Are you ready to jingle all the way into a holiday season that’s bursting with laughter, joy, and a dash of friendly competition? It’s time to don your Santa hats and slip on those elf shoes because we’re about to dive headfirst into a blizzard of festive fun! This Christmas, we’re turning the volume up on merriment and ditching the silent nights for evenings filled with laughter and days brimming with joy.

First up on our holiday hit list is ‘Christmas Charades’ – an uproarious game where your miming skills come to life, depicting scenes from ‘Sledding down a snowy hill’ to ‘Baking cookies for Santa’. It’s a game where everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, can steal the spotlight with their hilarious and creative interpretations.

Next, we’ll engage in some serious fun with ‘Pin the Nose on Rudolph’. It’s a quirky twist on a classic favorite. Participants, blindfolded and giggling, try their best to pin a red nose on Rudolph, leading to laughter and playful cheers from the audience.

And for those with a keen eye for detail, the ‘Holiday Memory Game’ offers a delightful challenge. Spread out cards adorned with festive images and watch as everyone competes to match pairs, their memory skills put to the test amidst the holiday cheer.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Are you a connoisseur of Christmas flicks? It’s time to shine in ‘Christmas Movie Trivia’. Engage in a friendly battle of wits with fellow family members, showing off your knowledge of holiday films, from the all-time classics to the latest hits.

These games are the heartbeat of our Christmas gatherings, weaving together laughter, camaraderie, and the unbreakable bonds of family. As we embark on this festive season, let’s fill our homes with more than just decorations and gifts – let’s fill them with unforgettable moments of togetherness and festive cheer. So gather your loved ones, let your competitive spirit loose, and let’s make this Christmas a whirlwind of non-stop fun and games! Ready, set, play!

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

Christmas Games to Make Your Holidays Merry

1. Christmas Charades

A holiday twist on the classic game of charades. Prepare a bowl of Christmas-themed prompts like ‘decorating the Christmas tree’ or ‘Santa stuck in the chimney’. Players act out these scenarios without speaking, while others guess. It’s a hilarious way to kick off your Christmas festivities.

Get tutorial and ideas here: Charades Ideas for Christmas

2. Pin the Nose on Rudolph

A Christmas version of ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey’. Create a large poster of Rudolph with a missing nose. Blindfold players and see who can pin the red nose (made of red felt or paper) closest to its spot.

Download the template here: Pin the nose on Rudolph printable

3. Holiday Memory Game

Test your memory with a holiday-themed memory card game. Use Christmas cards or make your own with festive images. Lay them face down and have players take turns finding matching pairs. It’s simple yet engaging for all ages.

4. Christmas Movie Trivia

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie marathon? Turn it into a fun game by hosting a Christmas movie trivia night. Prepare questions based on popular Christmas movies and divide the family into teams. Include easy questions for the little ones and some challenging ones for the movie buffs. Reward points for each correct answer and enjoy the competitive spirit mixed with the magic of Christmas stories.

5. Candy Cane Hunt

This is a festive take on the classic Easter egg hunt. Hide candy canes around the house or garden and let the kids (or even adults!) go on a candy cane hunt. To make it more challenging for older participants, add in a few golden candy canes that are worth extra points. This game is not only fun but also gets everyone moving and exploring.

6. Christmas Pictionary

A festive spin on Pictionary, this game involves drawing and guessing Christmas-themed words and phrases. Use a whiteboard or large pad of paper and create a list of Christmas-related items for participants to draw. Divide players into teams and watch as they try to guess what’s being drawn. It’s a great way to spark creativity and laughter, especially when the drawings don’t quite turn out as planned!

Get the printable

7. Festive Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of Christmas items that participants need to find within a certain time limit. This can include things like a Christmas sock, a piece of holly, or a photo with a Santa hat. Make it a race against time, and the team or individual who finds the most items wins. This game encourages exploration and can be played indoors or outdoors, making it versatile for any family gathering.

8. Christmas Carol Karaoke

Set up a karaoke machine or use a music streaming service to play instrumental versions of popular Christmas carols. Participants can choose their favorite carols to sing. Add a twist by randomly assigning songs or turning it into a carol singing competition. This game is a great way to showcase hidden singing talents and enjoy classic holiday music.

