109 Festive Christmas Riddles to Tease Your Brain With This Holiday Season

Christmas is a time of cheer, joy and laughter, and nothing quite gets us giggling like these festive Christmas riddles. Perfect for sharing around the dinner table or to write in your Christmas card, thse festive brainteasers and trivia questions will put everyone's brain to the test. There are riddles for kids and some that are more challenging for adults, but all of them have answers, so no one is left scratching their head.

To add some more fun, make it a game and see who can get the most right. The person who wins can be the first to pick from the Secret Santa gifts.

• Q: Santa Claus' mother had three children. The first child was named Fred. The second was named Annette. What was the name of the third? A: Santa.
• Q: I'm at every house Santa visits and when he finds me he knows he's in for a treat. What am I? A: Milk and cookies.
• Q: In Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," what was Scrooge’s first name? A: Ebenezer.
• Q: What is the best Christmas gift you can give someone? A: A broken drum because it cannot be beaten.
• Q: In what year did Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall in the same year? A: Every year.
• Q: What do you call an elf wearing ear muffs? A: Whatever you want. He can’t hear you anyway.
• Q: I can travel all around the world just like Santa Claus without ever leaving my corner. What am I? A: A stamp.
• Q: What do you call Santa’s little helpers? A: Subordinate clauses.
• Q: What goes Ho Ho Whoosh, Ho Ho Whoosh? A: Santa sweeping the floor.
• Q: What happens every time a bell rings in the film "It’s a Wonderful Life"? A: An angel gets its wings.
• Q: What do you call a snowman with a six-pack? A: An abdominal snowman.
• Q: How many of Santa’s reindeer’s names start with the letter “D”? Name them. A:Three. Dasher, Dancer and Donner.
• Q: What is red and white, red and white, and red and white again? A: Santa Claus rolling down a hill.
• Q: If the end of the year is December 31st, what is the end of Christmas? A: The letter "S".
• Q: When Santa leaves his workshop in the North Pole to deliver presents to all the good children. What direction does he travel? A: South.
• Q: What did the snowwoman do to the snowman when she was upset with him? A: She gave him the cold shoulder.
• Q: I drop from the sky and I’m much more beautiful than rain. There are no two pieces of me that'll ever look the same. What am I? A: Snow.
• Q: You can catch me easily, especially during the holidays, but you can never throw me. What am I? A: A cold.
• Q: What do you call it after all the gifts for Christmas have been opened? A: Christmess.
• Q: What do you call Santa when he's broke and has no money? A: St. Nickle-less.
• Q: If you are related to Mr. and Mrs. Claus, what is your relation? A: A relative clause.
• Q: What did the male angel say to the incredibly good-looking female angel? A: Halo there gorgeous.
• Q: I am a plant seen every Christmas which people hang up above and then they stand beneath me and kiss someone they love. What am I? A: Mistletoe.
• Q: We traveled from the East, following a bright star, bringing gifts to the newborn King. Who were we? A: The three wise men.
• Q: Why is Rudolph so good at answering trivia questions? A: He nose a lot.
• Q: Why do you go to bed on Christmas Eve? A: Because the bed won't come to you.
• Q: I fall in the North Pole but never get injured. What am I? A: Snow.
• Q: What do elves play poker with? A: Christmas cards.
• Q: What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? A: It's Christmas, Eve.

• Q: What kind of cereal does Frosty eat? A: Frosted Flakes
• Q: What did the Christmas tree wear to keep it warm? A: A fir coat!
• Q: How do you scare a snowman? A: You get a hairdryer!
• Q: What do Christmas and crabs have in common? A: Sandy claws.
• Q: My body is round, with a carrot for a nose. I love to be cold, from my head to my toes. What am I? A: A snowman
• Q: What’s red, white and blue at Christmas time? A: A sad candy cane!
• Q: Why is it so cold at Christmastime? A: Because it's in Decem-burrr!
• Q: Why don’t you ever see Santa in the hospital? A: Because he has private elf care!
• Q: What do you call a person who is afraid of Santa Claus? A: Claus-trophobic
• Q: What do elves learn in school? A: The elf-abet!
• Q: What is a snowman’s favorite breakfast? A: Frosted flakes.
• Q: Where did the snowman and snowwoman go to dance? A: A snowball!
• Q: Normally you find me on people's feet, but during Christmas you'll find me hung on fireplaces. What am I? A: Stockings.
• Q: What bites but doesn't have any teeth? A: Frost.
• Q: What kind of bug hates Christmas? A: A humbug.
• Q: I hide around the house, moving during the night. Santa sent me to see who’s naughty and nice. What am I? A: Elf on the Shelf.
• Q: I’m grumpy and green and stole Christmas one night. But then my heart grew, and I set it all right. Who am I? A: The Grinch.
• Q: Where will you be able to find Santa’s nine reindeer? A: It depends on where you left them.
• Q: What did the gingerbread man put on top of his bed? A: A cookie sheet.
• Q: I come in two different colors and am minty and sweet. You’ll be "hooked" on me—now, isn't that neat! What am I? A: Candy cane.
• Q: How much did Santa pay for his sleigh? A: Nothing, it was on the house!
• Q: How was the snow globe feeling on Christmas Eve? A: A little shaken.
• Q: Where do Santa and his elves like to go for a swim? A: The North pool.
• Q: What is the one food that will make you cry on Christmas? A: Onions.
• Q: I stayed snug in a manger with animals while my mother sang me a lullaby. Who am I? A: Baby Jesus.
• Q: What type of fruit do you eat at Christmas that isn't very healthy? A: Fruitcake.
• Q: Which one of Santa's reindeer can you see from outer space? A: Comet.

