There’s something magical about Christmas evenings when the gifts are opened, the lights twinkle softly, and laughter starts echoing through the living room. That’s when the real magic happens — not from the presents, but from the moments shared playing simple, joyful games together.
These classic Christmas games don’t require screens or fancy equipment. Just family, a few props from around the house, and a cozy spirit ready for fun.
1. Christmas Charades
This one is a timeless favorite in our house. All you need are some scraps of paper, a pen, and a bowl. Write down holiday-themed prompts like wrapping presents, Santa stuck in the chimney, building a snowman, or drinking hot cocoa.
Split everyone into teams and take turns drawing slips from the bowl. The player must act out the phrase silently while their team guesses before the timer runs out.
💡 Monika’s Tip: Use candy canes as “microphones” and play cheerful music between turns — it keeps the energy high and the laughter rolling.
2. Guess the Christmas Carol
If your family loves music, this one is a hit. Play the first few seconds of a Christmas song and have everyone race to name the title. To make it harder (and funnier), hum the tune instead of playing it!
You can even turn it into a tournament: one person hums, one guesses, and the rest judge how “in tune” the performance is.
🎶 What You’ll Need:
A playlist of Christmas songs, a speaker, and a lot of enthusiasm.
3. Pass the Present
Wrap a small prize — like chocolate, a cozy candle, or a cute ornament — in multiple layers of wrapping paper. Sit everyone in a circle and play Christmas music as the gift gets passed around. When the music stops, the person holding it unwraps one layer.
The one who removes the final layer gets to keep the prize.
🎁 Monika’s Family Twist: Between rounds, the person unwrapping must perform a festive dare — sing a carol, tell a Christmas joke, or compliment the person next to them.
4. Ornament Guessing Game
This one’s great while you wait for dinner. Fill a clear jar with tiny ornaments, jingle bells, or candies and have everyone write down how many they think are inside. The closest guess wins!
You can even fill several jars with different items — mini candy canes, marshmallows, pom-poms — for multiple rounds of fun.
5. Christmas Movie Trivia
Perfect for a family who knows their holiday classics by heart.
Make a trivia sheet with fun questions like:
- “Who said, The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear?”
- “What’s the Grinch’s dog’s name?”
- “Which Christmas movie takes place on a train headed to the North Pole?”
Give each correct answer a point, and award the winner a Christmas mug or a small treat bag.
🎥 Bonus Round: Act out a movie scene and let everyone guess which film it’s from!
6. Snowball Toss
This one brings out everyone’s competitive side — even Grandma!
Make “snowballs” from rolled-up white socks or cotton balls. Set up baskets or bowls at varying distances. Each player has 30 seconds to toss as many “snowballs” into the target as possible.
For younger kids, move the baskets closer or make it cooperative — everyone plays together to reach a certain score.
7. Christmas Bingo
This is one of those games that keeps kids busy while you pour another round of cocoa. Print or draw bingo cards with festive icons — snowmen, stockings, candy canes, stars, and gifts.
Call out each image or show flashcards, and let players mark their boards with buttons, coins, or chocolate candies.
🎅 Pro Mom Move: Use wrapped chocolates as markers — whoever wins gets to eat theirs first!
8. Santa Says
A Christmas twist on Simon Says — but sillier!
Start as “Santa” and give commands like:
- “Santa says touch your reindeer nose!”
- “Santa says jingle your bells!”
- “Santa says say ‘ho ho ho!’”
Anyone who moves when Santa doesn’t say it is out! Kids love it because it keeps them giggling and moving even after too many cookies.
🎄 Why We Love It: It’s great for all ages, gets out the wiggles, and doesn’t require a single prop.
Fun Christmas Games for Kids & Toddlers
When little ones are involved, the holidays become even more magical. Everything is brighter — the lights, the laughter, even the mess. But keeping small hands busy (without total chaos) takes a little planning and a lot of creativity.
These Christmas games are designed for toddlers and younger kids — simple, safe, and filled with wonder. Whether you’re hosting a preschool party or just need to fill an afternoon before Santa arrives, these ideas will keep your tiniest elves smiling.