9. Build a Snowman Challenge

If you’re lucky enough to have a white Christmas, this game is perfect. Challenge family members to build a snowman in a set amount of time. No snow? No problem! Use materials like cotton/mashmallows, construction paper, and accessories to build indoor snowmen. Creativity is key, and the most inventive snowman wins.

10. Christmas Bingo

Create bingo cards with Christmas-themed pictures or words. This can include items like snowflakes, reindeer, Santa hats, and gifts. As you call out the items, players mark them on their cards. The first to complete a line shouts “Bingo!” This game is great for all ages and can be easily adapted for larger groups.

11. Guess the Christmas Song

Play the first few seconds of popular Christmas songs and have participants guess the song title. This game tests your knowledge of holiday music and brings a lot of laughs, especially when people start spontaneously singing along.

12. Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest

Bake a batch of plain cookies and set up a decorating station with various icings, sprinkles, and toppings. Each participant decorates a cookie, and the best-decorated cookie wins. It’s a delicious and creative way to engage everyone, and you get to eat the results!

13. Reindeer Ring Toss

Make or buy a reindeer ring toss set, with antlers as the target. Participants take turns tossing rings onto the antlers. This simple, family-friendly game can get surprisingly competitive and is great for all ages.

14. Hot Chocolate Taste Test

Prepare different varieties of hot chocolate and have a blind taste test. Participants taste each one and vote on their favorite. This cozy and delicious game is perfect for warming up and can include various toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles for added fun.

15. Christmas Word Scramble

Create a list of scrambled Christmas words and challenge participants to unscramble them as quickly as possible. This game tests your brainpower and is great for a little friendly competition.

Get the printable

16. Gingerbread House Building Contest

Provide everyone with gingerbread house kits or homemade gingerbread pieces and let the creativity flow. Set a time limit and let participants build their dream gingerbread houses. You can judge based on creativity, sturdiness, or overall appearance.

17. Santa’s Beard Relay Race

This hilarious game involves teams racing to create a beard on a team member using cotton balls and a dab of Vaseline. The first team to fully cover their “Santa’s” beard wins. It’s messy, funny, and perfect for a good laugh.

18. Christmas Balloon Pop

Fill balloons with little slips of paper that have Christmas activities or challenges written on them. Participants pop the balloons and perform the activity or challenge. This game is a great icebreaker and can include anything from singing a carol to telling a Christmas joke.

19. Elf on the Shelf Hide and Seek

Use an Elf on the Shelf doll or any Christmas-themed toy for a festive game of hide and seek. One person hides the elf, and the others try to find it. The finder gets to hide it next. This game adds a magical Christmas twist to a classic favorite.

20. Christmas Story Starters

Provide the start of a Christmas story and have each person add a sentence. This game sparks creativity and often results in hilarious and imaginative stories. It’s a wonderful way to engage everyone in storytelling and laughter.

21. Santa Hat Stacking

This game involves stacking as many Santa hats as possible within a time limit. Players take turns, and whoever stacks the highest without toppling wins. It’s a simple yet challenging game that requires a steady hand and brings out competitive spirits.

22. Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle Race

Divide your family into teams and give each team a Christmas-themed jigsaw puzzle. The first team to complete their puzzle wins. This is a great game for fostering teamwork and can be tailored to different age groups by varying the puzzle difficulty.

23. Festive Photo Booth

Set up a Christmas-themed photo booth with props like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and holiday scarves. Family members can take turns dressing up and taking funny or themed photos. This activity is not only fun but also creates lasting memories of your Christmas celebrations.

24. Christmas Trivia Challenge

Test your family’s knowledge of Christmas traditions, history, and pop culture with a Christmas trivia game. Prepare a set of questions, divide players into teams, and start the quiz. This game is educational and entertaining, perfect for family members of all ages.

---

RELATED: 60+ of the Best Christmas Trivia Questions for Family Fun

---

25. Snowball Toss

If you have snow, great; if not, use white pompoms or crumpled paper to represent snowballs. Set up buckets or baskets at varying distances and let players try to toss their snowballs in. Assign different point values for different distances to add a competitive edge.

26. Christmas Costume Relay

Create a pile of Christmas-themed costumes and accessories. Participants race to put on and take off the costumes as fast as they can, then run to tag the next player. This relay race is filled with laughter and excitement as everyone rushes to dress up like Santa, elves, or reindeer.

