Christmas Which Came First? 100 Festive Trivia Game Questions (+Free Printable)

Think you know your Christmas history? Put your holiday knowledge to the test with this fun Christmas Which Came First? trivia game!

From Christmas traditions and decorations to beloved movies, songs, foods, candy, and Santa Claus, players must decide which one came first. Some answers may seem surprisingly obvious, while others are much trickier than they seem!

This family-friendly Christmas which came first trivia game is perfect for:

Christmas family game nights
Christmas parties
classroom holiday parties
youth groups
office Christmas parties
holiday gatherings
Christmas Eve
road trips
winter break

Be sure to grab the free printable PDF at the bottom of this post! It is the blue “download” button.

Christmas which came first trivia game questions and answers

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Contents

How to Play Which Came First?

One person reads each question aloud.

Players must guess which of the two choices came first in history. You can play individually or divide into teams and keep score.

Award one point for each correct answer. The player or team with the most points wins!

Tip: Some answers are obvious…others are much trickier than they seem!

*Grab the free printable below! (It’s the blue download button)

Jump to the Printable

100 Christmas ‘Which Came First?’ Trivia Game Questions

Which Christmas traditions came first in history?

1. Christmas or Easter?

Answer: Easter: Easter was being celebrated by Christians by the 2nd century, while December 25 became associated with Christmas centuries later.

2. Christmas trees or Christmas stockings?

Answer: Christmas stockings: The legend of Saint Nicholas gifts in stockings dates back to the 12th century, while the Christmas tree did not start until the 16th or 17th century.

3. Santa Claus or Christmas stockings?

Answer: Santa Claus: The traditions and legends that developed into Santa Claus predate the modern Christmas stocking tradition.

4. Christmas carols or Christmas cards?

Answer: Christmas carols: Christmas songs and carols have been part of Christian celebrations for centuries, while the first commercial Christmas card appeared in 1843.

5. Christmas trees or Christmas cards?

Answer: Christmas trees: Decorated Christmas trees were being used in German-speaking Europe centuries before the first commercial Christmas card.

6. Christmas stockings or gifts?

Answer: Gifts: The tradition of gift-giving dates back to the Roman festival of Saturnalia and the Christian tradition of the Three Wise Men giving gifts to the baby Jesus.

7. Advent calendars or Christmas cards?

Answer: Christmas cards: The first commercial Christmas card appeared in 1843, while printed Advent calendars developed later in the 19th century.

8. Mistletoe or Christmas lights?

Answer: Mistletoe: Mistletoe had associations with winter celebrations long before electric Christmas lights were introduced.

9. Boxing Day or Christmas Day?

Answer: Christmas Day: Christmas Day has ancient Christian roots; Boxing Day developed later as a December 26 tradition.

10. Saint Nicholas or Christmas trees?

Answer: Saint Nicholas: Saint Nicholas was a real Christian bishop who lived in the 4th century before the Christmas tree tradition became established.

11. Ornaments or Tree skirts?

Answer: Ornaments: Decorating trees was happening before tree skirts appeared in the 1870s to catch hot, dripping wax from the candles people lit on their Christmas trees.

12. Santa Claus or Rudolph?

Answer: Santa Claus: The Santa Claus tradition is centuries older than Rudolph, who was created for a 1939 Montgomery Ward promotional story.

13. Snow globes or Nutcrackers?

Answer: Nutcrackers: Nutcrackers date back to 17th-century Germany, while the snow globe appeared in 1878.

14. Candles on Christmas trees or tinsel?

Answer: Candles on Christmas trees: Candles were used on Christmas trees before tinsel became a popular tree decoration.

15. Ugly Christmas sweaters or matching Christmas pajamas?

Answer: Ugly Christmas sweaters came first in history, with festive holiday sweaters appearing in the 1940s and 1950s, while the tradition of matching family Christmas pajamas gained popularity slightly later in the 1950s and 1960s.

16. Nativity or Caroling?

Answer: Nativity: The nativity representations came first in history, though early forms of sacred Christmas songs closely followed.

17. Glass ornaments or Christmas lights?

Answer: Glass Christmas ornaments: Glass ornaments were being produced in Europe before electric Christmas lights were invented in 1882.

