Traditional Christmas Quiz

Traditional Christmas Trivia Questions

(answers)

1. What Christmas carol is based on the angelic announcement to the shepherds?

2. What animal is often depicted in nativity scenes but not mentioned in the Bible?

3. What is the most sung Christmas hymn?

4. In which two Gospels is the birth of Jesus described?
You get one point for each.

5. What prophet foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem?

6. Why did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?

7. What is the meaning of Advent?

8.  What was King Herod’s reaction to the news of Jesus’s birth?

9. What Christian saint inspired the modern image of Santa Claus?

10.  What does the name Bethlehem mean?

11. Who was the mother of Jesus?

12. What does the name “Jesus” mean in Hebrew?

13. What angel appeared to Mary to announce she would give birth to Jesus?

14. What does the color purple signify during Advent?

15. What does “Christ” mean?

16. What gifts did the Magi bring to Jesus?
You get one point for each correct answer.

17. What does the gift of gold symbolize?

18. What does the gift of frankincense symbolize?

19. What does the gift of myrrh symbolize?

20. What were the shepherds doing when the angels appeared to them?

21. What is the symbolism of the star on top of a Christmas tree?

22. Where was Jesus laid after his birth?

23. What is a manger?

24. What does the Advent wreath symbolize?

25. What does the pink Advent candle represent?

26.  What Old Testament figure is often compared to Jesus as a shepherd?

27.  How many Magi are mentioned in the Bible?

28.  Traditionally, who were the three wise men?
You get one point for each, which you can name.

29.  What New Testament book contains a genealogy tracing Jesus to King David?

30.  What day marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas?

31. What is the significance of the Feast of the Epiphany?

32.  Who recognized Jesus as the Messiah when he was presented at the temple?

33.  Who declared December 25 as the date to celebrate Jesus’s birth?

34.  Who wrote the Gospel, which contains the most detailed account of Jesus’s birth?

35.  What does the red ribbon on a Christingle represent?

36.  What is the term for Mary’s visit to Elizabeth while both were pregnant?

37.  What prayer contains Mary’s response to Elizabeth during the Visitation?

38.  Who baptized Jesus later in life?

39.  What does the dove symbolize in Christian Christmas imagery?

40.  What is the purpose of the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve?

41. In what region was Bethlehem located?

42.  What Old Testament city is Bethlehem associated with?

43.  What Old Testament prophet foretold the virgin birth of Jesus?

44.  What is the Christmas season called in the liturgical calendar?

45.  How many candles are in a traditional Advent wreath?

46.  What do the colors red and green traditionally symbolize at Christmas?

47.  When do Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas instead of December 25?

48.  What does the phrase “Word became flesh” refer to?

49.  What fruit is commonly associated with Christingles?

50.  What does “Emmanuel” mean?

Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

1. What year was December 25 celebrated as Christmas?

2. What year did Pope Julius I officially fix December 25 as Christmas Day?

3. What does the term “Nativity” mean?

4. What council solidified the belief in Jesus as fully human and fully divine?

5.  What is the key verse in Isaiah predicting Jesus’s birth?

6.  What angel appeared to Joseph in a dream?

7.  Who was the Roman governor at the time of Jesus’s birth?

8.  What is the name of the canticle Simeon sings upon seeing Jesus?

9.  What does the word “Messiah” mean?

10.  What song is known as the oldest surviving Christmas carol?

The Answers:

Traditional Christmas Trivia Answers

1. What Christmas carol is based on the angelic announcement to the shepherds?
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. It reflects the announcement in Luke 2:10–14.

2. What animal is often depicted in nativity scenes but not mentioned in the Bible?
Donkeys. The Bible does not explicitly mention donkeys at Jesus’s birth.

3. What is the most sung Christmas hymn?
Silent Night  (Stille Nacht), composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber with lyrics by Joseph Mohr.

4. In which two Gospels is the birth of Jesus described?
You get one point for each.
Matthew and Luke. The nativity story is in Matthew 1:18–2:12 and Luke 2:1–20.

5. What prophet foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem?
Micah (Micah 5:2). Micah 5:2 predicts the Messiah’s birthplace as Bethlehem.

6. Why did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
To be counted in a census ordered by Caesar Augustus. This is noted in Luke 2:1–4.

7. What is the meaning of Advent?
“Coming” or “arrival.” It derives from the Latin “adventus”.

8.  What was King Herod’s reaction to the news of Jesus’s birth?
He ordered the Massacre of the Innocents. Matthew 2:16 describes Herod’s response.

9. What Christian saint inspired the modern image of Santa Claus?
Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century bishop known for his generosity.

10.  What does the name Bethlehem mean?
“House of Bread.” In Hebrew, Beit Lechem translates to “House of Bread.”

11. Who was the mother of Jesus?
Mary. This is detailed in Luke 1:27–31.

12. What does the name “Jesus” mean in Hebrew?
“The Lord saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” “Jesus” derives from the Hebrew name Yeshua.

13. What angel appeared to Mary to announce she would give birth to Jesus?
Gabriel. Luke 1:26–27 names the angel as Gabriel.

14. What does the color purple signify during Advent?
Penitence and preparation. Purple symbolizes both penitence (as in Lent) and the royalty of Christ.

15. What does “Christ” mean?
“The Anointed One,” the Greek translation of “Messiah.” “Christos” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Messiah.”

16. What gifts did the Magi bring to Jesus?
You get one point for each correct answer.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This is detailed in Matthew 2:11.

