Christmas Trivia for Work — 30 Office-Friendly Questions
Looking for a fun way to liven up your office holiday party? Christmas trivia is one of the easiest team activities to organize, and it works whether your group is five people or fifty. The key is choosing questions that are clean, inclusive, and entertaining for everyone regardless of their background.
We put together 30 workplace-appropriate Christmas trivia questions organized into themed rounds. Print them out, project them on a screen, or read them aloud — however your team likes to play.
How to Host Office Christmas Trivia
Before diving into the questions, here are a few tips to make sure your office trivia session goes smoothly:
- Form teams of 3 to 5 people. Mix departments together to encourage cross-team bonding. Random team assignments keep things fair and help people connect with colleagues they do not usually work with.
- Set a time limit. Give teams 30 to 45 seconds per question. This keeps the pace snappy and prevents overthinking.
- Prepare answer sheets. Hand out numbered sheets so teams can write their answers. Collect them after each round for scoring.
- Have small prizes ready. Gift cards, candy, or a silly trophy all work great. Consider a prize for last place too — it keeps the mood light.
- Read questions clearly. Repeat each question twice, especially in larger rooms. A microphone helps if you have one available.
Round 1: Christmas Movies & TV (Questions 1-10)
1. In the movie Elf, what are the four main food groups according to Buddy the Elf?
Show Answer
Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.
2. What is the name of the mountain in How the Grinch Stole Christmas where the Grinch lives?
Show Answer
Mount Crumpit.
3. In Home Alone, where are the McCallisters going on vacation when they leave Kevin behind?
Show Answer
Paris, France.
4. What classic Christmas movie features a character named George Bailey?
Show Answer
It's a Wonderful Life (1946).
5. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, what type of tree does Charlie Brown pick for the school play?
Show Answer
A small, scraggly, nearly bare aluminum or natural tree (often called a "pathetic" little tree).
6. What is the name of the villain in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Show Answer
Oogie Boogie.
7. In the movie A Christmas Story, what gift does Ralphie desperately want for Christmas?
Show Answer
A Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle (BB gun).
8. What TV special has aired every year since 1965 and features a character who cannot kick a football?
Show Answer
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Charlie Brown is the one who cannot kick the football, pulled away by Lucy).
9. In The Polar Express, what is the first gift of Christmas?
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A silver bell from Santa's sleigh.
10. What movie features the song "White Christmas" and stars Bing Crosby?
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White Christmas (1954), though the song first appeared in Holiday Inn (1942).
Round 2: Christmas Traditions & History (Questions 11-20)
11. Which country started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree?
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Germany. The tradition dates back to the 16th century.
12. What plant is known as the "Christmas flower" and is native to Mexico?
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The poinsettia. It is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, who brought it to the United States in 1828.
13. In what year was the first commercially produced Christmas card created?
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1843, in London. It was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and designed by John Callcott Horsley.
14. What color suit did Santa Claus originally wear before Coca-Cola popularized the red suit?
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Santa was depicted in various colors including green, brown, and blue. (Note: Coca-Cola did not invent the red suit but helped standardize the modern image starting in the 1930s.)
15. What does the name "Noel" mean?
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It comes from the French word meaning "Christmas" or "birthday," derived from the Latin "natalis" meaning "birth."
16. Which U.S. state was the first to declare Christmas an official holiday?
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Alabama, in 1836.
17. Traditionally, how many reindeer pull Santa's sleigh (not counting Rudolph)?
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Eight: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.
18. What tradition involves kissing underneath a parasitic plant?
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Kissing under the mistletoe. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on trees like oaks and apple trees.
19. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in New York City began in what decade?
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The 1930s. The first official tree-lighting ceremony was in 1933, though workers had placed a tree there in 1931.
20. What holiday beverage is made with milk, cream, sugar, eggs, and often a splash of rum or bourbon?
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Eggnog.
Round 3: Christmas Music, Food & Fun Facts (Questions 21-30)
21. What is the best-selling Christmas song of all time?
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"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies worldwide.
22. Which country is credited with the tradition of leaving cookies and milk out for Santa?
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The United States, though it likely evolved from older Norse and Dutch traditions of leaving food out for Odin or Sinterklaas.
23. What popular Christmas candy is shaped like a shepherd's crook?
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The candy cane.
24. "Jingle Bells" was originally written for which holiday?
Show Answer
Thanksgiving. It was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 and was originally titled "One Horse Open Sleigh."
25. How many gifts total would you receive if you got all the gifts in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?
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364 gifts.
26. What fruit is traditionally placed in the toe of a Christmas stocking?
Show Answer
An orange.
27. Which Christmas song was the first to be broadcast from space?
Show Answer
"Jingle Bells." Astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra played it on a harmonica and sleigh bells aboard Gemini 6A on December 16, 1965.
28. What spice is commonly used in gingerbread cookies that comes from the bark of a tree?
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Cinnamon.
29. Approximately how many Christmas trees are sold in the United States each year?
Show Answer
Approximately 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S.
30. What animal delivers presents in Australia since it is too hot for reindeer?
Show Answer
In Australian Christmas folklore, six white kangaroos (called "boomers") sometimes replace reindeer, popularized by Rolf Harris's song "Six White Boomers."
Scoring & Wrap-Up Tips
Award one point per correct answer. For bonus engagement, consider giving an extra point for the funniest wrong answer in each round. Tally scores after each round and announce standings to keep the energy up.
If you have a large group, consider having a designated scorekeeper who is not on a team. This avoids disputes and keeps things running smoothly.
For virtual or hybrid teams, use a shared screen to display questions and have participants type answers in a chat or shared document. Mute everyone during discussion time and unmute for the reveal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions should I use for office Christmas trivia?
For a typical office party, 15 to 25 questions works best. This keeps the game between 20 and 40 minutes, which is long enough to be fun but short enough to hold everyone's attention. You can always pick your favorite questions from the 30 above.
How do I make Christmas trivia inclusive at work?
Stick to pop culture, history, and general knowledge questions rather than religious ones. Include questions about winter holidays around the world so everyone can participate comfortably. All of the questions in this list are designed to be workplace-appropriate.
What prizes work well for office trivia?
Popular office trivia prizes include gift cards, extra PTO hours, desk accessories, company swag, holiday treats, or a traveling trophy that the winning team keeps until next year.
Should I play Christmas trivia in teams or individually?
Teams of 3 to 5 people are ideal for office settings. This encourages collaboration, helps quieter colleagues participate, and builds team camaraderie. Individual play works better for very small offices of fewer than 8 people.