1. Candy Cane Hunt
Think Easter egg hunt, but with candy canes!
Hide candy canes all around the living room, under cushions, or hanging from doorknobs. Give each child a small basket or gift bag and send them on their merry way.
🎄 Monika’s Tip: Assign each child a specific color of candy cane so the older ones don’t accidentally snatch all the goodies before the little ones get a chance.
Once the hunt is over, let everyone enjoy one — or use them as hot cocoa stirrers.
2. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
This one is always a crowd-pleaser. Draw or print a big picture of Rudolph and cut out red paper noses. Blindfold each child, spin them gently, and see who can get the nose closest to its spot.
🎁 Mom Hack: Use sticky tack or double-sided tape instead of pins for safety.
You can even award small prizes like stickers or holiday pencils — but honestly, the giggles are the best reward.
3. Jingle Bell Toss
Grab a few plastic cups and line them up on the floor. Give each child a handful of jingle bells and let them try to toss them into the cups from a short distance.
For older kids, make it trickier by labeling cups with different point values.
🔔 Monika’s Tip: Play Christmas music in the background — it keeps energy high and adds a festive rhythm to the game.
4. Santa Says
Toddlers love movement games, and this one’s perfect for wiggly bodies.
It’s just like Simon Says — but Santa gives the orders!
Examples:
- “Santa says touch your nose!”
- “Santa says hop like a reindeer!”
- “Santa says say ho-ho-ho!”
If Santa doesn’t say it, they stay still — or try to, between giggles.
🎅 Pro Mom Move: Let each child take a turn being “Santa” for a round — it helps shy little ones join in the fun.
5. Snowball Spoon Race
A soft, silly challenge that works for any space. Give each child a spoon and a cotton ball (your “snowball”). They must race from one side of the room to the other without dropping it!
If it falls, they go back to the start — but little ones can just pick it up and keep going.
🏁 Variation: For older siblings, make it a relay race — team Rudolph vs. Team Santa!
6. Christmas Cookie Decorating
This is less of a competition and more of a cozy activity, but it’s always a hit.
Set up a table with sugar cookies, icing in squeeze bottles, sprinkles, and tiny candies. Let the kids decorate their own cookies while Christmas music plays.
🎨 Mom Hack: Cover your table with a disposable plastic cloth or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Afterward, wrap each cookie in a festive bag and label it — they make perfect “take-home treats.”
7. Build-a-Snowman Craft Race
All you need is construction paper, glue sticks, and cotton balls. Give each child a sheet of blue paper and let them “build a snowman” using cotton balls as the snow.
Add googly eyes, orange triangles for noses, and colored paper scarves.
⛄ Why Kids Love It: It’s hands-on, creative, and gives them something to show off to Grandma afterward.
8. Reindeer Ring Toss
You can buy inflatable reindeer antler hats or make your own with paper horns taped to a headband. Kids take turns tossing rings (made from glow sticks or pipe cleaners) onto the antlers.
🎄 Mom Hack: Have adults wear the antlers too — toddlers squeal with laughter when “Mommy Reindeer” gets the ring!
9. Christmas Freeze Dance
Put on a playlist of upbeat carols and let the kids dance their little hearts out. When the music stops — they freeze! Anyone caught moving sits out one round.
🎶 Bonus Fun: Add silly instructions — “Freeze like a snowman!” or “Pose like Santa!”
10. Elf Treasure Hunt
Hide small trinkets or candy around the house and give clues like,
“Where Santa checks his list?” (the desk) or
“Where we hang our stockings?” (the fireplace).
Each child gets a tiny gift bag to collect their finds.
🎁 Mom Hack: Reuse dollar-store items like stickers, crayons, and tiny figurines — it’s festive without breaking the budget.
Family & Adult Christmas Games That Get Everyone Talking
After the kids are tucked in and the cocoa has turned into something a little more “grown-up,” it’s time for the adults to have their own kind of fun. These games mix laughter, storytelling, and just enough mischief to make the night memorable.
