Three friends in festive jumpers posed with a lantern and wrapped gifts
Holiday game night

Christmas charades

Christmas charades is a holiday tradition in plenty of homes, and this list has 146 festive ideas to keep it fresh: Christmas films and songs, wintry activities like "making snow angels", the nativity story, and funny moments such as "untangling Christmas lights". For the story itself, see Bible charades.

The easy section works for young children; the funny section is for the grown-ups once the kids are in bed. For a holiday party, print the card sheet and put the cards in a stocking. Keep rounds to 60 seconds with the timer.

ChristmasEasy

Scarf

 

Easy Christmas charades for kids

This set has 39 ideas. Start with "Throwing a snowball", "Reindeer", "Three Wise Men" — give each actor 30 to 60 seconds; it one clear gesture each, so the round moves fast and every player gets a fair turn.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 39 in this set, shown below

  • Throwing a snowballEasy
  • ReindeerEasy
  • Three Wise MenEasy
  • Santa ClausEasy
  • Christmas treeEasy
  • Home AloneEasy
  • Jingle BellsEasy
  • Ice skatingEasy
  • Polar bearEasy
  • Baby JesusEasy
  • Christmas elfEasy
  • SnowmanEasy
  • ElfEasy
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerEasy
  • SleddingEasy
  • AngelEasy
  • Snow queenEasy
  • Building a snowmanEasy
  • The Polar ExpressEasy
  • Frosty the SnowmanEasy
  • Candy caneEasy
  • The GrinchEasy
  • We Wish You a Merry ChristmasEasy
  • Christmas stockingEasy
  • Wrapping presentsEasy
  • Unwrapping a giftEasy
  • Santa's sleighEasy
  • Decorating the treeEasy
  • Snowball fightEasy
  • Making snow angelsEasy
  • Hot chocolateEasy
  • Baking Christmas cookiesEasy
  • Christmas ornamentEasy
  • Ringing a bellEasy
  • MittensEasy
  • ScarfEasy
  • Santa hatEasy
  • Ho ho hoEasy
  • Christmas morningEasy

Christmas movie charades

This set has 12 ideas. Start with "Arthur Christmas", "Klaus", "The Muppet Christmas Carol" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 12 in this set, shown below

  • Arthur ChristmasMedium
  • KlausMedium
  • The Muppet Christmas CarolMedium
  • The Nightmare Before ChristmasMedium
  • GremlinsMedium
  • The Santa ClauseMedium
  • Jingle All the WayMedium
  • A Christmas StoryMedium
  • The HolidayMedium
  • It's a Wonderful LifeHard
  • Miracle on 34th StreetHard
  • National Lampoon's Christmas VacationHard
See the full list →

Christmas song charades

This set has 17 ideas. Start with "Silent Night", "All I Want for Christmas Is You", "Last Christmas" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 17 in this set, shown below

  • Silent NightEasy
  • All I Want for Christmas Is YouEasy
  • Last ChristmasEasy
  • Feliz NavidadEasy
  • Let It SnowEasy
  • Winter WonderlandEasy
  • Joy to the WorldEasy
  • Deck the HallsMedium
  • Santa Claus Is Coming to TownMedium
  • Here Comes Santa ClausMedium
  • The Twelve Days of ChristmasMedium
  • Up on the HousetopMedium
  • Jingle Bell RockMedium
  • Rockin' Around the Christmas TreeMedium
  • White ChristmasMedium
  • Little Drummer BoyMedium
  • O Christmas TreeMedium

Nativity charades

This set has 9 ideas. Start with "The Nativity", "Star of Bethlehem", "Manger" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: mixed-age groups, family night and first-time players · 9 in this set, shown below

  • The NativityMedium
  • Star of BethlehemMedium
  • MangerMedium
  • Angel GabrielMedium
  • Mary and JosephMedium
  • BethlehemMedium
  • No Room at the InnHard
  • Shepherds Watching Their FlocksHard
  • Gold, Frankincense and MyrrhHard
See the full list →

