Christmas Games

For years, I've been the official game master in family gatherings and Christmas became one that challenged my creativity. I always wanted to do something different to make the games more exciting and relevant to the season, and where all family members get the chance to participate. I find Christmas to be the best time to get in touch with the child in all of us.

I'm sharing the games that give family members a chance to play together, learn more about each other, reconnect with one another and have fun together. Ages 3-83 may join the games. Some are new and some are popular ones I've modified which could be used in any family gathering.

This is a game that can be played by everyone in the family. It's a simple and interesting activity.

• Group together according to families and sit together in a chosen space on one side of the room
• Choose one member from each group willing to be blindfolded
• Line up all the chosen representatives on the opposite side of the room with their backs facing their respective families and then blindfold them
• Once they are blindfolded proceed to rearrange them in the line up while instructing the families on the other side of the room to remain silent
• When done give the following instructions:

1. Each family will have to agree on a certain matter but must do it in whispers. First agree on a certain sound of a bell that they would want to imitate. E.g. ding6x or klembang3x or bling3x.
2. Once all families have decided, assign them a NUMBER. E.g. Bell Ring No. 1, Bell Ring No.2 and so on...
3. Instruct the families that they must make the sound together the moment they hear their respective Bell Ring Number called.
4. You may rehearse them once to check that everyone understands.
5. Now give instructions to those blindfolded. They are to remember how many bell rings there are. Each bell ring number shall be called out again and they must choose one bell ring which they believe belongs to their family. You can ad lib about how well we know the sound of our family members and how this sound can be both irritating and endearing but in the end is the sound that makes you feel "at home".
6. The blindfolded representatives could request another round of bell ringing until they are sure which sound belongs to their families.
7. If a blindfolded member is sure of his answer he may raise his/her hand to give the answer but you must instruct the audience not to make any audible reaction or remain silent the moment the player answers.
8. Make sure all the blindfolded members have answered before you declare the winner
9. The first player who raised his hand and got the answer right wins the jackpot prize and the rest gets a consolation prize.

This is another modified version of a spelling competition using the word CHRISTMAS. The letters must be prepared ahead and distributed when they have grouped themselves.

1. Two groups with 10 members each will play this game.
2. The members must be comprised of people from various families.
3. Age range of the members must be from 10-50 years old
4. The youngest member shall be the leader.
5. Each member is assigned to hold a letter or wear them like a necklace and line up in front of the audience.
6. The leader stays at least 3 feet in front of their group. A bell is placed on the floor beside the leader.
7. The moderator is to ask a question with answers based on the letters found in the word CHRISTMAS.
8. The leader is to answer by commanding the "letter" to move forward to form the word. E.g. Who was born in Bethlehem? What blinks up in the sky at night?( Star or stars is acceptable since 2 S letters are found in Christmas)
9. The "letter" is not allowed to step forward on its own nor "talk" but wait for the command of the leader.
10. The audience is encouraged to help only by making the letter sounds and not dictating the letters.
11. Once the "letters" are in place the leader announces his answer to the audience by ringing a bell.
12. The group who correctly answers first wins a point.
13. The jackpot is given to the highest pointer while the rest gets a consolation prize.

This is a modified version of the treasure hunt. This version adds the element of showing kids that they too can be a giver. You may ad lib about how the season could also be a time to let "Santa" have a wish list of his own and that kids could also do their part in gift giving.

1. Choose the oldest person or couple whom you believe has been the "Santa" of your family. Let them wear a Santa's hat or costume and let them sit in the center of the room.
2. Have a list prepared making sure that all families get to be highlighted during the game e.g. Santa's wish list says...he desires to receive a kiss from the youngest child of a family, he wants a solo dance from the teenager of a family etc...
3. Let "Santa" annouce his wish list one at a time.
4. The first person who is able to grant Santa's wish gets a prize. Consolacion prizes may be also given to the rest who tried so that the fun feeling prevails

This is a fun activity to do and will test the musicality of the family members. It's a noisy but interesting game for all. You may use this activity as a way of showing how respect of individuality can become a beautiful melody of unity when given a chance to flow freely.

