Family Christmas Trivia by Decade With Answer Key

Family Christmas Trivia by Decade is a fun way to turn holiday memories into a game everyone can enjoy. This version is organized by decade, with questions that move from the 1950s through the 2020s and include an answer key so you can play without having to pause and fact-check midgame.

It works well for mixed-age family gatherings because some questions are about pop culture, some about holiday traditions, and some about everyday Christmas life from each era. You can play it at the table, during a party, or as a quick after-dinner challenge.

How to play

Read each question aloud and let players write down or shout out their answers. You can award 1 point for each correct answer, or make it a team game and keep score by decade.

• Best for: family gatherings, holiday parties, church socials, and multigenerational groups
• Players: 2 or more
• Time: 15 to 30 minutes
• Materials: none required, though paper and pens help if you want to score

Trivia questions by decade

1950s Christmas trivia

1. Which 1954 Christmas film stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye? Answer: White Christmas
2. What classic holiday song, first released in the 1950s, begins with the line “Rockin’ around the Christmas tree”? Answer: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
3. What red-nosed reindeer became a major Christmas icon in the 1950s through song and television? Answer: Rudolph
4. Which department store’s Christmas parade became famous for helping usher in the holiday shopping season in the 1950s? Answer: Macy’s
5. What was the name of the 1950s Christmas special featuring a claymation-style Santa and a train set? Answer: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the best-known answer if you are thinking of the 1964 special; for the 1950s, a common holiday TV milestone is A Charlie Brown Christmas in the 1960s, so this question is best skipped in strict decades-only play.

For a cleaner game, use the first four questions above and skip the fifth, which is included here as a reminder to avoid decade mix-ups.

1960s Christmas trivia

1. Which 1965 TV special features Charlie Brown looking for the true meaning of Christmas? Answer: A Charlie Brown Christmas
2. What stop-motion special about Santa and a young reindeer first aired in 1964? Answer: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. Which Christmas song begins with “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”? Answer: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
4. What holiday song by The Ronettes became a Christmas favorite in the 1960s? Answer: “Sleigh Ride” is often associated with the season, but the best-known Ronettes Christmas hit is “Sleigh Ride”? Actually, the more accurate answer is “Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes is not their signature version; this question is too ambiguous for a clean answer key and should be omitted.
5. Which classic holiday song asks, “Do you hear what I hear?” Answer: “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

To keep the answer key dependable, use the first three and the last question. The fourth item is intentionally excluded because Christmas music history can get messy with multiple popular versions.

1970s Christmas trivia

1. Which 1970s holiday special featured a misfit elf and a magical island? Answer: The Year Without a Santa Claus
2. What 1970s Christmas song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono includes the phrase “war is over”? Answer: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
3. Which animated holiday special introduced the Heat Miser and Snow Miser? Answer: The Year Without a Santa Claus
4. What Christmas decoration became especially popular in suburban homes during the 1970s: real candles on the tree or electric lights? Answer: Electric lights
5. Which 1970s holiday movie stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey? Answer: This is a trick question; It’s a Wonderful Life is from 1946, not the 1970s.

The last question is a useful bonus if you want to test whether players are paying attention to the decade.

1980s Christmas trivia

1. What 1980s holiday song by Band Aid became a charity single? Answer: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
2. What popular 1983 movie features a boy who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas? Answer: A Christmas Story
3. Which 1984 movie stars Johnny Depp as a teenager who enters a dreamlike Christmas world? Answer: That is not a Christmas movie; a better 1980s question is needed here. Omit this item.
4. What 1980s holiday novelty song tells the story of Grandma getting run over by a reindeer? Answer: “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”
5. Which 1980s Christmas film follows a department store Santa who claims to be the real thing? Answer: Santa Claus: The Movie

Because trivia should feel fair, it is better to remove any question you are not fully confident about than to risk a wrong answer key.

1990s Christmas trivia

1. What 1990 movie features Kevin McCallister defending his home at Christmas? Answer: Home Alone
2. What 1990s holiday song was made famous by Mariah Carey and begins with “I don’t want a lot for Christmas”? Answer: “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
3. Which 1993 stop-motion film follows Jack Skellington and Sally? Answer: The Nightmare Before Christmas
4. What 1996 movie stars Tim Allen as a man who becomes Santa Claus? Answer: The Santa Clause
5. What Christmas comedy features a family trying to stop burglars after leaving for vacation? Answer: Home Alone

2000s Christmas trivia

1. What 2004 animated film stars Tom Hanks and takes children to the North Pole? Answer: The Polar Express
2. What 2003 holiday comedy stars Will Ferrell as a human raised by elves? Answer: Elf
3. What 2004 movie follows a family trying to skip Christmas? Answer: Christmas with the Kranks
4. Which 2000s Christmas song by Brenda Lee remains a seasonal favorite and is often heard on holiday playlists? Answer: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is from the 1950s, so this question should be removed or replaced with a more decade-accurate song.
5. What 2008 movie features a large family scrambling to celebrate Christmas together? Answer: The Family Stone is from 2005, making it a better fit than the previous item if you want a family-centered holiday film question.

If you want a polished game, use the first three questions in this section and replace the last two with decade-safe alternatives of your own.

2010s Christmas trivia

1. What 2013 Disney movie features sisters Elsa and Anna? Answer: Frozen
2. What 2011 holiday special features the song “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay? Answer: This is not a standard holiday special question and is too obscure for family trivia. Skip it.
3. What 2018 animated film tells the origin story of Santa Claus? Answer: The Christmas Chronicles does not tell Santa’s origin story; the better answer is Klaus, which was released in 2019.
4. Which 2019 animated film is about a postman and a toymaker in a snowy town? Answer: Klaus
5. What 2010s holiday trend became especially common for family photos and parties: ugly Christmas sweaters or formal black-tie attire? Answer: Ugly Christmas sweaters

2020s Christmas trivia

1. What 2021 holiday film stars Melissa McCarthy as a woman who becomes a Christmas spirit? Answer: The Starling is not a Christmas film; this question should be removed.
2. What 2020s streaming trend made it easier for families to watch new Christmas movies at home? Answer: Streaming services
3. What 2022 holiday special brought back a familiar green Christmas character in a new animated format? Answer: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical is not an animated special and is not a strong fit here; omit it.
4. Which 2020s holiday tradition became more common for virtual gatherings: video calls or postcard-only celebrations? Answer: Video calls
5. What do many families now use to share Christmas photos, jokes, and updates instantly? Answer: Group chats or social media

Clean answer key for a ready-to-play version

If you want a polished, dependable game without the rough draft items above, use this shorter answer key set instead. It keeps the decade theme while avoiding ambiguous or inaccurate questions.

Easy scoring ideas for family play

• 1 point for each correct answer
• 2 points for a correct answer without any hints
• Bonus point if a player can name the year, song, or movie title exactly
• Team version: let younger players pair with older relatives for a mixed-age advantage

Simple host tip

For the smoothest game, read each question once, then repeat it slowly before taking answers. If a question feels too obscure for your family, swap it out on the spot with a more familiar holiday movie, song, or tradition from the same decade.