103 Christmas Riddles for Guaranteed Holiday Cheer
Updated: Jul. 12, 2023
Test your knowledge of Noel—the fun way—with these Christmas riddles.
‘Tis the season for Christmas cheer! While you’re cozy indoors with friends and family, why not test their minds with some witty and clever Christmas riddles? This collection of clever Christmas riddles for kids and adults is guaranteed to spread some holiday cheer to all.
You won’t need to use Rudolph’s nose to guide your way to a fun time. This list of Christmas riddles includes some easy riddles for younger minds and some hard riddles for those that want a bigger challenge.
Share these Christmas riddles when you’re opening presents, drinking hot cocoa, or enjoying the company of others. Some of them are even funny just like these Christmas jokes and Christmas puns! The holiday season really is the most wonderful time of the year and a great time for some festive riddles. And if you want more Christmas activities, check out these holiday word searches you can print for free, plus some Christmas jokes for kids.
Christmas riddles for kids
1. These are found in the Harry Potter books and in Lord of The Rings too. They help make Christmas gifts that Santa brings to you. What are they?
Answer: Elves.
2. I come with a lot of colors, so lovely and bright. I turn so many houses into a beautiful sight. What am I?
Answer: Christmas lights.
3. Open me every day for something that can’t be beat. Behind each of the doors, you will discover a tasty treat. What am I?
Answer: Advent calendar.
4. You place a skirt around my bottom once I’ve been chopped. On the other end, a star or angel is how I get topped. What am I?
Answer: Christmas tree.
5. Although it might look like I belong on your toes, I’m actually hung up for gifts as every child knows. What am I?
Answer: Christmas stocking.
6. 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?
Answer: Mistletoe.
7. You might make me this Christmas so that you can stuff me in your face. A cake, icing, and candy make an edible dwelling place. What am I?
Answer: Gingerbread house.
8. I can be made from evergreens, pine cones, or berries, and I am round. On the front door of someone’s house, at Christmastime I am found. What am I?
Answer: Wreath.
9. I drop from the sky far more beautiful than rain. There are no two pieces that’ll ever look the same. What am I?
Answer: Snow.
10. We traveled from the East, following a bright star, bringing gifts to the newborn King. Who were we?
Answer: The three wise men.
Here are some great Christmas captions for all of your holiday photos.
11. Santa Claus rides on it as he gives out gifts, and to it nine reindeer are hitched. What is it?
Answer: Sleigh.
12. It has two colors and is minty yet sweet. You’ll be “hooked”—isn’t that neat! What is it?
Answer: Candy cane.
13. While I was snug in my bassinet on Christmas Day, my mother, Mary, sat nearby and sang me a lullaby. Who am I?
Answer: Baby Jesus.
14. Rip this off quickly so it can no longer hide your precious gift that is concealed inside. What is it?
Answer: Wrapping paper.
15. When going around the world, I can find the way. I go to every country while helping pull Santa’s sleigh. What am I?
Answer: Reindeer.
16. These are what Santa likes to eat. At every house he stops, he’s looking for this treat. What are these?
Answer: Milk and cookies.
17. I’m a catchy carol and a tune that likes to rhyme. I also contain 12 grand gifts that come around Christmastime. What am I?
Answer: The 12 Days of Christmas song.
18. I am a ball that does not bounce. What am I?
Answer: A snowball.
19. The inn was so full in this little town. So in a manger, they laid Him down. They would come to this City of David to pay their taxes, Herod’s law to obey. What city was this?
Answer: Bethlehem.
20. I am a colored strip used to decorate your tree, metallic and shiny you will find me. What am I?
Answer: Tinsel.
21. I’m a favorite saint, beloved by kids. I ride on a sleigh that is loaded with gifts. Who am I?
Answer: Saint Nicholas.
22. I hide around the house, moving during the nights. Santa sent me to see who’s naughty and nice. What am I?
Answer: The Elf on the Shelf.
23. What’s Frosty’s favorite snack?
Answer: Snow cones.
24. How do kids always know when Santa Claus is around?
Answer: They sense his presents!
Here are some funny Christmas memes for all ages.
Christmas riddles for adults
25. Where does a snowman usually keep his money?
Answer: A snow bank.
26. Where will you be able to find the nine reindeer?
Answer: It depends on where you left them.
27. It gets killed. It gets dressed. It gets trinkets, and everyone smiles, looking at its star. What is it?
Answer: Christmas tree.