1. Assign 3 or 5 elders of the clan to be the judge of this contest. Give them rate cards showing a smiling face (fair), a laughing face (good) and a joyful Santa face (perfect). They are to show the face which best describes how contented they are with the performance.
2. Divide the group into their respective families.
3. Each family must assign a singer for their team.
4. Ask the rest of the members of the team to get hold of something that creates a sound or they may use any part of their body to create a sound.
5. Each family is to sit in a circle facing each other while the singer stands in the middle.
6. Each family will then choose a Christmas Carol they would like to do. Give them at least 2 minutes to decide.
7. Let the judges then choose which family they want to perform first.
8. The family chosen will then begin by letting one family member start a beat with his chosen instrument to be joined in by the other instruments. The singer may start singing the Christmas Carol they have chosen at any given time. They are to discover how to adjust their respective instruments to support each other.
9. When done the judges are then asked to present their rate cards and explain their respective rating
10. The group who gets the highest approval rate wins and gets the prize. Consolation prizes are given to all who participated

This is a fun and exciting game to do and requires a lot of creativity and speed.

1. The Fathers or the head of the different families line up in front of the audience at least 5 feet apart from each other. They are to be the "trunk" of a Christmas tree.
2. Their respective families are given only five minutes to "decorate" their respective head of the family with items found in the vicinity that would make the "trunk" look like a Christmas tree.
3. No actual Christmas decors are allowed to be used. Avoid using breakable things. This is an exercise of working out of the box. Use items that are not normally used as decors. Items such as those found in their pockets etc.
4. The winner is determined by the applause of the audience.

This is a fast dynamic game good for the young and yuppies. The value of being able to work together in any given situation is the focus of this game. It's a good time to point out that no matter what family or group you come from your contribution is valuable to the success of a project.

1. Two groups with 10 members each will play this game.
2. The members must be comprised of people from various families.
3. The players are only given ten seconds to form a picture of a scene related to the Nativity Event.
4. The players can only use their respective bodies as props. They are to take on roles of animals, nature, furniture etc.. to give us a clear picture of the event announced.
5. Sample instruction 1: In ten seconds, show us the scene of the 3 wise men seeing the star.
6. Sample instruction 2: In ten seconds, show us the shepherd boy tending the sheep.
7. The moment the scene is announced the counting should immediately start.
8. At the end of the 10^th count the groups must freeze in position and judging shall commence.
9. The winner of a round is determined by the applause of the audience or you may opt to assign 3 or 5 judges using the rate card again.
10. The winner of a particular round gets a point.
11. The first group to reach the best of 10 rounds wins the game.

This game helps you exercise the abundance muscles. Christmas is the best time to do this kind of activity. This would be more appropriate for the adults to prepare but kids can join in the giving part.

1. Every member of the family must bring out an item they value in life like items they always bring along with them e.g. a rabbit's foot, a prayer booklet, a photo etc.
2. Give time for them to take it from wherever they have put it and then return to the area of activity.
3. Once they have it in their hands proceed with giving instructions. They are to choose one person in the room that they believe will have good use of what they value most.
4. Before they give away their respective "treasures", they must first explain the kind of value they have placed on the item and then follow it up with an explanation of why they choose to give it to the person they have in mind. Giving the person a warm hug is encouraged after the act of giving
5. They may react with shock for awhile but remind them that the value they have put on the item when given away shows the higher value they have put on the recipient.
6. Remind them about the essence of giving related to the mindset of abundance and prosperity especially during the Season of Love.
7. The game may seem mushy but try it out. Believe me this activity usually brings out the best in everyone

This is one game that you could assign weeks before the gathering. Tell every family member to prepare something for one person they want to say "Thank you" to during the Christmas Party.

• The grateful gesture can be expressed in endless possibilities from the making of a poem, preparing a dance, creating a game, making a card, etc.
• This session could be a grand finale of sorts for the night. You can add your own way of conducting this session.
• Be as loving and creative in the way this session is handled.

I hope the activities presented here can help make your Christmas celebration a memorable one. It is my desire that all family gatherings be one filled with laughter, joy and boundless love.

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Daisy Ba-ad and Michelle Simtoco writes other Christmas articles in the the Loving Abundance site:

A Christmas Story of Love

Christmas Tree: Prosperity in Love & Life Expressed

Happy Holidays!