Christmas History Trivia Questions
(answers)
1. In which century did the holiday known as Christmas start being widely celebrated?
2. What country introduced eggnog to America?
3. Who wrote the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas?
4. What is the name of the goat-like figure that accompanies Santa in Scandinavian folklore?
5. What medieval Christmas tradition involved people singing from house to house?
6. What was Christmas originally called in England during the Middle Ages?
7. What does the shape of a candy cane represent?
8. What was the first state in the U.S. to make Christmas an official holiday?
9. Which English ruler officially banned Christmas in 1647?
10. Which British author wrote A Christmas Carol, which helped popularize Christmas celebrations?
11. What Roman holiday was celebrated December 17- 25 before Christmas?
12. What was the name of the pre-Christian winter festival celebrated by Scandinavians that influenced Christmas traditions?
13. Why did Puritans in New England oppose Christmas celebrations?
14. What year was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the United States?
15. What plant, often associated with Christmas, was considered sacred by the ancient Druids?
16. What Christmas song was the first to be broadcast from space?
17. What popular Christmas gift became a huge craze in 1996?
18. What company introduced gift-wrapping Christmas paper?
19. What toy company created “Star Wars” figures that became iconic Christmas gifts in the 1970s?
20. What Roman holiday influenced many Christmas traditions?
21. What Christmas tree tradition began in Germany in the 16th century?
22. What does the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree symbolize?
23. What year was A Christmas Carol published?
24. What does the term “Xmas” stand for?
25. In which country did the tradition of exchanging Christmas cards begin?
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Can you name the year or person credited with sending the first card?
2. What council in 325 AD helped set the early Christian calendar?
3. What was the first artificial Christmas tree made from?
4. In Germany, what is the name of the sinister companion of St. Nicholas?
5. What country is credited with popularizing the Christmas advent calendar?
The Answers:
Christmas History Trivia Answers
1. In which century did the holiday known as Christmas start being widely celebrated?
4th century
2. What country introduced eggnog to America?
England
3. Who wrote the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas?
Clement Clarke Moore
4. What is the name of the goat-like figure that accompanies Santa in Scandinavian folklore?
The Yule Goat.
5. What medieval Christmas tradition involved people singing from house to house?
Wassailing
6. What was Christmas originally called in England during the Middle Ages?
Christ’s Mass
7. What does the shape of a candy cane represent?
The shepherd’s staff (Often said to represent both the staff and the letter “J” for Jesus.)
8. What was the first state in the U.S. to make Christmas an official holiday?
Alabama
9. Which English ruler officially banned Christmas in 1647?
Oliver Cromwell
10. Which British author wrote A Christmas Carol, which helped popularize Christmas celebrations?
Charles Dickens
11. What Roman holiday was celebrated December 17- 25 before Christmas?
Saturnalia
12. What was the name of the pre-Christian winter festival celebrated by Scandinavians that influenced Christmas traditions?
Yule
13. Why did Puritans in New England oppose Christmas celebrations?
They believed it was too closely associated with pagan rituals and lacked biblical support.
14. What year was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the United States?
1870
15. What plant, often associated with Christmas, was considered sacred by the ancient Druids?
Mistletoe
16. What Christmas song was the first to be broadcast from space?
Jingle Bells (Played by astronauts aboard Gemini 6 in 1965.)
17. What popular Christmas gift became a huge craze in 1996?
Tickle Me Elmo.
18. What company introduced gift-wrapping Christmas paper?
Hallmark in 1917
19. What toy company created “Star Wars” figures that became iconic Christmas gifts in the 1970s?
Kenner
20. What Roman holiday influenced many Christmas traditions?
Saturnalia
21. What Christmas tree tradition began in Germany in the 16th century?
Decorating Christmas trees
22. What does the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree symbolize?
A beacon of hope, unity, and resilience during the holidays.
23. What year was A Christmas Carol published?
1843
24. What does the term “Xmas” stand for?
“X” is derived from the Greek letter Chi, the first letter in “Christ.”
25. In which country did the tradition of exchanging Christmas cards begin?
England
Trivia Team Bonus Answers:
1. Can you name the year or person credited with sending the first card?
The first Christmas card was designed in England by John Callcott Horsley in 1843 for Sir Henry Cole, a British civil servant.
2. What council in 325 AD helped set the early Christian calendar?
The Council of Nicaea.
3. What was the first artificial Christmas tree made from?
Goose feathers dyed green
4. In Germany, what is the name of the sinister companion of St. Nicholas?
Krampus
5. What country is credited with popularizing the Christmas advent calendar?
Germany