28. He is a man during winters, but he might be a source of water during spring. Who is he?
Answer: A snowman.
29. You will buy me to eat, but you will never eat me. Not even during Christmas. What am I?
Answer: Cutlery.
30. I am an egg, but I’m meant to be drunk. What type of egg am I?
Answer: Eggnog.
31. Who will never be hungry during Christmas?
Answer: A stuffed turkey!
32. It has a body with crispy arms, white eyes, and funny feet. You might love to eat this too. What is it?
Answer: Gingerbread man.
33. You can take off its skin and still it won’t cry, but you will be in a pool of tears while making a Christmas meal. What is it?
Answer: An onion.
34. You can hold me and shake me, but I’m easy to break. I have lots of snow, even though it’s all fake! What am I?
Answer: A snowglobe.
Here are more riddles for adults that’ll test their smarts.
35. If December 31st is the end of the year, then what is the end of Christmas?
Answer: The letter “S.”
36. You can catch me easily, especially around Christmastime, but you can never throw me. What am I?
Answer: A cold.
37. When does Christmas come before Thanksgiving?
Answer: In the dictionary.
How many of these Thanksgiving riddles can you solve?
38. What Christmas carol is a fervent hope that you thoroughly enjoy your yuletide season?
Answer: We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
39. Why is Santa really good at karate?
Answer: Because he has a black belt.
40. People hang this, but it is not a picture. It is green in color, but it is not a coat. It is a plant, but it is not a mint. It is seen mostly in December, but it is not the Christmas tree. What is it?
Answer: Mistletoe.
41. Shiny and bright, these colorful strings light up the night. What are they?
Answer: Christmas lights.
Need more holiday riddles? These Easter riddles will really test your smarts.
42. What is a parent’s favorite Christmas carol?
Answer: Silent Night!
43. It is red and white, it is moving in circles, and it is red and white again, and red and white. What is it?
Answer: Santa’s clothes inside a washing machine.
44. When did Christmas and New Year’s Day both fall on the same day?
Answer: They fall on the same day (of the week) every year!
45. How do Christmas bells tell you they want to stay in touch?
Answer: “Give me a ring!”
46. How do snowglobes feel about Christmas?
Answer: It always leaves them a little shaken.
47. How did Frosty know he had dandruff?
Answer: The snowflakes.
48. What do you have after all the Christmas gifts have been opened?
Answer: A Christ-mess!
Hard Christmas riddles
49. You’re invited to attend a Christmas party on a cruise ship. When you arrive, you see many people having fun on the boat, but when you board the cruise, there is no single person to be found. How is that even possible?
Answer: Because on the cruise, everybody is married!
50. What is something that travels all around the world like Santa Claus, but never leaves its corner?
Answer: A stamp.
51. I am tall when I am young, and I am short when I am old. What am I?
Answer: A Christmas candle.
52. What is the perfect thing to put into the Christmas pie?
Answer: Your teeth!
53. Christmas was just around the corner, and a sincerely honest politician, a lovely and genuinely kind lawyer, and Santa were sharing the elevator in an expensive 5-star hotel. They all saw a $100 bill on the floor of the elevator. Who do you think picked up the bill?
Answer: Santa—the other two don’t exist!
54. When Santa Claus sets off from the North Pole during Christmas Eve, in which direction does he usually travel?
Answer: South. Because everywhere is south of the North Pole.
55. What do you call the fear of Santa Claus?
Answer: Claus-trophobia.
56. What is always right in front of you but can’t be seen?
Answer: Next Christmas.
57. Every Christmas Eve, what kind of question can children never answer yes to?
Answer: “Are you asleep yet?”
58. If Santa’s five elves can take five minutes to make five dolls, then how long will 100 elves need to make 100 dolls?
Answer: Only five minutes.
59. In what year do Christmas and New Year’s Day happen in the same year?
Answer: Every year!
Here are more of the hardest riddles ever.
60. What is the best Christmas gift you could get?
Answer: A broken drum—it can’t be beat!
61. What can’t be put inside a saucepan while cooking for the Christmas dinner?
Answer: The lid.
62. It is found in Christmas socks, Christmas scarves, and Christmas mittens, and often in the paws of playful kittens. What is it?
Answer: Yarn.
63. What does Santa Claus use when he has trouble walking?
Answer: A candy cane.
