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128 Christmas Charades Ideas

Christmas charades is the easiest way to get the whole family off the couch after dinner. Grandparents know the carols, kids know the characters, and everyone has a favorite holiday movie to act out.

Here are 128 ideas in seven themed lists, from easy ones like snowman and candy cane to tricky ones like a White Elephant gift exchange. Each list is marked easy, medium or hard, so you can match the words to your crowd.

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Easy Christmas charades for kids

Easy 20 ideas

Short, familiar words that young children can act out and recognize, often with a sound effect or two.

  • Santa Claus
  • Snowman
  • Reindeer
  • Christmas Tree
  • Candy Cane
  • Present
  • Stocking
  • Elf
  • Snowball
  • Sled
  • Gingerbread Man
  • Polar Bear
  • Star
  • Angel
  • Cookies
  • Mittens
  • Snowflake
  • Penguin
  • Hot Chocolate
  • Teddy Bear

Christmas actions and traditions

Easy 18 ideas

Things everyone does in December. They're easy to act out and fun to watch.

  • Decorating the Tree
  • Wrapping Presents
  • Opening Presents
  • Building a Snowman
  • Having a Snowball Fight
  • Ice Skating
  • Sledding Down a Hill
  • Baking Cookies
  • Hanging Stockings
  • Writing a Letter to Santa
  • Singing Carols
  • Making Snow Angels
  • Leaving Cookies for Santa
  • Pulling a Christmas Cracker
  • Shoveling Snow
  • Untangling Christmas Lights
  • Opening an Advent Calendar
  • Kissing Under the Mistletoe

Christmas characters

Medium 18 ideas

From Santa's helpers to holiday villains. Act out the walk, the voice or the signature move.

  • Mrs. Claus
  • Rudolph
  • Frosty the Snowman
  • The Grinch
  • Ebenezer Scrooge
  • Buddy the Elf
  • Jack Frost
  • The Nutcracker
  • Tiny Tim
  • Kevin McCallister
  • Cindy Lou Who
  • Clark Griswold
  • Krampus
  • Elf on the Shelf
  • The Three Wise Men
  • The Ghost of Christmas Past
  • Jack Skellington
  • The Sugar Plum Fairy

Christmas movie charades

Medium 18 ideas

Holiday films for every age. Signal “movie” by cranking an old film camera, then act out the title or the famous scene.

  • Home Alone
  • The Christmas Chronicles
  • The Polar Express
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • A Christmas Story
  • It's a Wonderful Life
  • Miracle on 34th Street
  • The Santa Clause
  • Love Actually
  • Die Hard
  • National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • Arthur Christmas
  • Klaus
  • Jingle All the Way
  • The Holiday
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol
  • Four Christmases

Christmas song charades

Medium 18 ideas

Carols and pop hits. Signal “song”, then act out the words. Whether humming counts is up to your house rules.

  • Jingle Bells
  • Silent Night
  • Deck the Halls
  • All I Want for Christmas Is You
  • Let It Snow
  • Jingle Bell Rock
  • Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
  • Last Christmas
  • White Christmas
  • Feliz Navidad
  • Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
  • The Twelve Days of Christmas
  • We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  • Joy to the World
  • The Little Drummer Boy
  • Sleigh Ride
  • Winter Wonderland
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Christmas food and decorations

Medium 18 ideas

Holiday treats and the things you'll find around the house in December.

  • Eggnog
  • Fruitcake
  • Gingerbread House
  • Yule Log
  • Mince Pie
  • Christmas Pudding
  • Roasted Chestnuts
  • Wreath
  • Tinsel
  • Poinsettia
  • Fairy Lights
  • Nativity Scene
  • Snow Globe
  • Fireplace
  • Chimney
  • Sleigh
  • Ugly Christmas Sweater
  • Ornament

Hard Christmas charades for adults

Hard 18 ideas

Phrases and situations grown-ups know too well. They're harder to act out, and funnier when someone finally gets them.

  • Secret Santa
  • White Elephant Gift Exchange
  • Regifting
  • Office Christmas Party
  • Last-Minute Shopping
  • Returning a Gift
  • Pretending to Like a Gift
  • Assembling Toys at Midnight
  • Matching Family Pajamas
  • Naughty or Nice List
  • Christmas Spirit
  • Boxing Day
  • Christmas Eve
  • Midnight Mass
  • Peace on Earth
  • Snowed In
  • 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
  • Burning the Christmas Roast

How to play Christmas charades

  1. Write each idea on a slip of paper and drop the slips into a Santa hat or a stocking.
  2. Split into two teams. Mixing ages works well: kids act out the easy words, and adults take the hard ones.
  3. Take turns drawing a slip and acting it out without speaking. Give each actor one minute.
  4. Score a point for every correct guess. The losing team clears the table, or the winners pick the next Christmas movie.

How to Play Charades →

Tips for a merry game

  • Pick lists by age. Little kids do best with the easy list; teens love the movies and songs.
  • Let little ones make sounds. A “ho ho ho” or a jingle keeps the youngest players in the game.
  • Keep blank slips handy. Guests always think of family in-jokes, and they make the best charades.
  • Play between dinner and dessert, when everyone is in one room and nobody wants to move far.
  • Short on time? Play the phone version: one person holds the word to their forehead and everyone else shouts clues.

Christmas charades: frequently asked questions

What are good Christmas charades ideas?

Things everyone at the party knows: Santa Claus, snowman, reindeer, decorating the tree, Home Alone and Jingle Bells. Mix easy objects with movie and song titles so both kids and adults can play.

What are easy Christmas charades for kids?

Snowman, Santa Claus, reindeer, candy cane, present, sled, elf and snowball. They're short, visual and easy to act out, especially when kids can add a sound.

Which Christmas movies are good for charades?

Home Alone, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life and The Nightmare Before Christmas. They're well known and full of scenes that are easy to recognize.

How do you play Christmas charades with a big family?

Split into two teams and mix the ages. Put the ideas in a hat, give each actor one minute and score a point per correct guess. Rotate actors so everyone gets a turn.

Can we play Christmas charades on a phone?

Yes. In the Chardz app, one person holds the phone to their forehead and everyone else gives clues. Add your Christmas words in a custom deck, unlocked with tickets you earn by playing or with Premium. You can also play our free decks in the browser.

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