The beauty of these ideas is that they don’t need special materials — just your favorite people, a few props from around the house, and a willingness to be silly.
1. Christmas Scattergories
This one brings out everyone’s creative side. Write a list of Christmas-themed categories — like Christmas movies, holiday foods, gifts you’d re-gift, things found in Santa’s bag.
Pick a letter (like “S”) and set a timer for one minute. Everyone writes as many items as they can that start with that letter. When time’s up, read answers aloud — no duplicates count, so originality wins!
🎄 Monika’s Tip: Add categories like worst Christmas gift ever or something Grandma always says for guaranteed laughs.
2. Who Am I? – Holiday Edition
Stick a name card on everyone’s forehead (Santa, Frosty, Mariah Carey, The Grinch — be creative!). Players take turns asking yes/no questions to figure out who they are.
Questions might sound like:
“Am I human?”
“Do I live at the North Pole?”
“Do I sing every December?”
It’s funny watching your uncle seriously debate whether he’s “Elf on the Shelf.”
🎅 Pro Tip: Use themed sticky notes and let the kids join in with simpler characters — it’s surprisingly fun across all ages.
3. Christmas Gift Swap with a Twist
Also known as White Elephant or Yankee Swap, this one never gets old — especially when the gifts are quirky or handmade.
Everyone brings a wrapped present (set a budget, like $10). Draw numbers to decide the order. The first person picks a gift and opens it. The next person can either steal that gift or open a new one.
Once a gift is “stolen” three times, it’s locked.
🎁 Monika’s Family Version: We once added a twist where every time someone stole a gift, they had to share a favorite holiday memory. It made the night both hilarious and heartwarming.
4. Name That Tune – Christmas Edition
You only need a playlist and a competitive streak. Play the first few seconds of a Christmas song — whoever guesses it first wins a point.
To make it funnier, hum or whistle the tune instead of playing it!
🎶 Variation: For an extra challenge, have a “reverse round” where players must sing backward lyrics (just a few words in reverse order) — the results are always chaotic and hysterical.
5. Holiday “Never Have I Ever”
This is the ultimate game for adult laughter. Go around the circle and take turns saying things like:
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“Never have I ever peeked at my Christmas presents early.”
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“Never have I ever regifted something.”
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“Never have I ever fallen asleep during Christmas Mass.”
Anyone who has done it takes a sip (or a bite of cookie if you’re keeping it family-friendly).
🍷 Why It Works: It sparks funny confessions and stories you never knew — like the time Grandpa confessed he accidentally ate the dog’s stocking treat thinking it was jerky.
6. Holiday Pictionary
Grab a whiteboard or large pad and split into two teams. Write down Christmas-related phrases (like ugly sweater, roasting chestnuts, Santa on vacation).
Players take turns drawing while their team guesses before the timer buzzes.
🎨 Monika’s Tip: Use candy canes as “pointers” and keep festive snacks nearby — laughter and sugar are the perfect combo.
7. Christmas “Would You Rather?”
This one gets surprisingly deep (and often hilarious). Ask everyone questions like:
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“Would you rather live at the North Pole or work in Santa’s workshop?”
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“Would you rather have to wear an ugly Christmas sweater every day or wrap 1,000 gifts in a week?”
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“Would you rather never eat Christmas cookies again or never get presents?”
It’s simple, but sparks fun debates and personal stories that have everyone talking.
✨ Bonus: Write your own “Would You Rather” cards ahead of time and toss them in a bowl. It’s a great icebreaker for big family gatherings or office parties.
DIY Printable & Creative Christmas Games for All Ages
If you love the smell of cinnamon candles, the sound of laughter, and the joy of creating something together, this section is for you. These Christmas games don’t need much — just a printer (or a few markers and paper), some imagination, and that cozy holiday spirit that turns ordinary moments into memories.
1. Christmas Bingo (DIY Printable Edition)
Bingo is always a win — especially when it’s holiday-themed.
