?
A: Frieda.
Q: Which character plays a toy piano?
A: Schroeder.
Q: Which character sleeps on top of a red doghouse?
A: Snoopy.
Q: Who is Charlie Brown's younger sister?
A: Sally Brown.
Q: What does Snoopy do when Schroeder plays lively music?
A: He dances enthusiastically on top of the piano.
Q: How does Lucy react to Snoopy kissing her?
A: She recoils and complains about dog germs.
Q: What does Lucy want from Schroeder besides music?
A: She wants his romantic attention.
Q: What shape is Charlie Brown's head often compared with?
A: It is famously round, a trait other characters tease him about.
Q: What is Charlie Brown wearing during most of the special?
A: His familiar yellow shirt with a black zigzag stripe and a brown coat outdoors.
Q: What color is Linus's security blanket?
A: Blue.
Q: What type of tree symbolizes commercial Christmas in the special?
A: A brightly colored aluminum tree.
Q: What type of tree symbolizes sincerity and care?
A: The small, struggling real tree Charlie Brown selects.
Q: Why is the little tree able to stand straight at the end?
A: Linus braces it and the gang redistributes lighter decorations across it.
Q: What does the decorated doghouse reveal about Snoopy?
A: He is willing to embrace holiday spectacle when a cash prize is involved.
Q: What does the empty mailbox deepen for Charlie Brown?
A: It reinforces his loneliness and fear that others do not value him.
Q: What changes the gang's attitude toward Charlie Brown's choice?
A: They see the tree's potential after Linus shows it care and support.
Music, Production & Hard A Charlie Brown Christmas Trivia
Q: In what year did A Charlie Brown Christmas first air?
A: It first aired in 1965.
Q: On which television network did the special premiere?
A: CBS premiered it.
Q: On what date did the special first air?
A: It premiered on December 9, 1965.
Q: Who created the Peanuts comic strip?
A: Charles M. Schulz.
Q: Who directed A Charlie Brown Christmas?
A: Bill Melendez directed it.
Q: Who produced the special with Bill Melendez?
A: Lee Mendelson produced it.
Q: Who composed the special's famous jazz score?
A: Vince Guaraldi composed the score.
Q: What instrumental piece accompanies the children's dancing?
A: Linus and Lucy.
Q: Who wrote the lyrics to Christmas Time Is Here?
A: Lee Mendelson wrote them shortly before recording.
Q: Who performed the children's vocals on Christmas Time Is Here?
A: Children from the choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in San Rafael, California.
Q: What unusual casting choice gave the special its natural sound?
A: Actual children voiced most of the child characters.
Q: Who voiced Charlie Brown?
A: Peter Robbins voiced Charlie Brown.
Q: Who voiced Lucy van Pelt?
A: Tracy Stratford voiced Lucy.
Q: Who voiced Linus van Pelt?
A: Christopher Shea voiced Linus.
Q: Who voiced Sally Brown?
A: Cathy Steinberg voiced Sally.
Q: Who provided Snoopy's vocal sounds?
A: Director Bill Melendez performed Snoopy's sounds.
Q: Why was Snoopy not given ordinary spoken dialogue?
A: The production preserved his comic-strip role as an expressive dog without human speech.
Q: Which company sponsored the original broadcast?
A: The Coca-Cola Company sponsored it.
Q: What product references appeared in the original ending credits?
A: The original broadcast included Coca-Cola sponsor references later removed from many versions.
Q: How long is the special without commercials?
A: It runs for roughly 25 minutes.
Q: What animation studio produced the special?
A: Bill Melendez Productions created the animation.
Q: What visual style did the animators preserve from the comic strip?
A: They retained simple lines, flat perspectives, and the characters' distinctive proportions.
Q: Why did some network executives worry before the premiere?
A: They thought the pace, jazz music, child voices, and biblical passage were unconventional.
Q: How did viewers respond after the premiere?
A: The special earned strong ratings and became an annual favorite.
Q: Which major television honor did the special win?
A: It won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program.
Q: What award recognizing broadcasting excellence did it also receive?
A: It received a Peabody Award.
Q: Which later Peanuts special shares a title with the song Christmas Time Is Here?
A: The phrase remains closely associated with this special rather than serving as a later special's title.
Q: What recording technique makes the children's dialogue sound imperfect and real?
A: The production kept youthful pacing and line readings instead of replacing them with polished adult voices.
Q: Why is Linus's biblical recitation central to the plot?
A: It directly answers Charlie Brown's question and shifts his understanding of Christmas.
Q: What enduring idea does the little tree represent?
A: Care and community can reveal worth that flashy appearances hide.
How Did You Score?
If you knew the skating pond, the aluminum-tree color, and who voiced Lucy, you have earned first pick at the Christmas play. I still think the tiny tree deserved its own dressing room.
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.
About this quiz
Site editor: Ellie Simons. Read our Trivia Methodology to learn how questions are researched and updated. Page last updated: . Report an error.
Leave a comment