60 Christmas Decorations and Symbols Trivia Questions
Christmas decorations are more than just festive adornments—they’re timeless symbols filled with meaning and tradition. From twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments to wreaths, stars, and candy canes, each decoration tells a story and adds magic to the holiday season. Across the world, these cherished symbols of Christmas bring warmth and joy to homes, reflecting the unique cultural heritage and shared love for this special time of year.
On this page, we’ll explore the origins, significance, and fun facts behind the most beloved Christmas decorations and symbols. Whether you’re curious about the history of Christmas trees, the meaning of mistletoe, or the symbolism of holly and ivy, you’re in the right place. Let’s celebrate the beauty and wonder of Christmas decor together! 🎅🎁
Section 1: Christmas Trees and Ornaments
- Which country is credited with the tradition of the Christmas tree?
a) Germany
b) Norway
c) Austria
d) Switzerland - What was used to decorate the earliest Christmas trees?
a) Candles
b) Fruits and nuts
c) Flowers
d) Gold coins - What does the star on top of the Christmas tree represent?
a) The star of Bethlehem
b) The North Star
c) The light of the world
d) The joy of Christmas - In Victorian England, what unusual item was used to decorate Christmas trees?
a) Toys
b) Feathers
c) Glass ornaments
d) Miniature swords - What type of tree is most commonly used as a Christmas tree?
a) Oak
b) Fir
c) Pine
d) Spruce - What is the German word for Christmas tree?
a) Christbaum
b) Tannenbaum
c) Weihnachtsbaum
d) Baumfest - What popular Christmas ornament originated in Germany and is made of blown glass?
a) Baubles
b) Icicles
c) Candy canes
d) Snow globes - What famous place has a giant Christmas tree lit up annually in New York City?
a) Times Square
b) Rockefeller Center
c) Central Park
d) Bryant Park - In the early 1900s, what replaced candles as a safer way to light Christmas trees?
a) Electric lights
b) Oil lamps
c) Gas lanterns
d) LED lights - What is the traditional color of a Christmas tree stand?
a) Green
b) Red
c) Gold
d) Silver
Section 2: Lights and Wreaths
- Who is credited with inventing modern electric Christmas lights?
a) Thomas Edison
b) Edward Johnson
c) Nikola Tesla
d) Benjamin Franklin - What does the circular shape of a Christmas wreath symbolize?
a) Eternity
b) Unity
c) Strength
d) Hope - What type of plant is traditionally used to make wreaths?
a) Evergreen
b) Holly
c) Ivy
d) Laurel - What is the name of the Scandinavian tradition of using candles in a wreath to mark Advent?
a) Lucia Day
b) Advent Wreath
c) Yule Candle
d) Festival of Light - What color are the four candles on a traditional Advent wreath?
a) White
b) Red and gold
c) Purple and pink
d) Blue and silver - What city is known for its dazzling Christmas lights along the Champs-Élysées?
a) London
b) Paris
c) Vienna
d) Rome - What is the meaning of white Christmas lights?
a) Peace and purity
b) Warmth and love
c) Happiness
d) Wealth - What is the purpose of the giant Yule goat made of straw in Sweden?
a) To ward off evil spirits
b) To bring good luck
c) To honor Santa
d) To symbolize the Yule season - Which holiday uses luminarias, paper lanterns filled with candles, as decorations?
a) Las Posadas
b) Advent
c) Nochebuena
d) St. Lucia’s Day - What was the first building to use electric Christmas lights for decoration?
a) A hotel in New York
b) The White House
c) A department store in Chicago
d) Thomas Edison’s laboratory
Section 3: Holiday Symbols
- What does the candy cane represent?
a) A shepherd’s staff
b) A Christmas tree
c) An angel’s wing
d) A candy cane factory - What are poinsettias called in Mexico, where they originated?
a) Flores de Navidad
b) Flores de Nochebuena
c) Estrellas de Navidad
d) Rosas Rojas - What does holly symbolize in Christmas traditions?
