Christian holidays are an important part of the liturgical calendar for many denominations. These sacred days commemorate significant events in the life of Jesus Christ, the early Christian church, and important figures in the faith. Riddles can be a fun way to reflect on the meaning behind these holidays. Here are 55 riddles about major Christian holidays along with their answers.
Easter Riddles
Easter is the most important Christian holiday, as it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion. It marks the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation through the defeat of death.
#1
Riddle: I’m a colorful decoration that you might find in an Easter basket. I’m made of plastic or chocolate and come in egg or bunny shapes. What am I?
Answer: An Easter egg or chocolate bunny.
#2
Riddle: People wear their best outfits and hats to celebrate me. I’m a movable Christian holiday that can fall between March 22 and April 25. What holiday am I?
Answer: Easter.
#3
Riddle: On Easter, I’m given to children to collect treats. I can be made of plastic or woven reeds. What am I?
Answer: An Easter basket.
#4
Riddle: On the morning of Easter Sunday, women visited my tomb but found it empty. Who am I?
Answer: Jesus.
#5
Riddle: People hide me all around the house and yard for kids to find on Easter. I can be plastic eggs filled with candy or real hard-boiled eggs. What am I?
Answer: Easter eggs.
Christmas Riddles
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God. It is marked by festive decorations, gift-giving, and special church services.
#6
Riddle: I’m a revered Christmas tree with needles instead of leaves. I have an iconic smell and am used as lumber. What type of tree am I?
Answer: Evergreen/pine/fir tree.
#7
Riddle: I’m the Christmas Eve visitor who brings presents for good boys and girls. My reindeer help me travel the world in one night. Who am I?
Answer: Santa Claus.
#8
Riddle: I’m a sweet Christmas treat made of flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. I’m baked and decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles. What am I?
Answer: A Christmas cookie.
#9
Riddle: I’m a bright Christmas plant with pointy leaves and red berries. People kiss under me. What am I?
Answer: Mistletoe.
#10
Riddle: People sing songs about me, the Christmas holiday. I’m associated with a jolly man in red, gifts, family gatherings, and Jesus’s birth. What holiday am I?
Answer: Christmas.
Lent Riddles
Lent is the 40-day period leading up to Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday. It represents the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness and is marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
#11
Riddle: I’m the first day of Lent marked by ash crosses on the forehead. What day am I?
Answer: Ash Wednesday.
#12
Riddle: During Lent, I’m given up as a sacrifice. Examples are candy, meat, alcohol, and sweets. What am I?
Answer: Something given up for Lent.
#13
Riddle: I’m a Lent tradition of eating simple, meatless meals on Fridays. What am I?
Answer: Fish Fridays.
#14
Riddle: I’m purple cloth used to cover crosses and religious statues during Lent. What am I?
Answer: A Lenten veil.
#15
Riddle: Lent lasts for 40 of my days. What am I?
Answer: Days
Advent Riddles
Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. It begins 4 Sundays before Christmas and represents hopeful anticipation for the Nativity of Jesus.
#16
Riddle: I’m a wreath with 4 candles that represents the 4 weeks of Advent. What am I?
Answer: An Advent wreath.
#17
Riddle: I’m a calendar that children open daily to count down the days until Christmas during Advent. What am I?
Answer: An Advent calendar.
#18
Riddle: I’m the first Sunday of Advent marked by lighting 1 purple candle. What day am I?
Answer: The first Sunday of Advent.
#19
Riddle: I’m a hymn sung during Advent asking Jesus to visit us on Christmas Day. What song am I?
Answer: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
#20
Riddle: My color is purple during Advent to represent royalty and penitence. What liturgical color am I?
Answer: Purple.
Saints’ Feast Days Riddles
Feast days celebrate the lives of saints and important figures in Christianity. They often commemorate the saint’s death, called their heavenly birthday.
#21
Riddle: My feast day is March 17th. I use a shamrock to teach about the Holy Trinity. Who am I?
Answer: St. Patrick.
#22
Riddle: My feast day is December 6th. I secretly left gifts for the poor. Who am I?
Answer: St. Nicholas.
#23
Riddle: My feast day is May 13th. I had visions of Mary in Lourdes, France. Who am I?
Answer: St. Bernadette.
#24
Riddle: My feast day is October 1st. I’m the patron saint of animals and the environment. Who am I?
Answer: St. Francis of Assisi.
#25
Riddle: My feast day is July 22nd. I’m the patron saint of France. Who am I?
Answer: St. Mary Magdalene.
Palm Sunday Riddles
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem when people welcomed him by laying down palm branches.
#26
Riddle: I’m waved in church on Palm Sunday to commemorate Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem. What am I?
Answer: Palm leaves or crosses made from palms.