18. Christmas trees or Christmas wreaths?

Answer: Christmas wreaths: Evergreen wreaths have ancient origins, while the decorated Christmas tree tradition developed later.

19. Christmas wreaths or Christmas stockings?

Answer: Christmas wreaths: Evergreen wreath traditions predate the modern Christmas stocking.

20. Electric Christmas lights or artificial trees?

Answer: Artificial trees: The first artificial Christmas trees were developed around the 1850s to 1880s. Electric Christmas lights were invented in 1882.

Christmas Movies & TV Which Came First?

21. It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street?

Answer: It’s a Wonderful Life: It’s a Wonderful Life was released in 1946, while Miracle on 34th Street followed in 1947.

22. Miracle on 34th Street or White Christmas?

Answer: Miracle on 34th Street: Miracle on 34th Street was released in 1947; White Christmas followed in 1954.

23. White Christmas or A Christmas Carol (1951)?

Answer: A Christmas Carol: The 1951 film Scrooge was released before White Christmas in 1954.

24. A Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?

Answer: A Christmas Story: A Christmas Story was released in 1983, while Christmas Vacation came out in 1989.

25. Home Alone or The Santa Clause?

Answer: Home Alone: Home Alone was released in 1990, while The Santa Clause followed in 1994.

Related: Home Alone Movie Trivia

26. Home Alone or Elf?

Answer: Home Alone: Home Alone premiered in 1990; Elf was released in 2003.

27. The Santa Clause or Elf?

Answer: The Santa Clause: The Santa Clause was released in 1994, before Elf in 2003.

28. Elf or The Polar Express?

Answer: Elf: Elf was released in 2003, while The Polar Express followed in 2004.

29. The Polar Express or the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey?

Answer: How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The live-action Grinch movie was released in 2000; The Polar Express came out in 2004.

30. The original How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie or A Charlie Brown Christmas?

Answer: A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Charlie Brown television special premiered in 1965, while How The Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered in 1966

31. A Charlie Brown Christmas or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Answer: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The stop-motion special premiered in 1964, one year before A Charlie Brown Christmas.

32. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman?

Answer: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Rudolph television special premiered in 1964; Frosty the Snowman followed in 1969.

33. Home Alone or The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Answer: Home Alone: The Nightmare Before Christmas was released in 1993, while Home Alone came out in 1990.

34. Holiday Inn or White Christmas?

Answer: Holiday Inn: Holiday Inn was released in 1942, while White Christmas was released in 1954.

35. Jingle Jangle or Klaus?

Answer: Klaus: Klaus was released in 2019, while Jingle Jangle was released in 2020

36. The Holiday or Elf

Answer: Elf: Elf was released in 2003, while The Holiday was released in 2006

37. Elf or Elf on the Shelf?

Answer: Elf: Elf movie was released in 2003, while The Elf on the Shelf book and tradition debuted in 2005.

38. The Muppet Christmas Carol or Home Alone 2?

Answer: Home Alone 2: Home Alone 2 was released in November 1992, while The Muppet Christmas Carol was released in December 1992.

39. Gremlins or A Christmas Story?

Answer: A Christmas Story: A Christmas Story was released in 1983, while Gremlins was released in 1984.

Christmas Songs & Music Which Came First?

40. “Jingle Bells” or “White Christmas”?

Answer: “Jingle Bells”: “Jingle Bells” was published in the 1850s, while “White Christmas” was written in the 1930s.

41. “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells”?

Answer: “Silent Night”: “Silent Night” was first performed in 1818, decades before “Jingle Bells.”

42. “O Holy Night” or “Silent Night”?

Answer: “Silent Night”: The French song was composed in the 1840s, after “Silent Night” was first performed in 1818.

43. “O Come, All Ye Faithful” or “Jingle Bells”?

Answer: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”: The carol dates to the 18th century, long before “Jingle Bells.”

44. “Deck the Halls” or “Jingle Bells”?

Answer: “Deck the Halls”: The melody comes from a Welsh song dating to the 18th century; “Jingle Bells” came later.

45. “The First Noel” or “Jingle Bells”?

Answer: “The First Noel”: The carol dates to the 16th century, before “Jingle Bells.”

46. “Joy to the World” or “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”?

