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Christmas Trivia for Your Next Holiday Gathering

Whether you’re hoping to delight your grandkids, trying to fill a lull in conversation, or engaging in small talk with new friends at a holiday party, it’s helpful to have some Christmas trivia in your back pocket. You could even play a quick game with the other people in the group, letting the winner open the first present or enjoy the first slice of pie. Scroll down to check out our list of amusing, intriguing, and illuminating Christmas trivia.

Christmas Trivia for Your Next Holiday Gathering

What is the best-selling Christmas song ever?

“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby steals the spotlight. Countless musicians have covered this classic carol, but Bing’s version comes out on top. According to Guinness World Records, it’s actually the best-selling single of all time worldwide!

In which modern-day country was St. Nicholas born?

St. Nicholas was born in Patara, a city in the ancient district of Lycia, located in Asia Minor. Nowadays, this area would be located in Turkey. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, prostitutes, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students – what a diverse group!

In which country did eggnog originate?

Eggnog hails from England. Although culinary historians disagree on the exact origin of eggnog, for the most part they agree that it evolved from a medieval British drink called “posset” – a “hot, milky, ale-like drink” (source).

Which of Santa’s reindeer shares its name with another holiday mascot?

Cupid shares a name with the mascot for Valentine’s Day: Cupid, the god of desire, attraction, and affection. He’s typically portrayed as a winged infant with a bow and arrow, which he uses to make his “victims” fall in love.

What are the names of Santa’s nine reindeer?

If you’re like most people, you’re now singing the 1949 song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in your head. The reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and (of course) Rudolph. If someone says Dunder instead of Donner, or Blixem instead of Blitzen, they’re typically correct as well. They have those names in the classic poem “The Night Before Christmas.”

What is the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time?

That honor goes to Home Alone (1990), a now-classic holiday flick about an eight-year-old boy who protects his home from burglars after his family accidentally leaves him home alone for Christmas vacation. The film was so popular, it stayed in theaters for 12 straight weeks, from mid-November to February.

What was the first company to use Santa Claus in its advertising?

Coca-Cola was the trailblazer. In the 1930s, the company began using illustrations of Santa Claus to advertise its popular soft drink. Coca-Cola also deserves some credit for cementing the modern image of Santa (a large, jolly, bearded man with a red suit trimmed in white) in the public consciousness through magazine ads, billboards, and store displays, before television popularized the idea.

According to folklore, what horned figure punishes naughty children at Christmas?

Legend has it that Krampus, an anthropomorphic half-goat/half-demon, punishes misbehaving children during the Christmas season. This idea hails from the folklore of several central European countries and regions, including Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Northern Italy, and Bavaria. In traditional parades and other holiday events, young men will sometimes dress up as Krampus.

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Did you learn something new? Share this Christmas trivia with your friends and family to make everyone’s holiday a little more festive and fun.

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