17. What does the gift of gold symbolize?
Jesus’s kingship.

18. What does the gift of frankincense symbolize?
Jesus’s divinity and role as a priest. Frankincense was used in religious rituals.

19. What does the gift of myrrh symbolize?
Jesus’s suffering and death. Myrrh was used in embalming, foreshadowing Jesus’s death.

20. What were the shepherds doing when the angels appeared to them?
Watching their flocks by night. This is described in Luke 2:8.

21. What is the symbolism of the star on top of a Christmas tree?
The Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi. The star symbolizes the guiding light to Christ.

22. Where was Jesus laid after his birth?
In a manger. This is recorded in Luke 2:7.

23. What is a manger?
A feeding trough for animals. Historically, a manger was used to feed livestock.

24. What does the Advent wreath symbolize?
The eternal life brought by Jesus. The circular shape of the wreath symbolizes eternity.

25. What does the pink Advent candle represent?
Joy. The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, a day of joy.

26.  What Old Testament figure is often compared to Jesus as a shepherd?
King David. David, a shepherd before becoming king, is a Messianic figure in scripture.

27.  How many Magi are mentioned in the Bible?
The exact number is not specified. Matthew 2:1 mentions “wise men,” but their number is not given.

28.  Traditionally, who were the three wise men?
You get one point for each, which you can name.
Caspar (or Gaspar), Melchior, and Balthazar.

29.  What New Testament book contains a genealogy tracing Jesus to King David?
Matthew. Matthew 1:1–17 traces Jesus’s lineage through David.

30.  What day marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas?
Epiphany, January 6. The twelve days lead to Epiphany.

31. What is the significance of the Feast of the Epiphany?
It celebrates the visit of the Magi and the revelation of Jesus to the Gentiles.

32.  Who recognized Jesus as the Messiah when he was presented at the temple?
Simeon and Anna. This is described in Luke 2:25–38.

33.  Who declared December 25 as the date to celebrate Jesus’s birth?
Emperor Constantine, but Pope Julius I is often credited with formalizing it.

34.  Who wrote the Gospel, which contains the most detailed account of Jesus’s birth?
Luke the Evangelist. Luke was Paul’s physician and companion.

35.  What does the red ribbon on a Christingle represent?
The blood of Christ. The ribbon represents Christ’s sacrifice.

36.  What is the term for Mary’s visit to Elizabeth while both were pregnant?
The Visitation. This is described in Luke 1:39–56.

37.  What prayer contains Mary’s response to Elizabeth during the Visitation?
The Magnificat. The Magnificat is found in Luke 1:46–55.

38.  Who baptized Jesus later in life?
John the Baptist. Matthew 3:13–17 records John baptizing Jesus.

39.  What does the dove symbolize in Christian Christmas imagery?
Peace and the Holy Spirit. 

40.  What is the purpose of the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve?
To celebrate the birth of Christ as the new day begins. Midnight Mass commemorates the moment of Christ’s birth.

41. In what region was Bethlehem located?
Judea

42.  What Old Testament city is Bethlehem associated with?
The city of King David. Bethlehem is called “The City of David” in Luke 2:4.

43.  What Old Testament prophet foretold the virgin birth of Jesus?
Isaiah. This prophecy is found in Isaiah 7:14.

44.  What is the Christmas season called in the liturgical calendar?
Christmastide. Christmastide begins on December 25 and ends on Epiphany (January 6).

45.  How many candles are in a traditional Advent wreath?
Four, with an optional fifth for Christmas Day. Four candles (three purple and one pink) are traditional, with a white candle often added for Christmastide.

46.  What do the colors red and green traditionally symbolize at Christmas?
Red represents Jesus’s sacrifice, and green represents eternal life.

47.  When do Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas instead of December 25?
January 7, due to the Julian calendar.

48.  What does the phrase “Word became flesh” refer to?
The Incarnation, as described in John 1:14. John 1:14 explains the Incarnation: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

49.  What fruit is commonly associated with Christingles?
An orange.

50.  What does “Emmanuel” mean?
“God with us.” This comes from Isaiah 7:14 and is referenced in Matthew 1:23.

Trivia Team Bonus Answers:

1. What year was December 25 celebrated as Christmas?
336 AD. This is the earliest recorded celebration of Christmas.

2. What year did Pope Julius I officially fix December 25 as Christmas Day?
Around 350 AD. While December 25 was celebrated as early as 336 AD, Pope Julius I is traditionally credited with formalizing it in the mid-4th century.

3. What does the term “Nativity” mean?
Birth. “Nativity” derives from the Latin word nativitas, meaning “birth.”

4. What council solidified the belief in Jesus as fully human and fully divine?
The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. The Chalcedonian Creed affirmed this belief.

5.  What is the key verse in Isaiah predicting Jesus’s birth?
Isaiah 7:14. It states, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

6.  What angel appeared to Joseph in a dream?
The Bible does not specify an angel’s name for Joseph. While Gabriel is named in his appearances to Mary and Zechariah, the angel appearing to Joseph is unnamed (Matthew 1:20).

7.  Who was the Roman governor at the time of Jesus’s birth?
Quirinius. Luke 2:2 mentions Quirinius’s census.

8.  What is the name of the canticle Simeon sings upon seeing Jesus?
The Nunc Dimittis. This is found in Luke 2:29–32.

9.  What does the word “Messiah” mean?
“Anointed One.” The Hebrew word Mashiach translates to “anointed one.”

10.  What song is known as the oldest surviving Christmas carol?
Jesus Refulsit Omnium (Jesus, Light of All Nations). Jesus Refulsit Omnium is attributed to St. Hilary of Poitiers in the 4th century,