Seven Easy Christmas Party Games (Part 1)

Christmas is a very special time of the year, when many people celebrate the birth of Jesus. They also share quality time with family and friends, often at numerous Christmas parties.

Christmas parties can be difficult to arrange, but these seven easy Christmas party games will make the task easier.

All I Want For Christmas is a good icebreaker game to introduce people who may not be very familiar with each other, such as a larger office party. Everyone sits in a circle. One player starts by introducing himself, saying, "My name is ... All I want for Christmas is ..." The player on his left must repeat the first player's name and want, and add their own name and want; "All (first player's name) wants for Christmas is ... My name is ... and all I want for Christmas is ..." The phrase is built up around the circle by successive players until a player cannot repeat the list and is out. The phrase then starts again from scratch. Alternatively, players may be required to only repeat the previous two player's responses.

Christmas Stocking Story is a fun, active game for younger children. Children are seated in a circle and given the name of an item that could be found in a traditional Christmas stocking, such as a doll, car, train, colouring book, etc. An adult story-teller begins to tell a story and each time their name or item is mentioned, the child jumps up, turns around and sits back down. The story-teller should try to ensure that each child's name and/or item is mentioned at least once. If the word "stocking" is mentioned in the story, all the children stand up, turn around and sit back down. There are no winners or losers in this game.

All Tied Up is an active team game for as many participants as want to play. They form two teams in circles, with one team given a ball of green twine and other a ball of red twine. On a given signal, the first player in each team winds the twine once around their waist and passes the ball to the next player who does the same, and so on. The first team to finish unwinding their ball of twine and is all tied up wins the game.

Christmas Treasure is an active, quiet game that is played by two players at a time. Both players are blindfolded. One is given a small 'Christmas treasure' such as a chocolate bar. Player start at opposite corners of a large table and must keep one hand on the table at all times. The player without the treasure tries to sneak up on the other player and touch them on top of their head within a thirty second limit, while the other player tries to evade them. If the hunter is successful, she gets to keep the treasure. Otherwise, the first player keeps it. This game can have multiple rounds to ensure no one misses out on their chance of winning a treasure.

Part 2 of  Seven Easy Christmas Party Games will give ideas for two quieter party games and a fun gift exchange game.

For further details on these and a number of other easy Christmas party games, see our website.