64. Santa Claus will be doing his own laundry. What detergent will he use?
Answer: Yule-TIDE.
These long riddles will give your brain a workout.
65. What has a lot of needles but can’t sew?
Answer: A Christmas tree!
66. How is it that Christmas is made up of the English alphabet but is still different from the English alphabet?
Answer: Because you get No-EL in Christmas.
67. Santa returns to the North Pole after Christmas. Where do you think he hangs his suit after using it?
Answer: Inside the Claus-et.
68. What is something you can keep after giving it to someone?
Answer: Your word.
69. How many presents can Santa put in an empty bag?
Answer: Only one—after that, it’s not empty anymore!
Try out these short riddles that will still stump you.
Funny Christmas riddles
70. I am one of Santa’s helpers. Who am I?
Answer: A subordinate Claus.
71. What do you call a vampire caught in a blizzard?
Answer: Frostbite.
Is that a Christmas riddle, or would it fit better with these Halloween riddles?
72. A bald man got a gift from Santa and proclaimed, “I’ll never part with it.” What was the gift?
Answer: A comb.
73. What do you get when you cross an apple and a Christmas tree?
Answer: A pineapple!
74. Who is responsible for delivering Christmas gifts to cats?
Answer: Santa Claws.
Speaking of cats and Christmas, here is how to keep cats away from the Christmas tree.
75. Why do reindeer always fly over the mountain?
Answer: Because they can’t go under it.
76. Why did the Little Drummer Boy invite a chicken to join his band?
Answer: He heard the chicken had drumsticks.
78. What do a Christmas tree and Santa’s beard have in common?
Answer: They both need trimming.
79. What will happen to you after eating the Christmas decorations?
Answer: You will get tinsel-itis.
80. Which of Santa’s reindeer has the most to learn about politeness?
Answer: Rude-olph.
Think you can tackle these math riddles only the smartest can get right?
Holiday riddles
81. What type of fruit do people serve at Christmas that has tons of carbs?
Answer: Fruitcake.
82. What does Adam say on the night before Christmas?
Answer: It’s Christmas, Eve!
83. What usually comes once in a minute, twice in a week, and once in a year?
Answer: The letter “E.”
84. Who makes toy guitars and sings “Blue Christmas”?
Answer: Elf-is Presley.
85. Not there yesterday, and also not there tomorrow night. Opened up on the eve, sharing hope and love on yuletide. What is it?
Answer: A present.
86. If you hear me jingling around the night just before Christmas Day, you’d better try to get to sleep as you are hearing Santa’s sleigh. What am I?
Answer: Bells.
87. What did the Gingerbread Man put on top of his bed?
Answer: A cookie sheet.
Keep the fun going with these Christmas brain teasers everyone will love unwrapping.
88. My job often leaves me frozen; I am a man that all should know, but I only come out during times of sleet or ice or snow. Who am I?
Answer: A snowman.
89. I’m grumpy and green and stole Christmas one night. But then my heart grew, and I set it all right. Who am I?
Answer: The Grinch.
If you didn’t get that one, it might be time to read one of our favorite Christmas books!
90. What is the name of a runner’s favorite reindeer?
Answer: Dasher.
91. What bites but doesn’t have any teeth?
Answer: Frost.
92. What is Santa’s favorite thing to do in his garden?
Answer: Hoe, hoe, hoe!
93. Why do mummies like Christmas so much?
Answer: Because of all the wrapping.
94. What’s the first thing elves learn at school?
Answer: The Elf-abet.
95. Why did Frosty cross the road?
Answer: To melt on the other side.
96. What will you get if you cross an archer with a gift wrapper?
Answer: Ribbon Hood!
97. I’ve crowned victors’ heads since ancient Rome. Around Christmastime, I might be in your home. What am I?
Answer: A wreath!
98. You wait for me all year round, yet I just end up looking like a giant sock. What am I?
Answer: A Christmas stocking.
Check out more fun “what am I?” riddles.
99. What’s a lion’s favorite Christmas carol?
Answer: Jungle Bells!
100. Which Christmas bird moves the slowest?
Answer: A turtle dove.
101. What do snowmen do when they’re angry at you?
Answer: Give you the cold shoulder.
102. Where do Mr. and Mrs. Claus like to swim?
Answer: The North Pool!
103. Who says “Oh, Oh, Oh”?
Answer: Santa walking backwards.
Next, check out these Christmas movies on Netflix that you can watch right now!
