Christmas! The season which celebrates the birth of Jesus; when we spend time with family and friends, indulging in too much good food, and attending endless parties. It’s a time of great joy yet it can also be a time of great stress. One of these stresses may be the organisation of a church, office or club Christmas party. Here are six of the best Christmas games for groups, if you have the task of planning a party for a large group.

You may like to start with a Christmas icebreaker game where people can be introduced to each other and everyone can begin to enter the joy of a party. “All I Want for Christmas” is one example, where players sit in a circle. One player starts by saying “My name is… All I want for Christmas is…” The next player states their name before saying “All (name of first player) wants is… All I want for Christmas is…” Players continue around the circle. Any player who cannot repeat the list of everyone’s name and gift is out. You may like to restart the games when the list gets to about 10-12 names to make it a little easier.

Another element of many Christmas parties is a time to exchange gifts where each person brings one gift to a required value (say $5). This can be done by conducting a simple raffle, but why not make it into a game? One of the most popular and fun Christmas gift exchange games is the “Left Right Christmas Game.” Again, players sit in a circle, each holding a gift. The games leader narrates a story. Each time the word ‘left’ is mentioned, players pass their gift to the left. Similarly when the word ‘right’ is spoken, gifts are passed to the right. At the end of the story, each person opens the gift they have at that time.

One of the more active Christmas games for groups is “Balloon Relay.” Two teams line up at one end of the room. One team is given a red balloon and a wooden ruler. The other team has a green balloon and ruler. Team players must bat their balloon, using only their ruler, around a chair at the other end of the room and back in a relay.

Younger children may enjoy “Christmas Card Hunt”, where each child is given half a card. They must find the matching halves of the Christmas cards which have been scattered around the room. The first child to find three matching halves wins the game.

A Christmas carol game is an interesting way of testing your knowledge of Christmas carols in a team game format. There are a number of games you could play. One example involves one player from the team who is given the name of a carol and must draw a picture. The rest of the team must guess the carol and sing the first verse within a one minute time limit.

Finally, “All Tied Up” is another one of the active Christmas games for groups. Each team forms a circle and is given a ball of twine (one red, one green if possible). The first player winds the twine once around their waist and passes it to the next player who does likewise. The first team to wrap themselves completely in twine wins.

For further details on these and more Christmas games for groups please visit our website.

Andrew owns Family Games Treasurehouse which has over thirty ideas for Christmas party games. Visit http://www.family-games-treasurehouse.com and sign up for our free newsletter to download our ebook, “25 Family Dice Games”. This article is copyright but may be freely republished provided the text, author credit, site links and this copyright notice remain intact.

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What are the best Christmas party games? This is difficult to answer because, one particular party game seen as fun in the eyes of some folk – may not be seen that way by others. Because of this we find ourselves in a catch 22 situation. So what do you do? Do you invite the people over for Christmas you know will like your selection of party games, or, those you prefer the company of, but won`t like your games. Do you dismiss the idea of having any Christmas party games at all? Not on your Nellie, come on this is the season of goodwill; it is a time for festive fun and cheer. Whatever games you play should make no difference, however if they do, then for the guests that refuse to jolly should be politely asked to leave. This may sound harsh but we cannot have one person or two at a push, spoiling your Christmas day.

Christmas is a time for happy gatherings, and if any kiljoy`s sit round the Christmas dinner table, or in front of an open log fire to play games, then “no happy” gathering it will be. Best Christmas party games you will find are played at office Xmas parties, Children’s Christmas Parties, and at family celebrations, and why? Because they add fun and spread the Christmas spirit! Now let the fun begin with the dreaded word game.

This game has you give each guest on arrival a small token. Now announce to all a Christmas theme word. Tell all they are not to utter this word at all during the Christmas occasion you celebrate. Words like “tree” or “holly” are fine examples. If a guest overhears another guest utter this specific word at any time they take that person`s token. The guest with the most tokens at the specific designated time of ending the game wins a special gift!

Christmas Talent Contest!

