Can you quote every line of Clark Griswold’s legendary Christmas bonus rant? Do you know exactly how many twinkling lights were on the Griswold house? Since 1989, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has been the ultimate holiday comedy tradition for millions — IMDb gives it a 7.5/10 from over 200,000 viewers, cementing its status as a beloved classic. Ready to prove your Christmas Vacation expertise? Here are 100 trivia questions in four difficulty levels, from casual viewers to superfans. Grab your moose mug and let’s go!
How to Use This Christmas Vacation Trivia Guide
We have designed this quiz with four difficulty levels to accommodate everyone from first-time viewers to devoted superfans. Each level contains 25 questions that progressively challenge your knowledge of this holiday classic.
Scoring System
- Easy Questions: 1 point each
- Medium Questions: 2 points each
- Hard Questions: 3 points each
- Expert Questions: 4 points each
Maximum possible score: 250 points
You can use these trivia questions for solo testing, family game nights, or holiday party competitions. If you have never seen the movie, we recommend watching it first to get the most enjoyment from this quiz.
Easy Christmas Vacation Trivia Questions for Beginners (Questions 1-25)
These questions cover the basics that any viewer should recognize. Test your knowledge of main characters, famous quotes, and memorable plot points from the Griswold family Christmas adventure.
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What is Clark Griswold's profession?
Answer: Food additive designer/Food chemist at a chemical company
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Who plays Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation?
Answer: Chevy Chase
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How many twinkling lights does Clark use to decorate the house?
Answer: 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights
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What does Clark expect to receive as his Christmas bonus?
Answer: A cash bonus (which he planned to use for a swimming pool)
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What does Clark actually receive instead of his bonus?
Answer: A one-year membership to the Jelly of the Month Club
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Who is Cousin Eddie married to?
Answer: Catherine (Ellen's cousin)
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What is the name of Clark's wife?
Answer: Ellen Griswold
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Who plays Cousin Eddie?
Answer: Randy Quaid
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What animal jumps out of the Griswold Christmas tree?
Answer: A squirrel
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What type of vehicle does Cousin Eddie arrive in?
Answer: An RV (recreational vehicle/motorhome)
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What is the name of Clark's daughter?
Answer: Audrey Griswold
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What is the name of Clark's son?
Answer: Rusty (Russell) Griswold
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Who plays Ellen Griswold?
Answer: Beverly D'Angelo
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What happens when Clark finally gets all the Christmas lights to work?
Answer: They cause a power surge that affects the entire neighborhood
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What does Ellen call Clark as her pet name for him?
Answer: "Sparky"
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What do the neighbors Todd and Margo Chester constantly complain about?
Answer: The Griswolds' holiday chaos and noise
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What does Cousin Eddie do to Clark's boss, Frank Shirley?
Answer: Kidnaps him and brings him to the Griswold house in his bathrobe
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What does Aunt Bethany bring as her contribution to Christmas dinner?
Answer: Her cat (wrapped as a present) and Jello with cat food in it
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What happens to the cat under the chair?
Answer: It chews on the Christmas tree light cord and gets electrocuted
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What does Aunt Bethany recite instead of saying grace?
Answer: The Pledge of Allegiance
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What does Eddie empty from his RV's tank into the storm drain?
Answer: The sewage tank (the "shitter")
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What is Clark's ultimate Christmas dream project?
Answer: Installing a backyard swimming pool
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What catches fire during the holiday festivities?
Answer: The Christmas tree (from Uncle Lewis's cigar)
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Who is Frank Shirley?
Answer: Clark's boss at the company
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What year was National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation released?
Answer: 1989
Medium Difficulty National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Quiz (Questions 26-50)
These Christmas Vacation movie trivia questions dig deeper into supporting characters, specific dialogue, and scene details. Regular viewers who pay attention should recognize most of these answers.
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What does Clark fall into while checking the Christmas lights display?
Answer: He falls off the ladder into frozen bushes/shrubs
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Who played Todd Chester, the yuppie neighbor?