a) Jesus’ crown of thorns
b) The strength of winter
c) Eternal life
d) Joy and happiness - What bird is often featured on Christmas cards as a symbol of the season?
a) Dove
b) Robin
c) Cardinal
d) Partridge - What is the meaning of mistletoe in Christmas traditions?
a) Peace and love
b) Family unity
c) Friendship
d) Forgiveness - What color is Santa Claus’s suit traditionally in the Coca-Cola ads?
a) Green
b) Red
c) White
d) Gold - What does the Yule log traditionally represent?
a) The sun
b) Fertility
c) Prosperity
d) Family warmth - What ancient symbol inspired the modern Christmas tree?
a) The Tree of Life
b) Norse Yggdrasil
c) Saturnalia wreaths
d) Evergreen garlands - What famous song references “silver bells”?
a) Silver Bells
b) Jingle Bells
c) Carol of the Bells
d) Deck the Halls - What object is traditionally placed at the very top of a Christmas tree?
a) An angel
b) A star
c) A bell
d) Either a star or an angel
Section 4: Christmas Trees and Ornaments
- What is the name of the town in Germany famous for producing glass Christmas ornaments?
a) Rothenburg
b) Lauscha
c) Nuremberg
d) Heidelberg - What is the name of the pickle ornament hidden on some Christmas trees?
a) Weihnachtsgurke
b) Tannenpickel
c) Festlichgurke
d) Christkindgurke - What tradition is associated with the Christmas pickle ornament?
a) The person who finds it gets an extra gift
b) It’s hidden to ward off evil spirits
c) It symbolizes prosperity for the new year
d) The person who finds it is the first to open gifts - What are traditional Scandinavian Christmas tree ornaments made from?
a) Paper
b) Straw
c) Wood
d) Clay - What is the name of the Japanese practice of decorating trees with ornaments during winter festivals?
a) Hanami
b) Kadomatsu
c) Kazarimono
d) Yukizome - What color were the first artificial Christmas trees made from dyed goose feathers?
a) White
b) Green
c) Red
d) Blue - What do upside-down Christmas trees symbolize in some traditions?
a) Humility and faith
b) The Trinity
c) A reminder of the crucifixion
d) Prosperity and abundance - In the UK, what day is traditionally set aside for taking down Christmas decorations?
a) January 1
b) January 5
c) January 6 (Twelfth Night)
d) December 31 - What is the name of the famous illuminated Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square?
a) The Norwegian Tree
b) The Oslo Gift Tree
c) The Peace Tree
d) The Friendship Tree - What material were the first Christmas ornaments made of?
a) Clay
b) Glass
c) Wood
d) Fabric
Section 5: Lights and Wreaths
- In the United States, what color lights were originally most popular for outdoor decorations?
a) Red and green
b) White
c) Blue and gold
d) Multicolored - What holiday decoration is made of candles arranged in a candelabra, often associated with Hanukkah but sometimes used during Christmas?
a) Menorah
b) Kinara
c) Advent Candelabra
d) Christmas Candelabra - What is the name of the traditional Scottish wreath that combines holly and ivy?
a) The Yule Ring
b) A Highland Garland
c) The Scottish Twist
d) A Celtic Wreath - What is the name of the French festival of lights celebrated near Christmas?
a) Fête de Lumière
b) Lumière de Noël
c) La Fête des Lumières
d) Noël Brillant - What state is known for its elaborate Christmas light displays in Dyker Heights?
a) New Jersey
b) Florida
c) New York
d) Pennsylvania - What does a single candle in the window traditionally symbolize in Irish Christmas traditions?
a) Hospitality
b) Protection from spirits
c) Hope for the New Year
d) A welcome for Mary and Joseph - What is the name of the German Advent candle pyramid that spins when lit?
a) Weihnachtsrad
b) Lichtrad
c) Weihnachtspyramide
d) Sternlicht - What color are the candles traditionally used for Kwanzaa, which coincides with Christmas?
