What makes a holiday more fun than laughter? Our Christmas riddles guarantee giggles while testing partygoers on holiday movies, songs, gifts, and general Christmas cheer. We start with Christmas riddles for adults (many tug at childhood memories), then add kid-friendly brainteasers for classrooms, church groups, or anywhere children gather. Next up: carol riddles, and finally a bundle of gift-themed stumpers. Riddle on!
Related Christmas articles
- 182 Christmas Trivia Questions & Answers
- 54 Fun Christmas Movie Trivia Questions & Answers
- 17 Fun Christmas Party Games for Kids
Table of Contents
Christmas Riddles for Adults
Our list of trivia-type Christmas riddles for adults is perfect for a holiday party or team game on Christmas Eve. See how many you can solve, then share them with friends and family.
- What was the first company to use Santa Claus in advertising?
- In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” what is Scrooge’s first name?
- Which country did eggnog come from?
- Which real-life person is Santa Claus based on?
- What is Ralphie’s little brother’s name in A Christmas Story?
- Which country started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree?
- How many ghosts visit Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”?
- What is the name of the last ghost that visits Scrooge?
- Visions of which treat danced in children’s heads in “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”?
- What is the real name of Tim Allen’s character in The Santa Clause?
- Which department store is featured in Miracle on 34th Street?
- What are two other popular names for Santa Claus?
- In Home Alone, where are the McCallisters headed when they leave Kevin behind?
- With what three words is the Grinch described?
- In It’s a Wonderful Life, what happens each time a bell rings?
- What Christmas decoration was originally made from strands of silver?
- Who played George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life?
- What animatronic cassette-playing bear was the must-have mid-80s gift?
- What carol do the Peanuts sing at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas?
- What “spy” hides around the house reporting back to Santa?
- Which Hollywood actor played multiple roles in The Polar Express?
- Which fairy tale inspired the first gingerbread houses?
- Who wrote, “Maybe Christmas…means a little bit more”?
- Three of Santa’s reindeer have names beginning with “D.” Name them.
- What was the highest-grossing Christmas movie for many years?
- In Elf, how does Buddy get to the North Pole?
- In Home Alone 2, which city does Kevin get lost in?
- What classic toy famously received an “official Red Ryder” shout-out in A Christmas Story?
Christmas Riddles for Kids
Kids love riddles! Use these in class, at parties, or for a family riddle game on Christmas Eve.
- Why did they let the turkey join the band?
- What guided the wise men to baby Jesus?
- What did the reindeer say when he saw an elf?
- How many presents can Santa fit in an empty sack?
- What do we leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?
- What kind of party does a snowman throw?
- What plant wears socks?
- Who says “Oh, oh, oh”?
- What does a gingerbread man put on his bed?
- What color is the Grinch?
- What helped Santa when he sprained his ankle?
- Why did the Christmas cookies go to the doctor?
- Which candle burns longer?
- What is Frosty’s nose made of?
- What animated film is about a train to the North Pole?
- What didn’t the other reindeer let Rudolph do?
- What do you have in December that no other month has?
- Where was baby Jesus born?
- Why can’t the Christmas tree stand up?
- What do elves put on candy canes?
- What’s the best thing to put in a Christmas cookie?
- How do you scare a snowman?
- What are Santa’s little helpers called?
- What do you call an old snowman?
- Does Santa’s sleigh have wheels?
- What color is Santa’s belt?
- Name the two reindeer whose names begin with “C.”
- What animals pull Santa’s sleigh?
- What falls at winter but never gets hurt?
- Where do Santa’s reindeer stop for coffee?
Christmas Carol Riddles
Every special day has special music, and Christmas might have the most of all. Test how many carols you know (plus a few silly song puns). Use these at your next holiday party.
- What do monkeys sing at Christmas?
- Which song contains “Jack Frost nipping at your nose”?
- What do sheep in Mexico sing at Christmas?
- Which carol features a diminutive percussionist?
- In “Jingle Bell Rock,” everyone’s dancing around what?
- “Greensleeves” is another name for which song?
- What do fish sing at Christmas time?
- Which carol expresses jubilation to the whole orb?
- What is Frosty the Snowman’s favorite song?
- Which title sounds like two psychiatrists’ apartment?
- In “Jingle Bells,” what kind of sleigh is it?
- What bird has “gone away” in “Winter Wonderland”?
- Which song says, “Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, it’s grand”?
- In “Winter Wonderland,” how will we frolic and play?
- What color of Christmas did Elvis have?
- In “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” where do the silent stars go by?
- The Grinch is as cuddly as what?
- Which carol is considered a lullaby?
- In “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” have a cup of what?
- “Go Tell It on the Mountain” asks us to tell what?
- In “We Three Kings,” the star is leading which direction?
- Which carol says, “Peace on earth, good will to men”?
- Who was seen kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe?
- What did Frosty do when the hat was placed on his head?
- What was the weather like when Rudolph had to guide the way?
- What does Alvin want for Christmas?
- According to the song, what did my true love give on the 8th day?
- On the 11th day of Christmas, what was given?
- In “Winter Wonderland,” what’s the snowman’s name?
- How many times does Santa check his list?
- In “The Christmas Song,” what helps make the season bright?
- In “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” the prettiest sight to see is what?
- What remains the best-selling Christmas song ever?
Christmas Gift Riddles
Ask people their favorite part of Christmas and many will say “the presents!” Add a clever twist with these gift riddles. Think carefully-several take an unexpected turn.
- What did the little boy’s mom say when he asked for a dog for Christmas?
- What was great about the neurotic doll the girl got for Christmas?
- Why did the little boy cry after opening his gift?
- What’s the best present you can receive for Christmas?
- What did the bald man say when he got a comb for Christmas?
- Who delivers presents to dogs?
- Why do mummies love Christmas?
- How did Darth Vader know Luke’s Christmas gift?
- What do you call it after all the gifts have been opened?
- What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper?
- What does Santa bring to naughty kids?
- How many total gifts are given in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?
- What gift did the Little Drummer Boy give the newborn Christ?
- What Christmas gift lasts a long time, comes in a can, and many people don’t like it?
- What are the tiny, inexpensive gifts in stockings called?
- Which country has a tradition of a witch dropping gifts down the chimney?
- What two words are almost always on gift tags?
- Which country gifts the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree each year?
- How does the Dutch Sinterklaas transport presents?
- What was Clement C. Moore’s 1822 Christmas gift to his children?
- What did Harry Potter receive for his first Hogwarts Christmas?
- What present do you open but can’t see inside?
- What gift is given once a year but used all year long?
There you go-plenty of riddles to kick off (and wrap up) your holiday with laughter. Want to write your own? Pick a Christmas thing-song, gift, movie-start with the answer, then craft a clever question. Riddles are always welcome at any holiday gathering. Have fun and riddle away!
Susan majored in English with a double minor in Humanities and Business at Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University. She taught grades four through twelve in both public and private schools. Subjects included English, U.S. and world history and geography, math, earth and physical science, Bible, information technologies, and creative writing.
Susan has been freelance writing for over ten years, during which time she has written and edited books, newspaper articles, biographies, book reviews, guidelines, neighborhood descriptions for realtors, Power Point presentations, resumes, and numerous other projects.
Hi Susan,
I really enjoy reading this. Thanks a lot:)
Have a joyful and blessed Christmas.
Blessings,
Jenni
Thank you so much for taking all the time this took. I’m a 74 yr. old grandma looking for games for the grand kids on Christmas Eve. What you dd here is a gift of time-saving for me. Have a very Blessed Christmas season. God Bless you.