12 Days of Christmas Games Ideas for Festive Fun

12 Days of Christmas Games Ideas – The “12 Days of Christmas” game theme is a fun and festive way to bring holiday cheer into gatherings, whether with family, friends, or coworkers. Inspired by the famous carol, these games revolve around twelve days—or twelve rounds—of creative challenges, trivia, and activities that build excitement as Christmas approaches. Each day can have a themed game matching the song’s verses, such as “Partridge in a Pear Tree” scavenger hunts, “Two Turtle Doves” partner challenges, or “Five Golden Rings” ring toss competitions.

Participants can earn points or small prizes each day, with a grand winner revealed on the twelfth day. These games encourage laughter, teamwork, and anticipation, making the countdown to Christmas both interactive and memorable. The “12 Days” theme can also be adapted into a single evening event with twelve mini-games, creating a dynamic and joyful celebration where everyone participates and feels the holiday spirit growing stronger with each round.

12 Days of Christmas Games Ideas

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Credit@mauralynn1

Description: A festive treasure hunt where players search for holiday-themed items hidden around the house. Perfect for kids and adults alike!
How to Play:

• Print or write a list of 12 Christmas items (e.g., candy cane, ornament, star, ribbon).

• Hide the items around the house or yard in creative spots.

• Split players into teams and give them the list.

• Set a timer (10–15 minutes).

• Teams race to find as many items as possible before time runs out.

• Award extra points for creativity or teamwork.

• The team with the most items wins a small holiday prize.

Christmas Charades

Credit@melissabeardall

Description: A lively acting game using only gestures to guess Christmas-related phrases or songs. Ideal for groups.
How to Play:

• Write 12 Christmas-themed prompts (e.g., “Frosty the Snowman,” “Decorating a tree”) on slips of paper.

• Fold and place them in a festive hat or box.

• Players take turns drawing a prompt and silently acting it out.

• Their team has 60 seconds to guess correctly.

• If guessed right, they earn one point.

• Rotate turns until all prompts are used.

• The team with the highest score after 12 rounds wins.

Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest

Credit@anyascookies

Description: A sweet, creative competition where players design their best Christmas cookies.
How to Play:

• Bake or buy plain sugar cookies in fun shapes (trees, stars, bells).

• Set out icing, sprinkles, candies, and edible glitter.

• Assign a theme for each round (e.g., “Snowy Night,” “Santa’s Workshop”).

• Each player decorates one cookie per round.

• After 12 minutes, stop and display creations.

• Judges (or everyone) vote on creativity, neatness, and theme.

• Keep score across 12 cookies for a “Master Baker” winner.

Secret Santa Gift Swap

Credit@gheesss

Description: A classic game of mystery gift-giving that spreads joy and laughter.
How to Play:

• Have each participant draw a random name secretly.

• Set a budget (e.g., $10) and theme (funny, cozy, homemade).

• Gifts are wrapped and labeled only with the recipient’s name.

• Gather for the gift exchange.

• Each person opens their gift and guesses who their Santa is.

• Reveal Santas after all have opened theirs.

• Optional twist: play over 12 days with small daily gifts.

Christmas Song Scramble

Credit@Music Educator Resources

Description: A guessing game where players must unscramble the titles of Christmas songs.
How to Play:

• Write down 12 Christmas song titles but scramble the letters (e.g., “SleJly Bls” = “Jingle Bells”).

• Hand out the scrambled list to each team.

• Set a timer for 10 minutes.

• Teams race to unscramble as many as possible.

• Check answers and score one point per correct title.

• Add bonus points for singing a verse correctly!

• The highest-scoring team wins a festive treat.

Christmas Minute to Win It

Credit@jesnoelle

Description: Fast-paced mini challenges with a festive twist — perfect for energetic groups.
How to Play:

• Prepare 12 mini-games using holiday props (e.g., stack ornaments, toss marshmallows).

• Each challenge must be completed in 60 seconds.

• Players compete individually or in teams.

• Example: stack 5 snowballs (cotton balls) using chopsticks in one minute.

• Rotate through all 12 games.

• Keep score for each round.

• At the end, tally points and crown the “Christmas Champion.”

Christmas Pictionary

Credit@familygameosis

Description: A drawing game where players sketch Christmas-themed words for teammates to guess.
How to Play:

• Write 12 Christmas phrases (e.g., “Reindeer,” “Elf Workshop”) on cards.

• Divide players into teams.

• One player draws while others guess within 60 seconds.

• No letters or numbers allowed.

• Each correct guess earns one point.

• Switch drawers every round.

• The team with the most points at the end wins a prize.

Christmas Trivia Challenge

Credit@itsplaytyme.com

Description: A quiz-style game testing players’ knowledge of Christmas traditions, movies, and songs.
How to Play:

• Prepare 12 categories (movies, carols, history, etc.).

• Write 5 questions per category with increasing difficulty.

• Players take turns picking categories.

• Ask a question aloud and allow 30 seconds to answer.

• Correct answers earn points; incorrect ones give others a chance to steal.

• Continue until all 12 categories are done.

• The highest total wins a Christmas crown!

Pass the Parcel Christmas Edition

Credit@MAD

Description: A wrapped gift game full of surprises and laughter.
How to Play:

• Wrap a small prize in many layers of wrapping paper, adding mini treats between some layers.

• Have players sit in a circle.

• Play Christmas music as the parcel is passed around.

• When the music stops, the person holding it unwraps one layer.

• Add challenges (e.g., “sing a carol” or “tell a Christmas joke”).

• Continue until the final prize is revealed.

• The person who unwraps the last layer keeps it!

Christmas Candle Relay

Credit@pngtree.com

Description: A fun, glowing relay where teams race to pass a “flame” safely down the line.
How to Play:

• Use a battery candle or small flashlight.

• Divide players into two teams.

• Line them up across a room.

• At “go,” the first person carries the candle to the next teammate.

• They must balance it on a spoon or tray — no hands!

• If dropped, start over from the beginning.

• The team that passes it through all members first wins.

Ornament Balance Race

Credit@sapienceschool

Description: A balancing challenge using Christmas ornaments and a steady hand!
How to Play:

• Give each player a spoon and a small ornament.

• Mark a start and finish line.

• Players must race while balancing the ornament without dropping it.

• If dropped, they restart from the beginning.

• Play in rounds or relays.

• Add obstacles for extra fun.

• The player or team with the fastest time wins.

Christmas Memory Game

Credit@funny_games_for_friends

Description: A brain-teasing game that tests memory with Christmas-themed cards or objects.
How to Play:

• Place 12 pairs of matching Christmas cards face down on a table.

• Players take turns flipping two cards at a time.

• If they match, the player keeps them and takes another turn.

• If not, flip them back and move to the next player.

• Continue until all pairs are found.

• Count pairs at the end; the player with the most wins.

• Add festive music or timer rounds for excitement.