a) Red, green, and black
b) White and gold
c) Blue and silver
d) Green and yellow - What is the name of the giant illuminated Christmas light display held annually at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California?
a) Festival of Lights
b) Christmas Spectacular
c) Mission Glow
d) Holiday Wonderland - In Mexico, what is the name of the lantern processions held during Las Posadas?
a) Caminata de Luminarias
b) Las Faroles
c) Paseo de Luces
d) Posada Lantern Parade
Section 6: Holiday Symbols
- What does a red ribbon symbolize when tied around Christmas gifts?
a) Love and togetherness
b) The blood of Christ
c) Prosperity
d) Good fortune - What is the traditional name for Santa’s sleigh bells?
a) Yuletide Bells
b) Jingle Bells
c) Reindeer Bells
d) North Pole Chimes - What fruit is traditionally placed in stockings as a symbol of good luck?
a) Apples
b) Oranges
c) Pears
d) Pomegranates - What does the color green symbolize in Christmas decorations?
a) Renewal and eternal life
b) Wealth
c) Peace and prosperity
d) Growth and fertility - What traditional Christmas decoration was once believed to protect homes from evil spirits?
a) Holly
b) Ivy
c) Pine garlands
d) Wreaths - What bird symbolizes the Holy Spirit in Christian iconography often seen during Christmas?
a) Dove
b) Sparrow
c) Owl
d) Swan - What is the name of the large star used during Filipino Christmas celebrations?
a) Parol
b) Estrella Grande
c) Luz del Sol
d) Bandera de Navidad - What flower, aside from poinsettias, is often associated with Christmas in Europe?
a) Amaryllis
b) Roses
c) Lilies
d) Hyacinths - What symbol is often placed on doors as a sign of goodwill during the holidays?
a) A wreath
b) A bow
c) A mistletoe sprig
d) A star - What famous New Year’s Eve event features a lighted ball drop, marking the end of the Christmas season?
a) Times Square Ball Drop
b) Countdown to Midnight
c) Year’s End Celebration
d) Holiday Finale
Answers
Section 1: Christmas Trees and Ornaments
- a) Germany
- b) Fruits and nuts
- a) The star of Bethlehem
- a) Toys
- b) Fir
- b) Tannenbaum
- a) Baubles
- b) Rockefeller Center
- a) Electric lights
- b) Red
Section 2: Lights and Wreaths
- b) Edward Johnson
- a) Eternity
- a) Evergreen
- b) Advent Wreath
- c) Purple and pink
- b) Paris
- a) Peace and purity
- a) To ward off evil spirits
- a) Las Posadas
- d) Thomas Edison’s laboratory
Section 3: Holiday Symbols
- a) A shepherd’s staff
- b) Flores de Nochebuena
- a) Jesus’ crown of thorns
- c) Cardinal
- a) Peace and love
- b) Red
- a) The sun
- d) Evergreen garlands
- a) Silver Bells
- d) Either a star or an angel
Section 4: Christmas Trees and Ornaments
- b) Lauscha
- a) Weihnachtsgurke
- a) The person who finds it gets an extra gift
- b) Straw
- b) Kadomatsu
- b) Green
- a) Humility and faith
- c) January 6 (Twelfth Night)
- a) The Norwegian Tree
- b) Glass
Section 5: Lights and Wreaths
- b) White
- a) Menorah
- a) The Yule Ring
- c) La Fête des Lumières
- c) New York
- a) Hospitality
- c) Weihnachtspyramide
- a) Red, green, and black
- a) Festival of Lights
- d) Posada Lantern Parade
Section 6: Holiday Symbols
- b) The blood of Christ
- b) Jingle Bells
- b) Oranges
- a) Renewal and eternal life
- a) Holly
- a) Dove
- a) Parol
- a) Amaryllis
- a) A wreath
- a) Times Square Ball Drop