Answer: Nicholas Guest
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What does Margo Chester get hit with through her window?
Answer: A chunk of ice (from Clark's frozen gutter)
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Who wrote the screenplay for Christmas Vacation?
Answer: John Hughes
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What is the name of Cousin Eddie's daughter?
Answer: Ruby Sue
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What does Ruby Sue say happened to fix her crossed eyes?
Answer: She got kicked by a mule and it straightened them out
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What is Clark watching in the attic that makes him emotional?
Answer: Old family home movies
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What does Clark spray on his sled to make it go extremely fast?
Answer: Non-caloric silicon-based kitchen lubricant (his own invention)
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Where does Clark's super-fast sled ride end?
Answer: He crashes into a Walmart parking lot
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Who plays Rusty Griswold in Christmas Vacation?
Answer: Johnny Galecki (later famous for The Big Bang Theory)
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Who plays Audrey Griswold?
Answer: Juliette Lewis
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What amusement park does the Griswold family visit in the original Vacation film?
Answer: Walley World
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Complete this Cousin Eddie quote: "Can I refill your ___?"
Answer: "Eggnog"
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What breed mix does Eddie say his dog Snots has in him?
Answer: Mississippi leg hound
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What is Ellen's mother's name?
Answer: Frances (Grandma Frances)
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Who directed Christmas Vacation?
Answer: Jeremiah S. Chechik
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What happens to the turkey when Clark carves it at Christmas dinner?
Answer: It's completely dried out and deflates/disintegrates with smoke
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Who calls the Jelly of the Month Club subscription "the gift that keeps on giving"?
Answer: Cousin Eddie
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How is Ellen related to Catherine (Eddie's wife)?
Answer: They are cousins
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What does Clark do when his Christmas lights refuse to turn on?
Answer: He has a famous meltdown and kicks the reindeer decorations
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Who played Uncle Lewis?
Answer: William Hickey
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What does Uncle Lewis accidentally do to the Christmas tree?
Answer: He ignites it by throwing a lit match from his cigar
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What arrives at the house at the end of the movie?
Answer: A SWAT team raids the house thinking a crime is in progress
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What famous Christmas declaration does Clark make in his rant?
Answer: He says it will be the "hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Kaye"
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What does Clark's mother tell him about the Christmas lights?
Answer: She thinks they look wonderful and she's proud of him
Hard Christmas Vacation Trivia Questions for Superfans (Questions 51-75)
These challenging Griswold trivia questions test your knowledge of behind-the-scenes details, minor characters, and specific dialogue. Only dedicated fans who have watched Christmas Vacation multiple times will ace this section.
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What actress played Margo Chester and later became famous for Seinfeld?
Answer: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
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According to Clark, how many strands and bulbs make up his 25,000 lights?
Answer: 250 strands of lights, 100 individual bulbs per strand
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What is the name of Cousin Eddie's son?
Answer: Rocky
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Which director was originally attached before leaving due to conflicts with Chevy Chase?
Answer: Chris Columbus (who later directed Home Alone)
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What are the moose mugs a reference to from the first Vacation movie?
Answer: They're souvenirs from the Walley World vacation
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What does Clark envision his house looking like from a plane?
Answer: The brightest spot on the planet, visible from space
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What happens to the Chester's glass patio furniture during the power surge?
Answer: It shatters when their stereo system explodes
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Where were the exterior Griswold house shots filmed?
Answer: Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California
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What confused question does Aunt Bethany ask when the cat gets electrocuted?
Answer: "Grace? She passed away thirty years ago!"
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Name three insults from Clark's famous rant about his boss.
Answer: Any three from: cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, hopeless, heartless
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What classic movie is referenced when Clark says "Fixed the newel post!"?
Answer: It's A Wonderful Life (1946) where George Bailey struggles with his loose newel post
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What two horror movie characters does Clark mimic during his chainsaw scene?
Answer: Jason Voorhees (hockey mask) and Leatherface (chainsaw overhead)
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How does the family get their Christmas tree in the movie?