• Q: What is every parent’s favorite Christmas carol? A: "Silent Night."
• Q: If a lion wrote a Christmas album, what would it be called? A: Jungle Bells.
• Q: I'm a catchy carol and a tune that likes to rhyme, I contain 12 magnificent gifts that come around Christmas time. What am I? A: The twelve days of Christmas song.
• Q: What is a sheep's favorite Christmas tune? A: "Fleece Navidad."
• Q: What Christmas carol is a hope that you enjoy your yuletide season? A: "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
• Q: What holiday songs do fish sing? A: Christmas corals.
• Q: What does Alvin want for Christmas in "The Chipmunk Song"? A: A hula hoop.
• Q: What's a farmer’s favorite Christmas carol? A: "I’m Dreaming of a Wheat Christmas."
• Q: What two things are always wanted in December? A: "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."
• Q: What does a snake sing at Christmas? A: SSSsssssssssssilver Bells.
• Q: What did the guest sing at the Eskimo Christmas Party? A: Freeze a jolly good fellow.
• Q: What song do skunks sing at Christmas? A: Jingle Smells.
• Q: What Christmas carols do dogs like to sing? A: Deck the howls.
• Q: What do grapes sing at Christmas? A: 'Tis the season to be jelly.
• Q: Who's Santa's favorite singer? A: Elf-is Presley.
• Q: What song contains the line, "Jack Frost nipping at your nose"? A:"The Christmas Song."
• Q: In "Jingle Bell Rock," everyone is dancing and prancing around what? A: The Christmas tree
• Q: Which Christmas carol talks about a boy who is a percussionist? A: "The Little Drummer Boy."
• Q: What color was Elvis Presley’s Christmas? A: A "Blue Christmas."
• Q: Which popular Christmas carol is considered to be a lullaby? A: "Away in the Manger."
• Q: What is a vegan's favorite Christmas carol? A: Soy to the World.
• Q: What’s every elf's favorite type of music? A: Wrap!
• Q: What do they sing to Christmas trees at their retirement parties? A: Fir he's a jolly good fellow

• Q: Sometimes cubed. sometimes with a knot. Forever a secret this is not. Sometimes with thought this thing is bought. Sometimes by skill this thing is wrought. Most often with bright colors adorned. This might be carried, displayed, or worn. A: A present.
• Q: What has many keys but can’t open Santa’s sleigh? A: A piano.
• Q: What’s the hardest thing about learning to skate? A: The ice.
• Q: What is green, covered in Christmas lights and Christmas bulbs, and goes ribbit? A: A mistle-toad.
• Q: What do you call an old snowman? A: Water.
• Q: I am tall when I am young, and I am short when I am old. What am I? A: A Christmas candle.
• Q: What has a lot of needles but can’t sew? A: A Christmas tree!
• Q: What do you call an elf who rhymes? A: A wrapper
• Q: What do a Christmas tree and Santa’s beard have in common? A: They both need trimming.
• Q: I am a ball that does not bounce. What am I? A: A snowball.
• Q: Which two letters describe Santa’s sack after Christmas? A: M-T.
• Q: If otters keep their money in riverbanks, where does Frosty the Snowman keep his money? A: In a snowbank.
• Q: I come with many colors, so beautiful and bright, I turn so many houses into a beautiful sight. What am I? A: Christmas lights.
• Q: Why are Christmas trees bad at knitting? A: They always drop their needles
• Q: Why does Santa’s sled get such good mileage? A: Because it has long-distance runners on each side.
• Q: During Christmas, people gather around from all over the world to keep gifts in my care. What am I? A: A Christmas tree.
• Q: I am a shape. I am a sea animal. I am part of the sky. I am always on the top of a Christmas tree. What am I? A: A star.
• Q: I am a type of a toe found at Christmas tree that shouldn’t be on anyone’s feet. What am I? A: Mistletoe.
• Q: Why can’t a Christmas tree stand up? A: Because it doesn’t have legs.
• Q: Name the kind of egg that you can drink. A: Eggnog.
• Q: When does Christmas come before Thanksgiving? A: In the dictionary.
• Q: What do you have in December that you don’t have in any other month? A: The letter “D”.
• Q: Why does Santa travel down the chimney on Christmas Eve? A: Because it soots him.
• Q: What’s Santa’s tax status? A: Elf-employed.

• Q: Which is heavier? A pound of candy canes or a pound of coal? A: They're exactly the same. A pound is a pound.
• Q: At a holiday market, the total cost for a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie is $1.80. If a cup of hot cocoa costs one dollar more than a cookie, how much does a cup of hot cocoa cost? A: Hot Cocoa costs $1.40 and a cookie costs $0.40.
• Q: If it takes five elves, five minutes to make five dolls, then how long will it take 100 elves to make 100 dolls? A: It takes one elf five minutes to make a doll, meaning it would take 100 elves making 100 dolls at the same time five minutes still.
• Q: On Christmas day, my parents bought 16 toys for my three siblings. The oldest got 1/8 of the toys, and another got ¼ while the youngest got 1/2. How many toys did each of them get? A: The oldest gets two toys, the younger gets four, and the youngest gets eight toys.
• Q: Nick has a box of ornaments he uses to decorate his tree each year. All of them are blue, except for six. All of them are green, except for six and all of them are red except for six. How many of each color does Nick have? A: Nick has 9 ornaments in total: 3 blue, 3 green, and 3 red.
• Q: Two elves were born on Christmas Eve. When the first elf was six years old, the second elf was half his age. How old will the second elf be when the first elf is 100? A: When the first elf is 100, the second will be 97.

Cameron Jenkins

Staff Writer

Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.