Christmas Music Trivia

25 Christmas Music Trivia Questions

(answers)

1. What Christmas song was a duet between David Bowie and Bing Crosby?
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

2. What gift is given on the 5th day in The Twelve Days of Christmas?
Five golden rings

3. What Christmas song did Alvin and the Chipmunks first release in 1958?
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)

4. In what year did Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You first reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
2019 (It was released in 1994)

5. What singer’s Christmas album holds the record for the highest-selling Christmas album of all time?
Elvis Presley’s Elvis’ Christmas Album

6. What song was introduced in the 1942 movie Holiday Inn and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song?
White Christmas

7. Which holiday song was first sung by Gene Autry and told of a magical character in the snow?
Frosty the Snowman

8. What inspired the 1962 song, Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Cuban Missile Crisis

9. Which Christmas song features the line, “Say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet”?
A Holly Jolly Christmas

10. What Christmas song did Judy Garland sing in Meet Me in St. Louis?
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

11. What Christmas song’s lyrics mention “figgy pudding”?
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

12. What gift is given on the seventh day in The Twelve Days of Christmas?
Seven swans a-swimming.

13. Which classic Christmas song was originally titled One Horse Open Sleigh?
Jingle Bells

14. This song, recorded by a 13-year-old girl, is arguably the third biggest Christmas song ever. Name that tune.
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

15. Who sang Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree?
Brenda Lee, in 1958

16. What song does Lucy request Schroeder to play in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
Jingle Bells

17. What song is sung by the characters in Whoville in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
Welcome Christmas (Fahoo Fores)

18. Which Christmas song was sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1943, honoring troops overseas?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas

19. Which Christmas song’s lyrics were inspired by a true story of a Christmas truce during World War I?
Snoopy’s Christmas by The Royal Guardsmen.

20. How many gifts are mentioned in the 12 days of Christmas?
364 (If each item is counted once, it is 78)

(A bunch of math:
Day 1: 1 gift
Day 2: 2 + 1 = 3 gifts
Day 3: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 gifts
Day 4: 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 10 gifts
Day 5: 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 15 gifts
Day 6: 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 21 gifts
Day 7: 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 28 gifts
Day 8: 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 36 gifts
Day 9: 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 45 gifts
Day 10: 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 55 gifts
Day 11: 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 66 gifts
Day 12: 12 + 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 78 gifts
1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 + 21 + 28 + 36 + 45 + 55 + 66 + 78 = 364 gifts.

For one of each, it is a rithmetic series calculation:
Sum=n(n+1)2
Sum=2n(n+1)​
Where:
n=12n=12 (the number of days).
Substituting:
Sum=12(12+1)2=12×132=78
Sum=212(12+1)​=212×13​=78

So, if each gift is counted only once as it is introduced, the total is 78 unique gifts.

21. Which Christmas song was performed by Darlene Love on The Late Show with David Letterman every year from 1986 to 2014?
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

22. What Christmas song was originally sung in Latin as Adeste Fideles?
O Come, All Ye Faithful

23. Which Christmas song’s melody was adapted from an 18th-century tune called Greensleeves?
What Child Is This

24. Who sings the modern holiday favorite, Underneath the Tree?
Kelly Clarkson

25.  What song was originally banned in some places for being “too secular” and “inappropriate”?
Santa Baby (This song faced criticism early on for its suggestive content.)

Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

1. Who originally Sang Santa Baby?
Eartha Kitt

2.  Which holiday tune was the first Christmas song broadcast from space, in 1965?
Jingle Bells (Astronauts on Gemini 6 played Jingle Bells in space.)

3. In which country did Carol of the Bells originate?
Ukraine (Adapted from the Ukrainian folk chant Shchedryk)

4. What carol did Ebenezer Scrooge refuse to hear at his door in A Christmas Carol?
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

5. Who wrote and originally performed Blue Christmas?
Doye O’Dell first recorded it, but Elvis Presley’s version popularized it.