Answer: They dig up the entire tree with its roots attached
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What happens to Clark when he sprays the lubricant on his metal saucer sled?
Answer: He goes so fast he becomes a blur and can't control the sled
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What recurring problems does Clark have on the roof throughout the movie?
Answer: He falls off multiple times and gets stuck/tangled
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What does Eddie mention about Catherine's mental state?
Answer: She's been through a lot and has anxiety/nervous issues
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What chaos does Snots the dog cause during the holiday?
Answer: He chases the squirrel and causes general destruction
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What real geological event occurred during filming?
Answer: An earthquake happened during filming in Los Angeles
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What is Clark daydreaming about when he looks through the store window?
Answer: A swimsuit/lingerie on a mannequin (fantasizing about the pool)
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Who does Clark plan to surprise with the swimming pool?
Answer: His entire family
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What type of dog is Snots?
Answer: A Rottweiler mix
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What piece of white clothing does Eddie frequently wear around his neck?
Answer: A dickie (mock turtleneck)
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What does Frank Shirley's wife Helen do when she learns he's been kidnapped?
Answer: She's shocked and immediately calls the police
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What item does Eddie give Clark as a Christmas gift?
Answer: He doesn't give a gift - he's broke and staying rent-free
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What does Clark calculate the value of his expected bonus to be?
Answer: Enough to put a deposit on the swimming pool
Expert Level Christmas Vacation Trivia for Ultimate Fans (Questions 76-100)
Only true Christmas Vacation experts will know these answers. This section covers obscure production details, cast connections to other famous roles, and trivia that requires extensive knowledge of both the film and its making.
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What famous sitcom did Johnny Galecki (Rusty) later star in for 12 seasons?
Answer: The Big Bang Theory (as Leonard Hofstadter)
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Besides Seinfeld, what HBO series did Julia Louis-Dreyfus go on to star in?
Answer: Veep (as President Selina Meyer)
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In what state is the Griswold home supposedly located?
Answer: Illinois (Chicago suburbs)
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What studio produced National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?
Answer: Warner Bros.
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How many theatrical National Lampoon's Vacation films has Chevy Chase appeared in?
Answer: Four (Vacation, European Vacation, Christmas Vacation, Vegas Vacation)
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Quote Clark's exact line about the 25,000 lights calculation.
Answer: "250 strands of lights, 100 individual bulbs per strand, for a grand total of 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights"
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Who composed the musical score for Christmas Vacation?
Answer: Angelo Badalamenti
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What song plays during the end credits?
Answer: "Christmas Vacation" performed by Mavis Staples
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What was the approximate production budget?
Answer: Approximately $25-28 million
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What is the running time of Christmas Vacation?
Answer: 97 minutes
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What injury did Chevy Chase sustain while filming Clark's meltdown scene?
Answer: He broke his pinky finger while punching the Santa decoration
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What was the exact theatrical release date?
Answer: December 1, 1989
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What short story by John Hughes inspired the Vacation film series?
Answer: "Vacation '58" (and "Christmas '59") published in National Lampoon magazine
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What actor plays Clark's father (Clark Sr.)?
Answer: John Randolph
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What actress plays Frances (Ellen's mother) who later starred in Everybody Loves Raymond?
Answer: Doris Roberts
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What happened to the originally trained squirrel before filming the tree scene?
Answer: It died of a heart attack, and an untrained squirrel was used instead
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How many days did it take to film the chaotic squirrel scene?
Answer: Three days
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Which Vacation film song is notably absent from Christmas Vacation?
Answer: "Holiday Road" by Lindsey Buckingham
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What actress played Aunt Bethany, and what cartoon character was she the original voice for?
Answer: Mae Questel, who was the original voice of Betty Boop
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What actress plays Frank Shirley's wife Helen?
Answer: Diane Ladd
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How many Saturday Night Live alumni appear in Christmas Vacation?
Answer: Four (Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Brian Doyle-Murray)
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Where in Colorado were the outdoor/snow scenes filmed?
Answer: Breckenridge, Silverthorne, and Frisco in Summit County
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What store's parking lot does Clark crash into after his sled ride?
