Gift Exchange Game Ideas for Christmas
Every year, when the holiday season rolls around and the Christmas cheer floats softly in the air, I always anticipate the joy of gift exchange games. I’ve participated in tons of them. In every gathering, large or small, each game has its charm and adds a unique dash of fun to the festivities.
Let’s dig into one of my favorites – The White Elephant. The midlife crisis of gift games, White Elephant or Yankee Swap is a hilarious way to poke fun at the adults’ table. You begin by placing wrapped gifts in the middle of everyone. After drawing numbers, the person with the one starts by selecting and opening a gift. The subsequent players can either choose a new present or ‘steal’ an already opened one. The game ends when everyone has a gift in their hands. Just remember: no hard feelings allowed, it’s all fun and games!
The Secret Santa is another crowd favorite. If the group is big enough, you can draw names out of a hat beforehand. Each person gets someone to anonymously give a present to. Unwrapping gifts and guessing who your ‘Santa’ is always makes for determined guessing and hearty laughter. If you want to add a twist, you can add a theme to the gifts or set a price limit. Go wild with the possibilities!
Interactive and Fun Christmas Gift Games
As we look at other gift exchange games, I’m reminded of the Hot Potato pattern we played one year. We all sat in a circle holding our presents. Christmas music played, and we passed the gift around. When the music stopped, whoever held the gift could open it. This unpredictable game had us all on the edge of our seats, and the element of surprise was delightful.
I also recall the wonder year when we integrated Christmas Carol Pictionary into our gift exchange. We divided ourselves into teams, drew carol titles, and had to draw them out. The first team to correctly guess the carol got to choose a present from the pile. As you can imagine, it was both a Pictionary and singing session as we tried to ‘draw out’ the Christmas carols in our talents. This game was a superb combination of creativity, laughter, and, of course, presents.
Twists for Traditional Christmas Gift Games
The Left and Right Game. Ever heard of it? Here’s how it works. Everyone starts with a gift. Then, you read a Christmas-themed story. Every time you say ‘left’ in the story, everyone passes their gift to the left. When you say ‘right’, you guessed it, gifts move to the right. This chaotic and rhythmic game catches people off guard and sparks much laughter. Plus, there’s satisfaction of landing the ‘perfect’ gift when the story ends.
- The Dice Game
- The Auction Game
- The Gift Card Swap
Other creative alternatives include The Dice Game, where you roll dice to decide the rules of gift exchanging. The higher the roll, the better the present. The Auction Game uses fake money, allowing people to ‘bid’ on their desired gifts. And lastly, the simple, yet funny Gift Card Swap involves a plethora of gift cards to your favorite places.
Choose the Perfect Gift Exchange Game
Choosing the perfect game isn’t about what others say or recommend. Intrigue and excitement lie in picking the game that suits your company best. The age group, the size of the crowd, the temperament of the people, all these play a pivotal role in the game’s selection. Have a discussion, gather ideas and then decide. Remember, the aim is to have fun and create memories.
I could share more experiences and ideas, but I think the best way for you to explore is to do it yourself. Choose a game that excites you, embrace the spirit of Christmas, and embark on the adventure of the Gift Exchange Game this holiday season. Happy holidays!