Every Christmas, my family dives headfirst into what we lovingly call the Annual Reindeer Games—a chaotic, cocoa-fueled tradition packed with laughter, friendly competition, and the occasional broken candy cane. Whether it’s a classroom party, a cozy night in, or a full-blown holiday bash, games are our go-to way to make memories and burn off those extra sugar cookies. So if you’re looking to add some jingle to your gathering, here are our favorite Christmas games that are here to sleigh—some fast-paced, some sneaky, all guaranteed to bring the fun.
Read more: Jingle Bell Rock…Paper…Scissors: Easy Holiday Games for All AgesMinute to Win It: Holiday Edition
These fast-paced challenges are perfect for short attention spans and big energy. Set a timer, crank the Christmas playlist, and let the games begin.
🎁 Wrap It Like It’s Hot
Teams with 2 players race to wrap a small box using only one hand each. Bonus points for bows and sass.
🍪 Cookie Face
Place a holiday cookie on each player’s forehead. They must get it to their mouth using only facial muscles—no hands allowed. Warning: may cause uncontrollable giggling.
🎅 Santa’s Beard Blow
Place cotton balls on a table. Players must blow them across using a straw—no hands, just lung power and determination.
🎄 Ornament Stack
Using plastic ornaments, players try to stack as many as possible in one minute. It’s harder than it looks. Especially with glitter involved.
🔔 Jingle Bell Toss
Set up cups labeled with point values. Players toss jingle bells into the cups to score. Great for teams or solo rounds.
More Festive Fun
🧦 Mystery Stocking Game
Fill a stocking with 10–15 random holiday items (no peeking!). Each player gets 30 seconds to feel inside and jot down their guesses. Once everyone’s had a turn, reveal the contents and tally the scores. Winner gets bragging rights—or first dibs on dessert.
❄️ Snowball Spoon Relay
Use cotton balls as “snowballs” and race to transfer them using a spoon. Great for teams and hallway races.
🎶 Christmas Carol Charades
Act out classic carols without singing. “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” is always a hit.
🦌 Reindeer Antler Ring Toss
Grab a reindeer antler headband and some rings (or glow bracelets). Players toss rings onto the antlers—bonus points for style.
📦 Pass the Present
Wrap a small gift in multiple layers. Players pass it around while music plays. When the music stops, whoever’s holding it unwraps one layer. Keep going until the final gift is revealed!
🍭Candy Cane Grab (Card Game Edition)
I saved the best for last. This one is a big hit with my family! It’s part card game, part candy cane chaos.
How to Play:
- Arrange candy canes in a circle—one fewer than the number of players (just like musical chairs).
- Deal four cards to each player. The dealer keeps five and starts the game by passing one card face down to the left.
- Each player picks up the card passed to them, then discards one to their left. The last player creates a discard pile (aka the “garbage pile”).
- Keep passing until someone gets four of a kind. When they do, they quietly (or dramatically) grab a candy cane.
- Once one person grabs a cane, everyone scrambles to grab one. The player left empty-handed either:
- Gets a letter (spell C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S or any word you choose), or is out immediately for a quick-play version.
Bonus twist: If someone breaks a candy cane in the frenzy, they earn two letters—oops.
Keep playing until one person remains—the ultimate candy cane champion.
Tinsel-Topped Takeaways
Whether you’re wrangling tweens, entertaining cousins, or just trying to survive until bedtime, these games bring the joy, the jingle, and just enough chaos to make memories. So grab your timer, stuff that stocking, and let the holiday games begin.
And if you’ve got a favorite Christmas game that’s earned legendary status in your house, drop it in the comments. I’m always on the hunt for new ways to spice up our Annual Reindeer Games.
With coffee in one hand and a stopwatch in the other,
💛 Bethany
✨ Ready to keep the holiday fun rolling? Once the games wind down and the candy canes are claimed, it’s the perfect time to dream up even more merry moments. From twinkly traditions to cozy family adventures, my Holiday Bucket List is packed with ideas to make the season sparkle beyond game night. Head over and see how many you can check off this year—you might just find a new tradition to treasure.