Answer: Walmart (at 840 Summit Boulevard in Frisco, CO)
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What TV movie sequel was released in 2003 focusing on Cousin Eddie?
Answer: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure
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How much did Christmas Vacation gross at the domestic box office?
Answer: Approximately $71-74 million
Behind-the-Scenes Facts About Christmas Vacation Most Fans Don't Know
Beyond the trivia questions, here are some fascinating production secrets that make this holiday classic even more interesting.
The Director Switch That Created Home Alone
According to CinemaBlend, Chris Columbus was originally set to direct Christmas Vacation but left after personality clashes with Chevy Chase. John Hughes then offered Columbus a different script, which became Home Alone. That disagreement essentially created two holiday classics.
Chevy Chase's Broken Finger
During Clark's epic meltdown scene where he attacks the Christmas decorations, Chase actually broke his pinky finger punching the Santa Claus prop. The production kept rolling, and that take made it into the final film. You can notice Clark switches from punching to kicking the decorations partway through.
The Rant Required Cue Cards
Clark's famous profanity-filled tirade about his boss was so long that SlashFilm reports all of Chase's co-stars wore cue cards around their necks. Chase, who actually wrote the dialogue himself, would look from person to person to read his lines, creating the appearance that he was addressing everyone in the room.
The Squirrel Disaster
The trained squirrel hired for the Christmas tree chaos scene died of a heart attack before filming began. An untrained replacement was brought in at the last minute, which explains why the scene took three full days to shoot.
Real Earthquake on Set
A minor earthquake occurred during filming of the scene where Uncle Lewis and Aunt Bethany arrive. Sharp-eyed viewers can spot the camera shaking slightly during this sequence.
Future Stars Before Fame
Johnny Galecki was just 14 during filming. According to reports, Chevy Chase took him on lunch breaks to visit other studio sets, where Galecki met comedy legends Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, and Richard Pryor.
How to Host a Christmas Vacation Trivia Night at Your Holiday Party
These trivia questions are perfect for holiday gatherings. Here is how to turn them into an unforgettable party game.
Setting Up Your Trivia Game
- Print out questions by difficulty level (keep answers separate)
- Prepare numbered answer sheets for each team
- Set up a projector to show movie clips between rounds
- Queue up the movie to play in the background before trivia starts
Team Formation and Scoring
- Recommend 4-6 players per team for best discussion
- Fun team name ideas: "The Griswolds," "Cousin Eddie's RV Crew," "The Jelly of the Month Club," "25,000 Lights"
- Use our scoring system: Easy (1 pt), Medium (2 pts), Hard (3 pts), Expert (4 pts)
- Maximum possible score: 250 points
Themed Refreshments
- Serve eggnog in moose mugs (available at many retailers)
- Make Christmas tree-shaped cookies
- Create a "Jelly of the Month" dessert spread
- Encourage ugly Christmas sweater dress code
Prize Ideas
| Award | Prize Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Grand Prize (1st Place) | Christmas Vacation Blu-ray or streaming gift card |
| Runner-Up (2nd Place) | Moose mug set |
| Best Team Name | Christmas Vacation t-shirt |
| "Cousin Eddie Award" (Last Place) | White dickie and bathrobe (gag gift) |
Test Your Griswold Knowledge This Holiday Season
Whether you crushed all 100 questions or just booked an emergency rewatch, we hope this quiz brought extra cheer to your holidays! From Clark’s 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights to Cousin Eddie’s legendary one-liners, Christmas Vacation still captures the hilarious chaos of real family gatherings 35+ years later. Use these trivia questions at your next holiday party or game night, share your scores, and may your Christmas be as hap-hap-happy as Clark dreamed. At PatPat, we celebrate wonderfully chaotic families—check out our matching Christmas pajamas for your own Griswold-style holiday photos!
Additional Resources
- Christmas Vacation on IMDb - Full cast, crew, and production details
- Wikipedia Article - Comprehensive background information
- Rotten Tomatoes Reviews - Critical and audience reception
