How to play Christmas charades
- Split into two teams. Give them festive names; the phone shows both scores.
- Pick categories. Actions and things are easiest; movies and songs are harder and better for adults and teens.
- The actor takes the phone. Tap Start a turn. Only the actor looks at the card.
- Act it out, no talking. Use gestures only. Hold up fingers for the number of words, tap your ear for “sounds like”.
- Tap Got it when the team guesses. A new card appears straight away. Skip if the word is too hard; it goes to the back of the deck.
- When time runs out, pass the phone to the other team. Play as many rounds as you like; the highest score wins.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Actions | Building a snowman, untangling Christmas lights, wrapping a present |
| Things and places | Candy cane, snow globe, gingerbread house, North Pole |
| Characters | Santa Claus, an elf, Ebenezer Scrooge, a gingerbread man |
| Movies | Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful Life |
| Songs | Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Deck the Halls, Let It Snow |
Christmas charades for kids
Tick Easy words for kids only and the deck keeps to things young children can act out, like making a snow angel, a penguin or a snowman. For a classroom, let the whole class guess and keep score by table. Printed cards work well when phones are not allowed: print, cut along the dashed lines and draw from a hat.
Charades signals everyone should know
- Movie: crank an old film camera beside your head.
- Song: open your mouth and pretend to sing.
- Number of words: hold up that many fingers, then hold up one finger again to start on the first word.
- Sounds like: tug your ear, then act out a rhyming word.
- Close: pinch your fingers together and wave the team on.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Christmas charades?
Split into two teams. One player gets a Christmas word or title and acts it out without talking while their team guesses. When the team guesses right they score a point; after the timer runs out the other team takes a turn.
What are good Christmas charades ideas?
Easy ones are actions like building a snowman, wrapping a present or ice skating. Harder ones are movie and song titles such as Home Alone, The Polar Express, Silent Night or Jingle Bell Rock. The generator has 130 ideas in five categories.
Is there a version for kids?
Yes. Tick Easy words for kids only and the deck keeps to words young children know and can act out.
Can I print the charades cards?
Yes. Pick your categories and tap Print cards. You get a sheet of cards to cut out, with the category under each word.
How long should each turn be?
Sixty seconds suits most groups. Pick 30 seconds for a fast, loud game or 90 seconds for younger kids.
Is the Christmas charades generator free?
Yes. It is free with no account or download, and it runs in your browser.