45 Christmas Song Quiz - Questions & Answers Game

Its another time of the year where I share with you some Christmas quizzes. This posts will focus on Christmas song quiz questions and answers game. Look at the "how to play" section to understand how to use this quiz.

See also: Christmas Decorations Questions with Answers

How to Play

Divide players into teams or play individually. Read each question and award 1 point for a correct answer. For variety, offer bonus points for naming the year or original performer on some rounds.

45 Christmas Song Trivia

Round 1: Easy Questions (Perfect for Families & Kids)

• 1. Which Christmas song begins with the lyrics "Dashing through the snow"?
  Answer: Jingle Bells
• 2. "Silent Night" was originally written in which language?
  Answer: German
• 3. In the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," what saved Rudolph from being laughed at?
  Answer: His bright red nose
• 4. Which song asks "Do you hear what I hear?"
  Answer: Do You Hear What I Hear?
• 5. Who sings "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (popular modern version)?
  Answer: Mariah Carey
• 6. Which carol contains the line "Sleep in heavenly peace"?
  Answer: Away in a Manger
• 7. Which song features the lyric "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"?
  Answer: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
• 8. In "Frosty the Snowman," what brought Frosty to life?
  Answer: A magic hat
• 9. What Christmas song mentions a partridge in a pear tree?
  Answer: The Twelve Days of Christmas
• 10. Which song starts "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"?
  Answer: The Christmas Song (commonly known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire")

Round 2: Medium Questions (Good for Mixed Groups)

• 11. Which Christmas song was written during a heatwave in the summer of 1945 by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells?
  Answer: The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire")
• 12. In "The Twelve Days of Christmas," how many total gifts are given by the end of the song?
  Answer: 364
• 13. Who originally recorded "White Christmas," making it the best-selling single of all time?
  Answer: Bing Crosby
• 14. Which song includes the line "They looked up and saw a star"?
  Answer: We Three Kings (or We Three Kings of Orient Are)
• 15. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" was written as a plea for peace during what major historical period?
  Answer: The Cuban Missile Crisis / Cold War era (written 1962 as a plea for peace)
• 16. In "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," who sees the kiss?
  Answer: A child / the narrator
• 17. Which holiday song popularized the lyric "fa la la la la, la la la la"?
  Answer: Deck the Halls
• 18. Who wrote "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"?
  Answer: J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie
• 19. Which traditional carol opens with "O come, all ye faithful"?
  Answer: O Come, All Ye Faithful
• 20. In the song "Little Drummer Boy," what do the kings give that the drummer cannot?
  Answer: Gold, frankincense, and myrrh (the drummer gives his drum)

Round 3: Hard Questions (For Enthusiasts & Trivia Buffs)

• 21. Which Christmas song was the first ever song played in space?
  Answer: Jingle Bells (astronauts on Gemini 6 played a rendition in 1965)
• 22. Who composed the music for "Carol of the Bells"?
  Answer: Mykola Leontovych (original Ukrainian melody by Leontovych; English lyrics adapted later)
• 23. Which song's melody comes from a Ukrainian folk chant called "Shchedryk"?
  Answer: Carol of the Bells
• 24. Which 1963 Christmas song by a British group became one of the UK's best-selling singles and features the lyric "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" in the alternative version?
  Answer: Happy Xmas (War Is Over), actually by John Lennon & Yoko Ono; the lyric reference is to the "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" duet by David Bowie and Bing Crosby in 1977 (two separate famous songs).
• 25. The song "Mary, Did You Know?" was written by Mark Lowry and who composed the music?
  Answer: Buddy Greene (music by Buddy Greene)
• 26. Which carol contains the verse beginning "Born is the King of Israel"?
  Answer: Good Christian Men, Rejoice (also known as In Dulci Jubilo; similar lines appear in several traditional carols; alternate acceptable answer: "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" depending on version)
• 27. Which Christmas song famously begins with a spoken monologue about "the most wonderful time of the year"?
  Answer: That exact wording is the title "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (song by Andy Williams); the spoken monologue is more associated with other holiday specials. The answer: "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."
• 28. Who originally wrote the song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"?
  Answer: John Lennon and Yoko Ono (credited as Lennon-Ono)
• 29. In the carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," who is said to be "born in Bethlehem"?
  Answer: The King of glory / Christ the Lord
• 30. Which famous Christmas single was banned by the BBC in 1963 for promoting a political propaganda message?
  Answer: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) was controversial due to its political message, though outright BBC ban details vary; another famous banned song was "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" (not banned). Accept as: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."

Note: Questions 24, 26, 27, 30 touch on nuanced history and textual variants; for competitive play you can mark them optional or allow partial credit.

Round 4: Finish the Lyric (Sing or Read the Next Line)

• 31. "Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is ____."
  Answer: bright
• 32. "Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn ____."
  Answer: King
• 33. "On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: a ____ in a pear tree."
  Answer: partridge
• 34. "I'll have a blue Christmas without you, I'll be so blue just thinking ____."
  Answer: of you
• 35. "Feliz Navidad, próspero año y ____."
  Answer: feliz
• 36. "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the ____."
  Answer: way
• 37. "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch, you really are a ____."
  Answer: heel
• 38. "Rockin' around the Christmas tree, at the Christmas party ____."
  Answer: hop
• 39. "Frosty the Snowman was a jolly happy soul, with a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of ____."
  Answer: coal
• 40. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you ____."
  Answer: go

Round 5: Audio/Finish the Song (Optional, Play Short Clip)

Play a 5 to 10 second audio clip and ask players to name the song and artist. Sample choices:

• "Last Christmas" (Wham!)
• "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Mariah Carey)
• "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band Aid)

Bonus Round: Christmas Song Origins & Facts

• 41. Which Christmas song was originally a poem written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822?
  Answer: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (original poem title: A Visit from St. Nicholas), later adapted into songs and readings
• 42. What popular Christmas carol was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in 1857?
  Answer: Jingle Bells (originally titled "One Horse Open Sleigh")
• 43. Which song was written as a protest/peace song against the Vietnam War but later became a Christmas favorite?
  Answer: Happy Xmas (War Is Over), written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1969, for peace campaigns)
• 44. Which Christmas song's composer was inspired after seeing a Christmas tree with a candle at a service in 1818?
  Answer: Silent Night (composed by Franz Xaver Gruber with lyrics by Joseph Mohr in 1818)
• 45. What charity single recorded in 1984 raised money for famine relief in Ethiopia and included many top British and Irish pop stars?
  Answer: Do They Know It's Christmas? (Band Aid)

Tips for Hosting Your Christmas Song Trivia Night

• Keep the atmosphere fun and festive with holiday decorations
• Have small prizes ready for the winning team
• Mix difficulty levels to keep all participants engaged

Enjoy your Christmas song trivia game!