Can you guess the Christmas Carol? Quiz

By: Sarah Crozer
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

You probably know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. But do you know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen? Don't forget the most famous of Santa's reindeer!

Christmas carols have been written since at least the 300s, but the ones we know have only emerged in the past two centuries. Many carols include religion as Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. Which Christmas carol is your favorite?

Can you recite the lyrics to "Jingle Bell Rock"? How about the lyrics to "I'll Be Home For Christmas"? Maybe you can even sing the words to the Christmas classic, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"? Some of the lyrics on this quiz may trick you!

Do the lyrics, "Oh, what fun it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh" ring a bell? How about "Star of wonder, star of light"? Maybe, "Glad tidings we bring, to you and your kin" is your favorite lyric? If you're stumped, try to remember the tune that matches the lyrics!

You grew up singing them, and maybe you'll even teach them to your kids. So, Christmas carol experts, if you had no trouble answering these questions then what are you waiting for? You're sure to have a "Holly Jolly Christmas" with this quiz!

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.”

Australians have their own version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" where all of the animals are replaced by wildlife from down under!

“You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout”

This was written in 1932 by Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots. They had trouble convincing anyone to produce it because it was seen as a kids' song, which would have been very hard to sell!

“Oh the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we've no place to go..."

This song was recorded by Vaughn Monroe in 1945! “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” is another summertime Christmas song, as creator Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne wrote the song while sweating away in Hollywood during one of the hottest days on record during July of 1945.

“Come and behold Him, born the King of angels”

'O Come All Ye Faithful' was originally known as 'Adeste Fideles' because it was first written and sung in Latin before being translated into English. The Latin version remains popular and is sometimes still recorded today!

"How loyal are your needles! You're green not only in the summertime”

“O Christmas Tree” aka “O Tannenbaum" A Tannenbaum is actually a fir tree, and organist Ernst Anschütz set his German lyrics to the 16th century folk tune following a tradition of songs praising the trees for faithfully remaining green

“Holy Infant so Tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace."

Joseph Mohr, a pastor, wrote Silent Night as a poem in 1816. The Austrian pastor continued his work at the church until two years later, when the organ in the church broke just before the Christmas Mass and Mohr turned his attention back to that poem. Today, there is no Christmas carol that has been performed and recorded more than Silent Night!

"Said the night wind to the little lamb, "Do you see what I see?” Way up in the sky, little lamb”

This song was inspired by the Cuban Missile Crisis!

“Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh”

Originally to be named “One horse open Sleigh!” This was the first song played in space. On December 16, 1965, astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford were aboard Gemini 6 when they played this on a harmonica and bells to Mission Control!

“....had a very shiny nose.”

Just like “Frosty The Snow Man,” this song was based on a Children's story. Rudolph, the ninth reindeer, was created by Robert L. May, an employee of Montgomery Ward department store in Chicago. The store gave out Christmas books each year to children and May was asked in 1939 to create a story that kids would enjoy.

“Gone away is the blue bird. Here to stay is a new bird. He sings a love song, as we go along......”

Dick Smith wrote the words for "Winter Wonderland" while recovering from tuberculosis in Scranton, Pennsylvania!

"Hang your stockings and say your prayers cause Santa Claus comes tonight..”

In 1947, Gene Autry recorded this song!

“You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel”

Thurl Ravenscroft, the singer responsible for How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ classic song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” also famously voiced Tony the Tiger, the mascot for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes!

“....Glory to the newborn king! Peace on earth, and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled”

Felix Mendelssohn composed the tune to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" as a tribute to printer/inventor Johann Gutenberg.

“.......Just like the ones I used to know. Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow”

Elvis recorded "White Christmas" in 1957. Composer Irving Berlin tried to get it banned from the radio!

“Oh what fun it is to ride and sing, a sleighing song tonight.”

This carol, so popular with young children because of its infectious tune and its simplicity, was created in Boston in 1857 by a man coming up with songs for a Thanksgiving program at his church!

“Make the Yuletide gay. From now on, our troubles will be miles away.”

Written for the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis, the original lyrics to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” were deemed too sad by both the film’s director Vincente Minelli and its star Judy Garland. They asked songwriter Vincente Minelli to rewrite sections of the song.

“_____, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight.”

In 1953 Bing Crosby had a huge hit with a song that is originally called “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” in German!

“...Click, click, click. Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.”

This was the first christmas son to mention Santa!

“It's Christmas time in the city. Ring-a-ling, hear them ring, soon it will be Christmas day."

The original lyric for "Silver Bells" was actually "Tinkle Bells," inspired by a tiny bell on the desk of composers Livingston and Evans!

“Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow”

Bing Crosby’s version of “White Christmas” is the highest-selling single of all time. In April 1975, the American military played the original “White Christmas” over Armed Forces Radio as a covert signal instructing soldiers in Vietnam to evacuate Saigon.

“Glad tidings we bring, to you and your kin”

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas” is one of the oldest secular Christmas songs, originating in 16th century England!

“.....You can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe, and presents on the tree.”

Gemini 7 astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell asked to have "I'll Be Home For Christmas" played for them while they were in orbit in 1965!

“But the prettiest sight to see, is the holly that will be.”

The Grand Hotel from "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas" is believed to be in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia!

“....and hurry down the chimney tonight”

Eartha Kitt was a sultry nightclub performer who earned a record deal with RCA in 1953. Kitt sang about how she's been good all year and expects some very expensive gifts to appear, including a fur coat, a new coat and even a yacht!

“I don't want a lot for Christmas, there's just one thing I need..”

Debuted in the Christmas favorite, Love Actually, an outrageously talented pre-teen, rocked this song in addition to a choir. This entertaining and heart-warming performance raised the bar for school Christmas pageants everywhere.

“.....Giddy up jingle horse pick up your feet....”

You can catch a unique performance of this classic song in the movie Mean Girls. This Christmas song was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas season since then!

“......it's the best time of the year.....”

This endearing performance can be found in the old classic, Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer. There’s Santa, Rudolph, elves square dancing, presents, a giant tree, mistletoe, tinsel, and the most classic Christmas icon – the abominable snowman.

“There is just one thing I need, and I don't care about the presents, underneath the Christmas tree”

Walter Afanasieff, Mariah Carey’s co-writer on “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” also wrote Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

“With the kids jingle belling, and everyone telling you, "Be of good cheer."

It was written specifically for The Andy Williams Christmas Album and the crooner performed it on his popular variety show, The Andy Williams Show. This song is featured Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) as an ironic aside when Kevin McCallister's family starts their Florida vacation in a downpour outside of a seedy motel.

“I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, from the bottom of my heart”

This bilingual holiday classic comprises a simple English verse with a Spanish chorus, "Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad" that translates as "Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness."

“So really I'd better scurry, well maybe just a half a drink more..”

One of the most endearingly inappropriate scenes in the film Elf, Buddy the elf joins his co-worker Jovie in the bathroom for a secret duet! The movie featured WIll Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel who actually recorded and released the track!

“Star of wonder, star of night..”

From the lyrics, the star was leading the three kings westward!

“Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Yuletide carols being sung by a choir...”

Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song” (more commonly known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”) was written during a summer heatwave in 1944!

“....Mistletoe hung where you can see...”

Kevin McCallister can be caught having an elaborate dance party to this classic song in Home Alone. Singer Brenda Lee recorded the original version of “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” when she was only 13 years old.

“Christmas is here, bringing good cheer...”

This song can be heard in the intro of the movie, The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen. One modern day group that released a cover of this song, which turned out to be a hit, was Destiny's Child! Carol Of The Bells is a very well loved Christmas Carol.

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