Answer: “Joy to the World”: It was written in 1719, while the lyrics for “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” were written in 1739.

47. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” or “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”?

Answer: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” was written in 1944, while “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” was written in 1945.

48. “Carol of the Bells” or “White Christmas”?

Answer: “Carol of the Bells”: The melody is based on a Ukrainian song composed in the early 20th century; “White Christmas” was written in 1940.

49. “White Christmas” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”?

Answer: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”: “White Christmas” was written in 1940, while Rudolph was introduced in 1939.

50. “Feliz Navidad” or “Last Christmas”?

Answer: “Feliz Navidad”: José Feliciano released it in 1970; Wham!’s “Last Christmas” followed in 1984.

51. “Last Christmas” or “All I Want for Christmas Is You”?

Answer: “Last Christmas”: Wham! released it in 1984, while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was released in 1994.

52. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” or “Jingle Bell Rock”?

Answer: “Jingle Bell Rock”: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was recorded in 1958; “Jingle Bell Rock” was released in 1957.

53. The song “White Christmas” or the film White Christmas?

Answer: The song “White Christmas”: The song came first debuting in 1941, long before the film was released in 1954.

54. “Twelve Days of Christmas” or “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”?

Answer: “The Twelve Days of Christmas”: “The Twelve Days of Christmas” appeared in print in 1780, while “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” dates back to the 19th century.

Related: Christmas Song Trivia

Christmas Books & Stories Which Came First?

55. A Christmas Carol or The Night Before Christmas?

Answer: The Night Before Christmas: Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843; A Visit from St. Nicholas was published in 1823.

56. A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker?

Answer: The Nutcracker :Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843; The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was published in 1816.

57. The Nutcracker or The Night Before Christmas?

Answer: The Nutcracker :E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original story was published in 1816, before the 1823 publication of The Night Before Christmas.

58. The Polar Express or How the Grinch Stole Christmas!?

Answer: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! :The Grinch book was published in 1957; The Polar Express was published in 1985.

59. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! or The Best Christmas Pageant Ever?

Answer: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: The Grinch was published in 1957; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was published in 1972.

60. The Gift of the Magi or A Christmas Carol?

Answer: A Christmas Carol: Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843; O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi was published in 1905.

61. A Christmas Carol or Little Women?

Answer: A Christmas Carol: A Christmas Carol was published in 1843; Little Women followed in 1869.

Christmas Food & Drinks Which Came First? Game Questions

62. Turkey or prime rib?

Answer: Turkey: Turkey was a food source long before prime rib was popularized as a distinct cut.

63. Pumpkin pie or pecan pie?

Answer: Pumpkin pie: Pumpkin pie recipes appeared in American cookbooks before pecan pie became popular, with pumpkin pies dating back to the 17th century.

64. Fruitcake or gingerbread cookies?

Answer: Gingerbread cookies: Early recipes date back to around 2400 B.C. in ancient Greece.

65. Gingerbread or candy canes?

Answer: Gingerbread: Gingerbread traditions in Europe date back centuries before candy canes appeared.

66. Candy canes or Christmas cookies?

Answer: Christmas cookies: Decorated holiday cookies have a long European history that predates the modern candy cane.

67. Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Answer: Hot chocolate: Cacao beverages were consumed in Mesoamerica centuries before the European eggnog tradition developed.

68. Turkey or ham?

Ham: Ham came first historically as a food source and holiday centerpiece, long before the turkey became domesticated and popularized in Europe and America.

69. Hot chocolate or coffee?

Answer: Hot chocolate: Cacao beverages were consumed in Mesoamerica long before coffee became a widespread beverage.

70. Gingerbread or peppermint candy?

Answer: Gingerbread: Gingerbread traditions date back many centuries, while peppermint candy developed later.

71. Candy canes or chocolate truffles?

Answer: Candy canes: The candy canes originated around 1670, while chocolate truffles were invented much later in 1922.

72. Candy canes or Hershey’s Kisses?

Answer: Candy canes: Candy canes predate Hershey’s Kisses, which were introduced in 1907.

73. Christmas pudding or cranberry sauce?

Answer: Christmas pudding: Christmas pudding came first in history, beating cranberry sauce by several centuries.

