Trivia questions are a great way to open up a team meeting or start the day. Like riddles and other brain teasers, trivia questions challenge people to tap into their existing knowledge and think critically to come up with the answer. In many cases, the answer is easier than they thought. In other cases, team members can learn something new about the trivia category or subject.
The best part about asking trivia questions during the holiday season is that there are dozens of events to choose from. You can ask a question about Hannukkah or dive into various New Year's traditions. Everyone can feel included and share their knowledge with others. Here are a few holiday trivia questions to try out and tips to use them effectively.
40+ holiday trivia questions to ask your team
While the festive season often highlights Christmas, it’s also a time to recognize and celebrate a variety of cultural traditions. From Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to the Winter Solstice and New Year’s, each holiday brings its own unique stories and customs. These trivia questions and fun facts are designed to spark conversations, share diverse traditions, and bring people together in a celebration of the season.
Christmas
- When did Christmas become a national holiday? In 1870 through a proclamation by President Ulysses S. Grant.
- When did Rudolph become Santa’s ninth reindeer? In 1939 when the song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was released.
- How many live Christmas trees are sold each year? 30 million
- Which state produces the most Christmas trees? Oregon
- How many Christmas cards are sent in the United States each year? 2 billion
- How many citizens live in the North Pole? 2,300 (the city of North Pole is located in Alaska)
- True or false: the North Pole has no time zone? True
- What state is home to the town of Santa Claus? Indiana
- What is the most popular Christmas cookie in the United States? Chocolate chip
- What is the least favorite winter beverage during the Christmas season? Eggnog.
Hannukkah
- How many different ways can "Hanukkah" be spelled? There are 16 different variations.
- Are the Hanukkah candles lit from right to left or left to right? Right to left.
- What is the name of the money given as a present during Hanukkah? Gelt.
- Who was the first U.S. president to light a menorah? Bill Clinton.
- Which Hanukkah toy was used as a decoy after learning the Torah was outlawed? The dreidel.
- Which day of the week can Hanukkah not begin on? Tuesday.
- How tall is the National Menorah in Washington D.C.? 30 feet.
- Hanukkah is known as two things: the Festival of Lights and the Festival of What? The Festival of Dedication
Kwanzaa
- When is Kwanzaa celebrated each year? December 26 to January 1.
- In what year was Kwanzaa first celebrated? 1966.
- In what country did Kwanzaa originate? The United States.
- What cultural traditions inspired the creation of Kwanzaa? African harvest festivals.
- How many candles are used in a Kinara candle holder during Kwanzaa? Seven.
- What are the colors of Kwanzaa? Black, red, and green.
- Who was the first U.S. president to issue a declaration for Kwanzaa? Bill Clinton.
- What is Kwanzaa spelled with an extra a? It gives it seven letters.
Winter Solstice
- What does the winter solstice mark? The longest night and shortest day in the winter hemisphere.
- What does the word solstice translate to? It derives from the Latin solstitium which means the sun stands still.
- What famous monument is aligned with the sun during the winter solstice? Stonehenge.
- According to the Mayan calendar, some people thought the world would end on the winter solstice of what year? 2012.
- How much closer is the Earth to the Sun on the winter solstice? 3 million miles.
New Years
- Which country popularized the song ‘Auld Lang Syne’? Scotland.
- What is the translation of ‘Auld Lang Syne’? Time gone by.
- Where was the first recorded New Year celebration? Mesopotamia.
- In Ancient Rome, in what month was the New Year celebrated? March.
- When was the first official New Year’s Eve celebration in New York’s Times Square? 1904.
- In the United States, what food is traditionally eaten in the South to bring prosperity? Black-eyed peas.
- The Chinese New Year is also known by what name? Lunar New Year.
- What famous event occurred on January 1, 1863? The Emancipation Proclamation.
- Because of its time zone, what country or province celebrates the new year last? American Samoa.
- What New Year’s activity burns around 400 calories per hour? Dancing.
How to get the most out of holiday trivia fun
These trivia questions are a great jumping-off point for any team meeting or discussion. However, there are a few best practices to follow when sharing trivia to increase team buy-in. Follow these best practices to engage your team and learn about different holidays.
- Don’t immediately provide an answer. Let various team members submit their responses and guess the solution. You can also use audience response software like Poll Everywhere’s Multiple Choice Activity and Open-Ended Questions for people to submit creative responses.
- See who knows their stuff. Poll Everywhere makes it easy to have Competitions to see who gets the most answers right. You can even hand out prizes to the employees who know the most holiday trivia.
- Provide context to the answers. Curiosity is a good thing! Before diving into the next trivia question, provide context or answer follow-up information based on participant questions. For example, why doesn’t the North Pole have time zones?
- Embrace custom designs. Poll Everywhere allows for custom branding so you make the trivia questions holiday-themed or designed to match your brand.
Even though this is designed to be a quick icebreaker, don’t rush through it. You can take your time going through various questions and letting team members submit answers through polls and open-ended queries. The answers they submit might be funnier and more creative than the actual facts!
Use Poll Everywhere to share holiday trivia icebreakers
Poll Everywhere is your go-to solution for creating memorable and interactive team experiences. Whether hosting a holiday all-hands meeting or engaging remote teams on Zoom, Poll Everywhere transforms routine gatherings into opportunities for connection and creativity. Share live polls, run multiple-choice questions, and make trivia a fun, inclusive activity for everyone.
Kick off your next meeting with these holiday trivia questions as icebreakers, designed to inspire collaboration and celebrate the season. With Poll Everywhere, team members can contribute their answers in real time, sparking creativity and lively conversations. You’ll be surprised—and delighted—by the insights and humor your team shares!