You can easily make your own cards using free online templates or draw simple grids on paper. Instead of numbers, fill the squares with festive icons like stockings, snowflakes, cookies, and reindeer.
🖍 Monika’s Tip: Laminate the cards if you plan to reuse them each year. Kids love crossing off with candy pieces or mini marshmallows!
To play, pull cards or images from a bowl, calling them out one by one — “Candy Cane!” “Snowman!” “Santa’s Hat!” First one to get five in a row wins a small prize or the next turn picking the Christmas movie.
2. Christmas Word Scramble
This one’s both brainy and fun. Create a list of scrambled Christmas words — like NATSA (Santa) or EENRREDI (reindeer).
Give everyone a copy and see who can unscramble them the fastest.
💡 Pro Tip: Print two levels — one easy for kids (5–6 letters) and one challenging for adults (longer phrases like GINGERBREAD COOKIE).
To make it festive, use red and green paper or tie each sheet with a tiny ribbon for that “gifted” touch.
3. Holiday Emoji Quiz
Print out or display a list of emojis that describe Christmas movies or songs — like 🎅🎄🍪✨ might stand for The Santa Clause or ❄️👑 could be Frozen.
Set a timer and let everyone guess. You’ll be surprised how competitive this one gets — even Grandpa will want to decode the emojis!
🎶 Why It Works: It bridges generations — tech-savvy teens and storytelling parents all get a fair chance.
4. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
This one’s always a hit — especially for family gatherings. You can make it as simple or elaborate as you like.
Write clues on small cards and hide them around the house:
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“Find something that jingles”
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“Look where the cookies bake”
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“Search under something soft and cozy”
Each clue leads to the next until the final stop reveals a small surprise — maybe hot cocoa packets, ornaments, or candy canes.
🧺 Monika’s Tip: For little ones, use picture clues or color codes; for older kids, include riddles for a fun brain twist.
5. Christmas Mad Libs
If your family loves storytelling, this will have everyone doubled over in laughter.
Print out Christmas-themed Mad Lib templates — stories with blanks for nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Have each person fill in their words without knowing the story. When you read it aloud, chaos (and laughter) ensues.
🎄 Pro Mom Move: Create a keepsake folder of the funniest Mad Libs each year — they’re hilarious to revisit the next Christmas.
6. Christmas Memory Game
Cut out pairs of small cards featuring Christmas icons — trees, elves, bells, stockings, stars — and place them face down.
Players flip two cards at a time, trying to find matches. The one with the most pairs wins.
🎁 Variation: For older players, make a “Christmas Movie Memory” set — match famous movie quotes with their titles (“Every time a bell rings…” → It’s a Wonderful Life).
7. The Naughty or Nice Jar
A sweet mix of truth, dares, and heartfelt confessions!
Prepare two jars: one labeled Naughty and one Nice.
Fill them with slips like:
- Naughty: “Sing ‘Jingle Bells’ in your best Santa voice” or “Share the silliest Christmas gift you ever got.”
- Nice: “Give someone a compliment” or “Say one thing you’re thankful for this Christmas.”
Each player draws one at a time — laughter and connection guaranteed.
8. Christmas Photo Booth Challenge
Set up a DIY photo booth with wrapping paper as the backdrop and props like Santa hats, scarves, reindeer antlers, and mistletoe.
Divide into teams — each group has two minutes to strike the silliest or most creative Christmas poses. Use a phone timer and snap away!
🎅 Monika’s Tip: Make it even more fun by printing the photos later and adding them to a family scrapbook labeled Christmas Shenanigans 2025.
Cozy After-Dinner Games & Memory-Making Traditions
Once the dishes are done, the candles burn low, and everyone’s settled with hot cocoa or a slice of pie, that’s when the magic of Christmas truly shines. These after-dinner games aren’t loud or competitive — they’re slow, joyful, and full of stories. The kind that stretch into laughter, nostalgia, and sometimes, a happy tear or two.
1. The “Christmas Past” Story Game
Gather everyone in a circle and share favorite Christmas memories — but with a twist. Each person starts with “The year I remember most was…” and then tells a short story.
