Items31The creator’s order
  1. 1White Elephant Gift ExchangeWhite Elephant Gift ExchangeBring a wrapped gift under an agreed price cap and draw numbers. The first person opens a gift. Later players can open a new one or take someone’s opened gift. If yours is taken, choose again. Cap each gift at two steals and bar immediate take-backs. Allow about half an hour for a small group.0
  2. 2Jingle Bell TossJingle Bell TossSet six empty cups at one end of a table and give each player three large jingle bells. Throw from the opposite end and score one point per bell that lands in a cup. A turn takes a minute, so leave the cups out for guests who want a rematch.0
  3. 3Candy Cane FishingCandy Cane FishingGive each player an empty bowl and set a pile of candy canes in the middle. Hold one cane by the straight end and use its hook to lift more canes into your bowl. Count the catches after one minute. Leave the bowls out for drop-in matches.0
  4. 4Christmas Movie BingoChristmas Movie BingoMake different bingo cards with scenes like a tree lighting, a mug of cocoa, or an unexpected snowfall. Mark a square when its scene comes up. The first straight line wins, and anyone can grab a card mid-movie if you start a new round. Allow as long as the movie you pick.0
  5. 5Christmas Tree on a Paper PlateChristmas Tree on a Paper PlateGive everyone a paper plate or a small whiteboard and a marker. Hold it above your head while the caller requests a tree, a star on top, and a gift below it. Give a point for every detail that lands in the right place. One five-minute round works even if people are still arriving.0
  6. 6One-Handed Gift WrappingOne-Handed Gift WrappingGive each pair a box, wrapping paper, and tape. Partners stand side by side and each uses only the outside hand to make one wrapped gift. Set a five-minute limit and let the other guests vote on the neatest finished box. Run new pairs whenever they’re ready.0
  7. 7Blind Gift StackingBlind Gift StackingWrap light empty boxes in different sizes. One teammate shuts their eyes and builds a tower while the other gives directions. Run one pair at a time for a minute, with the stack measured after the timer. Use a clear tabletop and let new pairs play whenever they’re ready.0
  8. 8Snowball ShakeSnowball ShakeTie an empty tissue box to a belt and load it with five white ping-pong balls. Put the box at the player’s back and give them a minute to shake out as many balls as possible without touching it. Play one person at a time and count the balls that hit the floor.0
  9. 9Order the Jingle Bell BoxesOrder the Jingle Bell BoxesSeal different numbers of bells in identical little boxes. Give players a minute to shake them and arrange them from fewest bells to most. Use boxes with close counts when adults want a challenge. Reset the order on a side table after each turn.0
  10. 10Santa Beard ChallengeSanta Beard ChallengePut cotton balls on separate plates and let each player put a little petroleum jelly on their chin. Give them one minute to collect cotton balls with their chin only. Count what is still attached at the end. Let friends join for fresh heats when they see how it works.0