#27
Riddle: Palm Sunday falls the week before this major movable Christian holiday. What holiday am I?
Answer: Easter.
#28
Riddle: Palm Sunday marks the start of this important week in the Christian calendar. What week am I?
Answer: Holy Week.
#29
Riddle: Biblically, I’m the place Jesus traveled to for Passover, riding on a donkey with people waving palm branches. What city am I?
Answer: Jerusalem.
#30
Riddle: Palm Sunday is also known as this Sunday, named after the Gospel reading about Jesus’s entry to Jerusalem.
Answer: Passion Sunday.
Pentecost Riddles
Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’s disciples after his Ascension. It signals the birth of the Christian church.
#31
Riddle: I represent the Holy Spirit and am depicted as a dove or tongues of flame. What am I?
Answer: Pentecost symbols.
#32
Riddle: Pentecost takes place 50 days after this holy day that marks Jesus’s resurrection. What is this holy day?
Answer: Easter.
#33
Riddle: On Pentecost in the Bible, I allowed the disciples to speak in many languages to spread Christianity. Who am I?
Answer: The Holy Spirit.
#34
Riddle: The color red symbolizes this on Pentecost. What does red symbolize?
Answer: The Holy Spirit.
#35
Riddle: Pentecost marks the birthday of what major institution in Christianity?
Answer: The Christian Church.
Ascension Day Riddles
Ascension Day celebrates Jesus’s ascension into heaven 40 days after his resurrection. It takes place 40 days after Easter.
#36
Riddle: On this holy day, Jesus ascended into heaven. When is this day?
Answer: Ascension Day.
#37
Riddle: Ascension Day occurs 40 days after this major resurrection holiday. Which holiday am I?
Answer: Easter.
#38
Riddle: The Ascension marks the end of Jesus’s time on this planet. What planet is he leaving behind?
Answer: Earth.
#39
Riddle: After the Ascension, Jesus sits at the right hand of God in this holy place. Where am I?
Answer: Heaven.
#40
Riddle: Ascension Day is celebrated on this weekday 40 days after Easter.
Answer: Thursday.
All Saints’ Day Riddles
All Saints’ Day on November 1 honors all saints and martyrs in Christianity. It is followed by All Souls’ Day.
#41
Riddle: I’m a holy day on November 1 that honors all Christian saints. Who am I?
Answer: All Saints’ Day.
#42
Riddle: On All Saints’ Day, people light candles and pray for saints and for their loved ones who’ve passed away. What is this tradition called?
Answer: Lighting candles/praying for the dead.
#43
Riddle: All Saints’ Day originated as a feast day dedicated to which early Christian martyr?
Answer: Saint Martin of Tours.
#44
Riddle: What color vestment is worn by priests on All Saints’ Day?
Answer: White.
#45
Riddle: All Saints’ Day is followed by All Souls’ Day on this date.
Answer: November 2nd.
Shrove Tuesday Riddles
Shrove Tuesday, also called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday. It involves feasting before the Lent fast.
#46
Riddle: I’m the day before Lent known for parades and feasts of indulgent foods like pancakes and donuts. What day am I?
Answer: Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras.
#47
Riddle: On Shrove Tuesday, people traditionally make confession and are “shriven of their sins.” What does it mean to be shriven?
Answer: To be absolved from guilt or forgiven.
#48
Riddle: What are the traditional Shrove Tuesday colors?
Answer: Purple, green, and gold.
#49
Riddle: Traditionally, what type of pastry is eaten on Shrove Tuesday?
Answer: Pancakes or donuts.
#50
Riddle: Shrove Tuesday is determined by the date of this spring holiday.
Answer: Easter.
Corpus Christi Riddles
Corpus Christi is a feast day honoring the Real Presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist. It takes place on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
#51
Riddle: I’m a holy feast day honoring the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament. What am I?
Answer: Corpus Christi.
#52
Riddle: Corpus Christi processions traditionally carry this receptacle for the consecrated Eucharistic bread.
Answer: A monstrance.
#53
Riddle: The Thursday after this holy day celebrating the Trinity is when Corpus Christi takes place. What holy day am I?
Answer: Trinity Sunday.
#54
Riddle: White vestments and altar decorations like lilies traditionally symbolize this during Corpus Christi.
Answer: Purity, holiness, or the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
#55
Riddle: What sacred Catholic sacrament is honored on the feast of Corpus Christi?
Answer: The Eucharist or Holy Communion.
Conclusion
Christian holidays mark sacred events and figures that are central to the story of Christianity. These riddles along with their answers shed light on the religious significance behind major observances like Easter, Christmas, and Lent while also teaching a bit about Christian history and tradition. The church calendar provides opportunities for reflection, celebration, fasting, and feasting as believers contemplate the foundations of their faith.
