Free Printable Christmas Charades Game (3 Ways To Play)

Christmas Charades is a fun and easy Christmas party game that you can play with all ages. Best of all, you can play charades without needing any pre-planning! But if you do like to be a little more prepared, I’ve got a free printable Christmas charades game for you to grab!

My kids love playing Charades! Whenever the whole family are together for a catch-up, they always want to play but so we’ve learnt that having a Charades theme can definitely make it a lot easier to keep the game flowing. It can also make it a little easier to guess.

If you’re looking for more Charades themes to try, grab my free printable Halloween Charades, Thanksgiving Charades, and camping Charades.

How to Play Charades

Charades is a classic game that can be easily adapted to a Christmas theme. In fact, you can get really specific with Christmas charades or keep it more general. For example, Christmas movies, Christmas songs or just general Christmas words and activities.

Best of all, there are a few different ways to play charades, which is what makes it even more exciting! Below we will share a few variations for you so you can mix it up and keep it interesting.

Ideally, you will need a timer to play. Although not essential, it does keep things fair and keep the game moving. If you don’t have a timer or similar, you can use the timer on your phone too.

1. Simple Charades

1. Divide players into two teams.
2. Each team will take turns acting out Christmas-related words or phrases for their teammates to guess.
3. The person acting out the word cannot speak, sing, mouth words or make any noises. They can only use body language, movement and facial expressions to convey the word or phrase.
4. Their teammates have a set amount of time (usually one minute) to guess the word or phrase. If a teammate guesses the word correctly, their team gets a point.
5. Then switch to the other team for their turn to guess a word.
6. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, either when you reach a set number of points (i.e. first team to 10 points) or when you decide to finish playing.

2. Rapid Charades

This version works similarly to regular Christmas party charades, except this time you have rounds for a set amount of time, such as 2 minutes. During this time, teams must try and guess as many Christmas charades words as they can before the timer ends. Then switch to the other team to do the same.

Typically each round has a different person acting out the words so it rotates per round rather than per word.

This can be a much quicker, fast-paced way to play and it’s a great Christmas game for teens and adults or even as a work Christmas party game.

3. Pictionary Charades (Draw It)

For a twist on the traditional game, you can also play a Pictionary version of Christmas charades using the same word list. This version does require a little extra prep since you will need paper and pencils to play.

A pair of large sketch pads or scrapbooks work great! Alternatively, use a large dry erase board and some dry-erase markers or a chalkboard and chalk instead.

List Of Common Charades Actions

If you’ve played charades before, you might already know a few of these charades actions that help your team guess a bit easier. Start your actions with these cues to help speed up the process, especially if you’re playing rapid charades!

• Number of words: Hold up the corresponding number of fingers.
• Song: Pretend to sing (without making a sound).
• Movie: Mimic cranking a film camera.
• TV show: Use your fingers to draw a square (a TV shape).
• Book: Open and close imaginary book covers.
• Play: Pull an imaginary curtain open.
• Sounds like: Tug on your ear then mimic the action of a word that rhymes.
• Quote or phrase: Make air quotes.
• Person: Point to yourself.
• Object: Hold out your hand as if presenting an object.

Christmas Charades Word List

Don’t have a printer? That’s okay! You can use this list of Christmas Charades words to make your own DIY charades game for your festivities. Just write them each on pieces of paper or sticky notes and fold them up in a bowl.

Or just go in order in the list (without peeking ahead). If you’re doing it this way, having a person who isn’t playing that can share the words is a good option.

Here is a list of Christmas-themed words and phrases:

1. Santa Claus
2. Decorating the Christmas tree
3. Wrapping gifts
4. Elf
5. Mrs Claus
6. Drinking hot cocoa
7. Baking cookies
8. Elf On The Shelf
9. Rudolf
10. Kissing under mistletoe
11. Christmas dinner
12. The Grinch
13. Snow angels
14. Christmas tree
15. Wreath
16. Santa’s sleigh
17. Christmas lights
18. Gingerbread House
19. Writing a letter to Santa
20. Opening presents
21. Snowman
22. Home Alone
23. White Christmas
24. Ice skating
25. Christmas stocking
26. Jingle Bells
27. Candy cane
28. The Polar Express
29. Plum Pudding
30. Christmas cracker
31. Silent night
32. Candle
33. Sledding
34. Christmas card
35. Peeking at gifts
36. Milk & cookies for Santa

Christmas-themed charades is a simple game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages making it a great game to play with the family or friends as a Christmas day activity or as a Christmas party game in the lead up to the festivities too. I hope my free printable Christmas charade ideas bring plenty of fun to your Christmas celebrations!