As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking for ways to make our Christmas gatherings more enjoyable and engaging. One way to do this is by incorporating fun and festive games into our celebrations. In this article, we will explore 7 Christmas games that are sure to bring joy and excitement to your holiday gatherings.
Key Points
- White Elephant Gift Exchange: A fun and interactive gift-giving game where participants exchange wrapped, used, or inexpensive gifts.
- Christmas Carol Charades: A classic charades game with a holiday twist, where players act out popular Christmas carols.
- Holiday Movie Trivia: A trivia game that tests players' knowledge of popular holiday movies.
- Christmas Cookie Challenge: A baking competition where participants can showcase their culinary skills and creativity.
- Ugly Sweater Contest: A fun and hilarious game where participants wear their ugliest holiday sweaters and compete for prizes.
- Christmas Scavenger Hunt: A fun and interactive game where participants search for holiday-themed items around the house or neighborhood.
- Gingerbread House Building Contest: A creative and delicious game where participants build and decorate their own gingerbread houses.
White Elephant Gift Exchange

A White Elephant Gift Exchange is a popular holiday game where participants exchange wrapped, used, or inexpensive gifts. The game is usually played with a set price limit, and participants draw numbers to determine the order in which they get to choose gifts. The first player selects a gift from the pile, and the next player can either choose a new, unopened gift from the pile or “steal” a gift that has already been opened by another player. This game is a fun and interactive way to enjoy the spirit of gift-giving during the holiday season.
How to Play White Elephant Gift Exchange
To play White Elephant Gift Exchange, you will need a few simple materials, including:
- A set of wrapped gifts, either new or used, with a set price limit
- A hat or bowl to draw numbers from
- A designated gift-opening area
Here’s how to play:
- Have each participant bring a wrapped gift to the gathering.
- Draw numbers to determine the order in which players get to choose gifts.
- The first player selects a gift from the pile and opens it.
- The next player can either choose a new, unopened gift from the pile or “steal” a gift that has already been opened by another player.
- Players can only steal a gift that has been opened by another player, and each gift can only be stolen a maximum of 3-4 times.
- The game continues until all players have a gift, or a designated time limit has been reached.
Christmas Carol Charades

Christmas Carol Charades is a classic charades game with a holiday twist. In this game, players act out popular Christmas carols, and their teammates try to guess the song. This game is a fun and interactive way to enjoy the music of the season, and it’s a great way to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
How to Play Christmas Carol Charades
To play Christmas Carol Charades, you will need a few simple materials, including:
- A list of popular Christmas carols
- A piece of paper and a pen for each player
- A timer or clock
Here’s how to play:
- Write down the titles of popular Christmas carols on slips of paper, and put them in a hat or bowl.
- Divide the players into two teams.
- Each player takes a turn drawing a slip of paper from the hat and acting out the Christmas carol.
- The player’s teammates try to guess the song, and they have a set amount of time (usually 1-2 minutes) to do so.
- If the teammates guess the song correctly, they earn a point.
- The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Holiday Movie Trivia
Holiday Movie Trivia is a fun and challenging game that tests players’ knowledge of popular holiday movies. In this game, players answer trivia questions about their favorite holiday films, and the player with the most correct answers wins. This game is a great way to enjoy the magic of holiday movies and to test your knowledge of these beloved films.
How to Play Holiday Movie Trivia
To play Holiday Movie Trivia, you will need a few simple materials, including:
- A list of trivia questions about popular holiday movies
- A piece of paper and a pen for each player
- A timer or clock
Here’s how to play:
- Prepare a list of trivia questions about popular holiday movies, including questions about the plot, characters, and production of the films.
- Divide the players into teams or have them play individually.
- Read the trivia questions aloud, and have the players write down their answers on a piece of paper.
- Set a time limit for the players to answer the questions (usually 30 seconds to 1 minute per question).
- The player or team with the most correct answers wins.
Christmas Cookie Challenge
The Christmas Cookie Challenge is a fun and delicious game where participants can showcase their culinary skills and creativity. In this game, players bake and decorate their own Christmas cookies, and a panel of judges awards prizes for the most creative and delicious cookies. This game is a great way to enjoy the sweet treats of the season and to have fun in the kitchen.
How to Play Christmas Cookie Challenge
To play Christmas Cookie Challenge, you will need a few simple materials, including:
- Ingredients for Christmas cookies, including flour, sugar, butter, and decorations
- A kitchen or baking area with ovens and baking sheets
- A panel of judges with a scoring system
Here’s how to play:
- Have each participant bake and decorate their own Christmas cookies.
- Set up a judging area with a panel of judges and a scoring system.
- Have the judges taste and evaluate the cookies based on their appearance, taste, and creativity.
- Award prizes for the most creative and delicious cookies.
Ugly Sweater Contest