Funny Christmas charades for adults

This set has 7 ideas. Start with "Ugly Christmas sweater", "Santa stuck in the chimney", "Untangling Christmas lights" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 7 in this set, shown below

  • Ugly Christmas sweaterMedium
  • Santa stuck in the chimneyMedium
  • Untangling Christmas lightsMedium
  • Wrapping a present badlyHard
  • Finding the biggest presentHard
  • Assembling a toy on Christmas EveHard
  • Regifting a presentHard

Winter and holiday activities

This set has 46 ideas. Start with "Yeti", "A Christmas Carol", "Gingerbread man" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 46 in this set, shown below

  • YetiMedium
  • A Christmas CarolMedium
  • Gingerbread manMedium
  • North PoleMedium
  • Toy soldierMedium
  • Going down the chimneyMedium
  • Leaving cookies for SantaMedium
  • Milk and cookiesMedium
  • Hanging Christmas lightsMedium
  • WreathMedium
  • Star on top of the treeMedium
  • Christmas carolingMedium
  • NutcrackerMedium
  • Gift bowMedium
  • Sitting by the fireplaceMedium
  • SnowflakeMedium
  • IcicleMedium
  • EarmuffsMedium
  • Snow globeMedium
  • SnowplowMedium
  • Shoveling snowMedium
  • Gingerbread houseMedium
  • Christmas dinnerMedium
  • Secret SantaMedium
  • Opening an advent calendarMedium
  • Writing a letter to SantaMedium
  • Sitting on Santa's lapMedium
  • Waiting up for SantaMedium
  • Santa's workshopMedium
  • Checking the naughty listMedium
  • Lump of coalMedium
  • Christmas EveMedium
  • PineconeMedium
  • Lighting the menorahMedium
  • Spinning a dreidelMedium
  • Holiday partyMedium
  • Sleigh rideMedium
  • Toy train setMedium
  • Rocking horseMedium
  • Writing Christmas cardsMedium
  • Chopping down a Christmas treeMedium
  • Wearing reindeer antlersMedium
  • Feeding the reindeerMedium
  • Snow dayMedium
  • Building a snow fortMedium
  • IglooMedium

More Christmas charades

This set has 16 ideas. Start with "Holly", "Pulling a Christmas cracker", "Hearing sleigh bells" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 16 in this set, shown below

  • HollyHard
  • Pulling a Christmas crackerHard
  • Hearing sleigh bellsHard
  • PoinsettiaHard
  • Yule logHard
  • TinselHard
  • GarlandHard
  • MistletoeHard
  • Christmas puddingHard
  • Roasting chestnutsHard
  • Jack-in-the-boxHard
  • Christmas movie marathonHard
  • Returning a giftHard
  • White elephant gift swapHard
  • FruitcakeHard
  • EggnogHard

64 cards from this list, eight to a page with cut lines and card backs for double-sided printing. Free PDF.

US Letter PDFA4 PDF

Questions

What are good Christmas charades ideas?

Christmas films (Elf, Home Alone), songs (Jingle Bells), and festive activities like building a snowman, decorating the tree and wrapping presents.

What are easy Christmas charades for kids?

Santa Claus, reindeer, snowman, snowball fight, opening presents, candy cane and making snow angels. They are grouped at the top of the list.

What are funny Christmas charades for adults?

Untangling Christmas lights, wrapping a present badly, Santa stuck in the chimney, assembling a toy on Christmas Eve, regifting a present.

What Christmas movies are good for charades?

Elf, Home Alone, The Polar Express, The Grinch, Gremlins, A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life (hard).

Can I print Christmas charades cards?

Yes. Use the printable cards link on this page for a free PDF in A4 or US Letter, eight cards per sheet.

How do you play Christmas charades with a big family?

Split into two mixed-age teams, use a 60-second timer, and let younger players draw from the easy section. Keep score on the team panel.