The Answers:

25 Christmas Music Trivia  Answers

1. What song was a duet between David Bowie and Bing Crosby?
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

2. What gift is given on the 5th day in The Twelve Days of Christmas?
Five golden rings

3. What Christmas song did Alvin and the Chipmunks first release in 1958?
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)

4. In what year did Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You first reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
2019 (It was released in 1994)

5. What singer’s Christmas album holds the record for the highest-selling Christmas album of all time?
Elvis Presley’s Elvis’ Christmas Album

6. What song was introduced in the 1942 movie Holiday Inn and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song?
White Christmas

7. Which holiday song was first sung by Gene Autry and told of a magical character in the snow?
Frosty the Snowman

8. What inspired the 1962 song, Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Cuban Missile Crisis

9. Which Christmas song features the line, “Say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet”?
A Holly Jolly Christmas

10. What Christmas song did Judy Garland sing in Meet Me in St. Louis?
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

11. What Christmas song’s lyrics mention “figgy pudding”?
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

12. What gift is given on the seventh day in The Twelve Days of Christmas?
Seven swans a-swimming.

13. Which classic Christmas song was originally titled One Horse Open Sleigh?
Jingle Bells

14. This song, recorded by a 13-year-old girl, is arguably the third biggest Christmas song ever. Name that tune.
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

15. Who sang Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree?
Brenda Lee, in 1958

16. What song does Lucy request Schroeder to play in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
Jingle Bells

17. What song is sung by the characters in Whoville in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?
Welcome Christmas (Fahoo Fores)

18. Which Christmas song was sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1943, honoring troops overseas?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas

19. Which Christmas song’s lyrics were inspired by a true story of a Christmas truce during World War I?
Snoopy’s Christmas by The Royal Guardsmen.

20. How many gifts are mentioned in the 12 days of Christmas?
364 (If each item is counted once, it is 78)

(A bunch of math:
Day 1: 1 gift
Day 2: 2 + 1 = 3 gifts
Day 3: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 gifts
Day 4: 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 10 gifts
Day 5: 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 15 gifts
Day 6: 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 21 gifts
Day 7: 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 28 gifts
Day 8: 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 36 gifts
Day 9: 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 45 gifts
Day 10: 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 55 gifts
Day 11: 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 66 gifts
Day 12: 12 + 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 78 gifts
1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 + 21 + 28 + 36 + 45 + 55 + 66 + 78 = 364 gifts.

For one of each, it is a rithmetic series calculation:
Sum=n(n+1)2
Sum=2n(n+1)​
Where:
n=12n=12 (the number of days).
Substituting:
Sum=12(12+1)2=12×132=78
Sum=212(12+1)​=212×13​=78

So, if each gift is counted only once as it is introduced, the total is 78 unique gifts.

21. Which Christmas song was performed by Darlene Love on The Late Show with David Letterman every year from 1986 to 2014?
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

22. What Christmas song was originally sung in Latin as Adeste Fideles?
O Come, All Ye Faithful

23. Which Christmas song’s melody was adapted from an 18th-century tune called Greensleeves?
What Child Is This

24. Who sings the modern holiday favorite, Underneath the Tree?
Kelly Clarkson

25.  What song was originally banned in some places for being “too secular” and “inappropriate”?
Santa Baby (This song faced criticism early on for its suggestive content.)

Trivia Team Bonus Answers:

1. Who originally Sang Santa Baby?
Eartha Kitt

2.  Which holiday tune was the first Christmas song broadcast from space, in 1965?
Jingle Bells (Astronauts on Gemini 6 played Jingle Bells in space.)

3. In which country did Carol of the Bells originate?
Ukraine (Adapted from the Ukrainian folk chant Shchedryk)

4. What carol did Ebenezer Scrooge refuse to hear at his door in A Christmas Carol?
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

5. Who wrote and originally performed Blue Christmas?
Doye O’Dell first recorded it, but Elvis Presley’s version popularized it.