60 Christmas Charades Ideas for Kids and Adults

Christmas charades is a classic party game that needs nothing but a few good ideas and a timer. Players act out a word with no talking while their team guesses. Here are 60 Christmas charades ideas in four categories, from easy actions for kids to songs and movies for adults, plus the rules and the classic signs everyone should know.

How to play Christmas charades

Split into two teams. One player picks a word and acts it out with no talking and no sounds. Their team has 60 seconds to guess. A correct guess wins 1 point, then the other team takes a turn. Most points wins.

Classic charades signs

Number of words: hold up that many fingers.
Which word: hold up fingers again to show word one, two or three.
Syllables: tap fingers on your arm.
Sounds like: cup your hand behind your ear.
Movie: crank an old film camera beside your head.
Song: pretend to sing.
Book or story: open your hands like a book.

60 Christmas charades ideas

Actions and Christmas Things are easy for kids. Songs and Movies are great for teens and adults.

Actions (act it out): Wrapping a present, Decorating the tree, Building a snowman, Ice skating, Sledding down a hill, Hanging stockings, Baking cookies, Opening presents, Making a snow angel, Christmas caroling, Writing a letter to Santa, Shoveling snow, Untangling Christmas lights, Drinking hot cocoa, Kissing under the mistletoe
Christmas Things (things and places): Candy cane, Christmas tree, Snowman, Reindeer, Gingerbread house, Nutcracker, Sleigh, Stocking, Ornament, Mistletoe, Wreath, Fireplace, Present, Jingle bells, Santa's sack
Christmas Songs (songs and carols): Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, O Christmas Tree, Up on the Housetop, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Away in a Manger, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Good King Wenceslas, O Holy Night, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Movies And Characters (movies, stories and characters): Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frosty, Rudolph, Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Mrs. Claus, The Nutcracker, Jack Frost, A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street

Tips for a fun game

Write ideas on slips of paper and put them in a Santa hat.
Mix easy and hard ideas so every age can play.
Use a big timer on a TV so everyone sees the countdown.
For large groups, play several teams and let each team choose an actor.

100 charades cards ready to play

Our Christmas Charades game has 100 cards in 4 color coded categories, a PowerPoint where the actor can peek at the word and a 60 second timer runs, an online version that shuffles the cards and keeps score, and printable cards to cut out.

Christmas Charades: 100 cards with a timer

Printable cards plus a PowerPoint and online version with a peek button, 60 second timer and scoring.

See all Christmas party games

Frequently asked questions

What are easy Christmas charades for kids?

Building a snowman, ice skating, opening presents, a flying reindeer and hanging stockings are easy and fun for children.

What are hard Christmas charades for adults?

Song and movie titles such as Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree or Miracle on 34th Street are a good challenge.

How long should each charades turn be?

60 seconds is the classic time. For young kids you can give 90 seconds.