xmas party ideas

Have guests guess the total number of ornaments on the tree as they come into the party. The closest guess wins.

Fill a large stocking with items around the house and let the kids guess what items are in the stocking.

Put Christmas items on a tray and give people one minute to memorize the items. Take the tray away and have them write as many down as they can remember in 30 seconds.

Give each child or team a piece of paper with the alphabet written vertically from A to Z. Have them write a holiday word that starts with each letter. The first one to complete the list wins.

Give each person the name of some part of Santa Claus outfit sleigh, reindeer, belly, etc. As the host reads The Night Before Christmas, each participant listens for his word and when he hears it, he stands up, turns around and sits down. When the host mentions Santa Claus, everyone changes places and participants try to get a seat. The one left out continues the story until it is complete.

Make a list of lyrics from songs that only provides 3 4 words from each song (not the title). The person who names all or the most songs in a certain amount of time wins.

Have everyone sit in a circle and start with a gift. Play a Christmas carol while 1 3 dice are being passed around (space them out). Each person rolls and passes the dice. If they roll a six, they can trade packages with whomever they want. At the end of the song, everyone keeps the package in front of him or her.

Number each gift as it arrives. Give the person who brought the gift a corresponding number. Have them write a little known fact about themselves and throw it into a bowl. When gift exchange starts, the host draws a fact and reads it without mentioning the package number. The person who guesses who it is first is given the package with the corresponding number. Once someone guesses correctly, they are out of the game. The game ends when there is one gift left for the host.

Pass around one unwrapped gift at a time. When the music stops, whoever holds it is out of the game, keeping the gift they are holding.

Pick a theme for gifts to be exchanged. Everyone brings a $25 gift with that theme in mind. (example gifts that begin with M, gifts that are red, etc). Then play the traditional take a number, steal the present game.