The Ugly Sweater Contest is a fun and hilarious game where participants wear their ugliest holiday sweaters and compete for prizes. In this game, players show off their most creative and hideous holiday sweaters, and a panel of judges awards prizes for the ugliest and most creative sweaters. This game is a great way to have fun and laugh with friends and family during the holiday season.
How to Play Ugly Sweater Contest
To play Ugly Sweater Contest, you will need a few simple materials, including:
- Ugly holiday sweaters, the more creative and hideous the better
- A panel of judges with a scoring system
- A prize for the winner
Here’s how to play:
- Have each participant wear their ugliest holiday sweater.
- Set up a judging area with a panel of judges and a scoring system.
- Have the judges evaluate the sweaters based on their creativity, hideousness, and overall appeal.
- Award a prize for the ugliest and most creative sweater.
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
The Christmas Scavenger Hunt is a fun and interactive game where participants search for holiday-themed items around the house or neighborhood. In this game, players follow clues and riddles to find hidden items, and the first player to find all the items on the list wins. This game is a great way to have fun and get some exercise during the holiday season.
How to Play Christmas Scavenger Hunt
To play Christmas Scavenger Hunt, you will need a few simple materials, including:
- A list of holiday-themed items to find, such as holly, mistletoe, or Christmas decorations
- A set of clues and riddles to lead players to the items
- A timer or clock
Here’s how to play:
- Prepare a list of holiday-themed items to find, and create clues and riddles to lead players to the items.
- Divide the players into teams or have them play individually.
- Give each player a copy of the list and the clues, and set a time limit for the game (usually 30 minutes to 1 hour).
- The first player or team to find all the items on the list wins.
Gingerbread House Building Contest
The Gingerbread House Building Contest is a creative and delicious game where participants build and decorate their own gingerbread houses. In this game, players use gingerbread, icing, and candy to create their own unique and festive holiday houses, and a panel of judges awards prizes for the most creative and well-built houses. This game is a great way to have fun and be creative in the kitchen during the holiday season.
How to Play Gingerbread House Building Contest
To play Gingerbread House Building Contest, you will need a few simple materials, including:
- Gingerbread, icing, and candy for building and decorating the houses
- A kitchen or baking area with tables and baking sheets
- A panel of judges with a scoring system
Here’s how to play:
- Have each participant build and decorate their own gingerbread house using gingerbread, icing, and candy.
- Set up a judging area with a panel of judges and a scoring system.
- Have the judges evaluate the houses based on their creativity, appearance, and overall appeal.
- Award prizes for the most creative and well-built houses.
What is the best way to play White Elephant Gift Exchange?
+The best way to play White Elephant Gift Exchange is to set a price limit and have each player bring a wrapped, used, or inexpensive gift. Players should draw numbers to determine the order in which they get to choose gifts, and the game should continue until all players have a gift or a designated time limit has been reached.
How do I make my Christmas cookies more creative and delicious?
+To make your Christmas cookies more creative and delicious, try using unique ingredients and decorations, such as sprinkles, icing, and candy. You can also experiment with different flavors, such as mint, ginger, and cinnamon, and try using different types of sugar and spices.
What is the most important thing to consider when building a gingerbread house?
+The most important thing to consider when building a gingerbread house is to make sure the house is stable and secure. This can be achieved by using a strong and sturdy base, such as a piece of cardboard or a plate, and by using a lot of icing to hold the house together. You should also make sure to decorate the house carefully and creatively, using a variety of candies and icing to make it look festive and appealing.