27. Christmas Light Limbo

Use a string of Christmas lights (ensuring they’re safe and not too hot) as the limbo stick. Turn on some festive music and have family members limbo under the lights. It’s a fun and active game that brings a holiday twist to the traditional limbo.

28. Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Organize a Secret Santa gift exchange where each family member draws another member’s name and secretly buys or makes them a gift. Set a budget to keep it fair. The excitement of guessing who your Secret Santa is adds an extra layer of fun to the gift exchange.

29. Christmas Ornament Guess

Fill a jar with Christmas ornaments and have each person guess the number of ornaments inside. The closest guess wins a prize. This game is simple yet engaging and can be a beautiful centerpiece for your Christmas gathering.

30. Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle

Host a lip sync battle where family members perform their favorite Christmas carols. It’s a hilarious and energetic game that encourages everyone to get into the holiday spirit and show off their performance skills, regardless of their singing ability.

31. Christmas Treasure Hunt

Create a Christmas-themed treasure hunt with clues leading to hidden presents or treats around the house. Each clue leads to the next, with the final clue leading to a special Christmas surprise. This game is perfect for adding adventure and excitement to your holiday festivities.

32. Christmas Movie Bingo

Create bingo cards with common events or items seen in Christmas movies, like “Santa appears,” “snow falls,” or “someone drinks hot cocoa.” Watch a Christmas movie together, and players mark off their bingo cards as they spot these elements. It’s a fun way to watch a holiday movie together.

33. Festive Fashion Show

Encourage family members to put together their most festive or outrageous Christmas outfits. Hold a fashion show where everyone struts their stuff on an improvised runway. You can even assign categories like “Best Ugly Christmas Sweater” or “Most Creative Outfit.” It’s a great way to encourage creativity and laughter.

34. Christmas Carol Mashup

Challenge family members to create their own Christmas carol by mixing up the lyrics of two or more well-known carols. Perform these mashups for each other and enjoy the humorous and sometimes nonsensical results. This game is excellent for those who love music and creativity.

35. Snowflake Design Challenge

Provide materials like paper, scissors, and glitter for family members to create their own unique snowflakes. Hang the completed snowflakes as decorations or create a snowflake gallery to showcase everyone’s designs. This activity is calming and allows for artistic expression.

36. Christmas Guess Who

Customize the classic “Guess Who?” game with pictures of family members wearing Christmas hats or other holiday attire. Players ask yes-or-no questions to guess which family member is on the opponent’s card. This personalized game is a fun way to bring the family closer.

37. Santa’s Workshop

Set up a craft station where family members can create Christmas ornaments, cards, or small gifts. This “Santa’s Workshop” can include various craft supplies and simple DIY projects suitable for all ages. It’s a wonderful way for the family to make handmade holiday keepsakes.

38. Christmas Cookie Relay

Organize a relay race where participants must complete tasks like rolling out cookie dough, cutting out shapes, or decorating a cookie at different stations. This fast-paced game combines the joy of cookie making with the excitement of a relay race.

39. Christmas Wreath Hoopla

Use a Christmas wreath or a hoop decorated with festive ornaments as a target for a hoopla game. Players toss rings and try to get them over the wreath. This game can be played indoors or outdoors and is enjoyable for all ages.

40. Festive Freeze Dance

Play Christmas music and have everyone dance until the music stops, at which point they must freeze in place. Anyone who moves is out, and the last one standing wins. This game is a lively way to get everyone up and moving, and it always results in giggles and fun poses.

---

RELATED: Deck the Halls with these Stunning Christmas Trees and Decorations

---

Wrapping Up…

As we anticipate the festive lights and joyous gatherings of the season, let’s look forward to creating memorable moments with each roll of the dice and shuffle of the cards. Whether it’s through a spirited game of ‘Christmas Charades’, a strategic round of the ‘Holiday Memory Game’, or the playful competition of ‘Pin the Nose on Rudolph’, each game promises to add a spark of joy to our celebrations.

This Christmas, let’s embrace the opportunity to create new traditions and rekindle old ones through the simple, yet profound joy of playing together. As we gather with family and friends, remember that it’s these shared experiences, filled with laughter and light-hearted competition, that truly embody the spirit of the season.

May your holiday be a merry blend of fun, laughter, and cherished moments. Here’s to a season filled with the best games, the warmest memories, and the joy of togetherness. Happy Holidays and let the games begin!

---