Christmas Party Games

1. Jolly Talk

Before your guests arrive, write a random phrase on each post it note and place one under each plate at the table. Guests should read their post it note without showing anyone else what it says. Everyone must try to say what is on the note at some point during the dinner. They have to try and not be caught by anyone else. If they are caught, they are out. If a player accuses another player of using his message, but is incorrect, they are out of the game. At the end of the dinner, find out which players successfully used their messages without being caught.

Some examples:
The North pole is rather cold at this time of year.
I bought my co-worker a miniature tea set for Christmas
I only did so once, when I was in France.
A glass of Chardonnay a day keeps the doctor away

2. Dirty Santa

A bit like secret santa, but cheekier! Ask everyone to bring a small wrapped gift with them to the dinner party. Have everyone draw a number out of a hat to determine who goes first. The person with number 1 selects which gift they want and they unwrap it, letting everyone see what it is. The next person then chooses if they would like to open a new gift or ‘steal’ the one that’s open. This goes on till the last person who gets to choose from all but one gifts, or to open the remaining gift. If he chooses a gift that is already open, then number 1 get’s the unopened gift.

3. Great Minds Think Alike

Prepare ten categories or questions to ask when your guests arrive. Divide your guests into two teams and call out different categories or questions that have multiple answers to them. Have your guests write down the first 2 answers that come to their mind on a piece of paper, without showing anyone else. The point is to try and get the same answers as the other people in your team. After each question, each team determines how many of the same words they have written down. Award one point for every word that appears more than once. The team with the most points wins.

Example questions:
Things you find in a Christmas stocking
Things you can pick up with a chopstick
Things you eat at Christmas

4. Sticker Stalkers

When guests arrive, give each a page of stickers. The object of this game is for each person to get rid of their stickers by sticking them on someone else – but only one sticker on each person. If a player gets caught, they must take their sticker back. They must also take a sticker from the person who caught them, but they can try to give these stickers back later in the game. In addition, if someone falsely accuses you of “stickering” him/her, then you can automatically put one of your stickers on that person. The first person to get rid of all 10 of their original stickers is the winner.

5. Treasure hunt

Divide the group into small teams. Provide them with a list of items to find. Choose common items that can be found in the immediate area.

For example:
A green Christmas decoration
A credit card
Something with a dog on it...