74. Peppermint bark or candy canes?

Answer: Candy canes: Candy canes have a much longer history than modern peppermint bark.

75. Wassail or Apple cider

Answer: Apple cider: Apple cider came first in history, as people were already fermenting apple juice into primitive cider centuries before the tradition of wassail developed.

76. Candy canes or M&M’s?

Answer: Candy canes: Candy cane traditions predate M&M’s, which were introduced in 1941.

77. Yule Logs or Fruitcakes

Answer: Fruitcakes: Fruitcakes came first in history by thousands of years.

Related: Christmas Food Trivia Quiz

78. Candy canes or Gingerbread houses

Answer: Candy canes: Candy canes came first in history, dating back to 1670 in Germany, whereas gingerbread houses became popular traditions in the early 1800s.

79. Gingerbread men or Sugar cookies?

Answer: Gingerbread

80. Figgy pudding or Peppermint Bark?

Answer: Figgy pudding: Figgy pudding came first in history by roughly 600 years.

81. Snowball cookies or Fudge?

Answer: Snowball cookies: Snowball cookies at back to the 16th century, while Fudge was invented in the 1880s.

82. Gumdrops or Peanut brittle?

Answer: Gumdrops: Gumdrops were invented around 1801, while sugar brittles appeared around 1843.

83. Roasting chestnuts or Mulled wine?

Answer: Roasting chestnuts: Roasting chestnuts came first in history, as humans were eating and cooking wild chestnuts long before ancient civilizations began heating and spicing wine.

84. Stollen or Mince pie

Answer: Stollen: Stollen dates back to 1329.

85. Peppermint Mocha or Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Answer: Peppermint Mocha: The Peppermint Mocha debuted in 2002, while the pumpkin spice latte was introduced by Starbucks in 2003.

86. Peppermint or Cinnamon?

Answer: Cinnamon: Cinnamon dates back to 2800 B.C., while Peppermint dates back to around 1000-1500 B.C.

Christmas Around The World Which Came First?

87. Feast of the Seven Fishes or Krampus?

Answer: Krampus: Krampus came first in history by several centuries.

88. Poinsettias or Pinatas?

Answer: Pinatas: Pinatas dates back to the 14th-16th centuries.

89. Letters to Santa or Visiting Santa

Answer: Letters to Santa: In 1874, newspapers like The New York Times reported on letters deposited in post offices written by children to Santa.

90. Christmas in England or Christmas in America?

Answer: Christmas in England: Christmas celebrations were established in England long before the holiday became established in colonial America.

91. Christmas trees in Germany or Christmas trees in America?

Answer: Germany: The modern Christmas tree tradition developed in German-speaking Europe before becoming popular in America.

92. Santa Claus or Father Christmas?

Answer: Father Christmas: The English figure of Father Christmas predates the modern American Santa Claus character.

93. “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”

Answer: “Merry Christmas” came first in history, with its first recorded written use dating back to 1534, whereas the greeting “Happy Holidays” did not appear in print until the mid-19th century, around 1863.

94. Christmas markets or Christmas cards?

Answer: Christmas markets: Christmas markets in German-speaking Europe date back to the Middle Ages, centuries before commercial Christmas cards.

95. Christmas markets or Christmas trees?

Answer: Christmas markets: Early Christmas markets were established before the modern decorated Christmas tree tradition.

96. The first Christmas card or the first Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center?

Answer: The first Christmas card: The first commercial Christmas card appeared in 1843; the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was erected in 1931.

97. The first Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center or the first Christmas tree at the White House?

Answer: The White House Christmas tree: The White House Christmas tree tradition dates to the late 19th century, while Rockefeller Center’s first tree appeared in 1931.

98. The first Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony or the first televised royal Christmas Broadcast?

Answer: The first Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony: The ceremony happened in 1951, and the first royal Christmas broadcast was in 1957.

99. The first department store Santa or the first Coca-Cola Santa advertisement?

Answer: The first department store Santa: The first department store Santa came first in history, debuting in 1890, long before Coca-Cola’s first Santa advertisement in 1930.

100. The first Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center or the first televised Christmas special?

Answer: The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree: Rockefeller Center’s first tree appeared in 1931; television Christmas specials came later.

Related: Christmas This or That