If possible for this particular game is to avoid volunteers, as more often than not they can sing and do not embarrass easy. We want fun right, and if at someone else’s expense then so be it (in a nice way). It’s more fun to hear voices like that of a wailing banshee, or watching the footwork of those who believe they have feet like Micheal Flatly. Let everyone showcase their talent by singing or dancing. Contest winner tags should “Best Singer” “Best Dancer” “Worst vocalist” “Most Unique” “Most Funny” This game guarantees the air to fill with laughter.

Remember Christmas celebrations should cater for all age groups so organize for the young and old. Best Christmas party games are the ones people can join in with.

Pass the Bows another popular Christmas game

Have your guest’s team up for this game. This game includes all participants of each side to hold hands while passing bows along a line. Hands must not unlock at any time while passing bows.
Divide the group into teams of 6 to 10 people and have the team’s line up side by side, either sitting or standing next to each other. At one end of the line place a number of Christmas bows while at the other a bowl/bucket for bows to be placed. Now prompt each player to hold the right wrist of the person to their right. You can use a Christmas cracker bang to start the game – both teams must now pass bows down to one end and place them in the bucket or bowl.

Note: If a bow is dropped, it can only be retrieved while still joined to the wrist of a team member, and if the chain breaks all the bows currently being passed must move back to the beginning of the line. (Either the front – initial starting point or the bucket / bowl – the half way point.) Not to worry if you have no bows, I am sure you can find other as a substitute

Christmas Memory Game

Gather together 10 to 20 small Christmas items and place on a tray. Examples: bows, Christmas stocking, bells, Christmas tinsel, Christmas lights, gift labels, candles, Christmas video, nutcracker, etc…

Set the tray down and allow players to study it. Then hide tray contents by covering with a cloth. Now give the players paper and a pencil and have them write down as many of the items as they can remember. The one with the most correct items written down wins. Why not fill the tray with treats, like cookies, cake, tubbed jellies or assorted types of candy. The winner of the game gets to take home the treats. This fun game becomes more serious for the participants purely because of this. Well wouldn`t you want to take home a bag of yummies.

Kick start the festive spirit by providing everyone with a Christmas hat. Not only will this add “moving color” to the room, it will have everyone excite themselves even more. Listen to the laughter as each person puts on their hat. Paper hats are inexpensive. Kill two birds with one stone and buy Christmas crackers which contain hats. If there are any lively games to be played make sure the charismas tree or lighted candles or any type of breakables are moved out of the way. There are games you can play before sitting down to feast, however normally folk are famished and just want to get stuck into the turkey, so consider playing the best Christmas games after everyone has eaten and had time to digest their food.

Nevertheless if you want to keep your guests occupied till dinner is served, play the “guess me” game. This will include long heavy socks. Place varied Christmas items in the socks. You might stuff the socks with a small ornament, roll of tape, a fir cone etc. Have each person feel the contents of the sock and write down their guesses. The winner gets, you guessed it, one of the socks! This is why this game is best played with two socks so they get a pair for the prize.

Remember that music is the most ideal aside from playing the best Christmas games to get everyone in the mood.

Keep music lively; avoid slow and somber sounds as this can dampen a person’s spirits, who at this particular time may have something to feel saddened over. Your quest is to help this person, “not to forget,” but to enjoy.

Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ has been voted the most loved Christmas song by the British public.

Other merry Christmas songs:

Mariah Carey – All I want for Christmas is you
Wham – Last Christmas
Wizzard – I wish it could be Christmas everyday

Let us not forget why we celebrate Christmas day December the 25th. While we give gifts and pleasure in our kids delight and cook dinner we often overlook “the reason for the season”, the birth of God’s son, Jesus Christ.

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson that brings the lord back in sight and thought.

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen

All Time Funny Jokes

Easily the best way to find Party Games and Ideas is to obtain a copy of the free “Gifts For Kids” Guide which describes with illustrations hundreds of specially selected gift ideas including party games.

Find the best party games, themes and decorations. See more at:

Best Party Games and Ideas