It can be funny, heartwarming, or even chaotic (like the year the dog ate the ham).
🎄 Monika’s Tip: Record these on your phone — years later, these snippets of family voices become treasures.
2. Gratitude Garland
Give everyone a few strips of paper and have them write one thing they’re thankful for this Christmas. Loop them together into a garland and hang it across the mantel.
Each year, add new links — by the time your kids grow up, you’ll have a chain of family gratitude stretching across time.
💫 Variation: For little ones, use stickers or drawings instead of words — it’s just as meaningful.
3. The Christmas Compliment Circle
This one fills the room with pure love. Everyone takes turns saying one kind thing about the person to their left — something they admire, appreciate, or simply love about them.
It’s beautiful watching faces soften and eyes light up. Sometimes, it’s the quietest people whose words leave the biggest mark.
❤️ Why It Works: It reminds us that gifts fade, but the people who love us — they’re the real miracle.
4. Guess the Christmas Memory
Before dinner, ask each family member to write down a short memory from any Christmas past on a slip of paper — no names. Put them all in a jar.
After dessert, read them aloud and guess who wrote which one!
🎁 Monika’s Tip: Include both silly and sentimental memories. The guessing becomes half detective work, half laughter therapy.
5. The Christmas Keepsake Game
This one’s as simple as it is beautiful. Place a small ornament or keepsake in the center of the table — something with meaning. Take turns sharing what Christmas means to you this year, and when you’re done, pass the ornament to the next person.
When everyone’s shared, hang the ornament on the tree together.
🎄 Variation: Each year, add a new ornament symbolizing the theme or “word” of that Christmas — like hope, family, or together.
6. Candlelight Wishes
Turn down the lights and give everyone a tealight candle. Go around the circle and have each person share a wish — for themselves, for someone else, or for the world.
When they finish, they light their candle. By the end, the room glows with dozens of tiny flames and whispered hopes.
🔥 Monika’s Whisper: This one always makes my heart ache in the best way — especially when kids say things like, “I wish everyone had cookies.”
7. The Christmas Jar Tradition
All year long, keep a jar where anyone can slip little notes — things they’re grateful for, funny moments, or family milestones. On Christmas night, empty the jar and read them aloud.
It’s like time-traveling through your own joy.
🕯 Monika’s Tip: Keep the jar on your kitchen counter where everyone passes it — because the best moments are usually the little ones.
8. Family Christmas Trivia
Make your own trivia questions about your family’s Christmas history — who burned the cookies last year, which movie you always rewatch, or who once opened their presents early.
It’s funny, personal, and a reminder that your family is its own kind of legend.
🎬 Variation: Add in general Christmas questions for guests or friends who don’t know all the family “inside jokes.”
9. “The Gift of Words” Game
Instead of physical gifts, give each person a “gift of words.” Write short, heartfelt notes on cards — compliments, memories, or blessings — and have everyone draw one at random.
The twist? You don’t sign your name. The mystery makes the kindness even sweeter.
🌟 Monika’s Whisper: This one started in our family as a one-time idea. Now it’s tradition — and every year, we keep those cards tucked away like little pieces of love.
10. The Christmas Promise Tree
Write promises for the year ahead — simple, loving ones like “I promise more Sunday breakfasts,” “I’ll call Grandma more often,” or “I’ll say yes to game night.”
Clip them to the Christmas tree with ribbons. Next year, read them back and celebrate the ones you kept (or tried to).
🎄 Why It Works: It turns resolutions into relationships — a reminder that Christmas isn’t about changing who we are, but growing closer to each other.
Final Thought
Christmas games aren’t really about winning. They’re about belonging. They remind us to slow down, laugh, listen, and love — even when the wrapping paper is still on the floor and someone forgot to chill the eggnog.
Because when the lights dim and the house goes quiet, what stays with you isn’t the score or the prizes — it’s the echo of laughter, the glow of connection, and the warmth of knowing that for one night, everyone was home.