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Christmas party games ยท Gift exchange

Left Right Christmas Game:
Free Story + How to Play

The classic pass-the-gift game: read the free Christmas story aloud, pass left and right, and keep the gift you're holding when it ends.

๐ŸŽ Gift exchange๐Ÿ“– Free story printable๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง Any group size๐Ÿ˜‚ Zero prep

How to play

  1. Sit in a circle with each person holding a wrapped gift.
  2. Read the story aloud โ€” use the free printable version below.
  3. Pass on every LEFT and RIGHT. Each time you hear LEFT, pass your gift left. Each RIGHT, pass right.
  4. Keep what you're holding when the story ends. That's your gift!
๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ Free printable PDF
The full Left Right Christmas story, ready to read aloud. No sign-up needed.
Download the PDF

The story: "Christmas Eve at Grandma's"

Read it slowly and clearly โ€” pause a beat on each LEFT and RIGHT so everyone can pass.

One Christmas Eve, the Miller family squeezed LEFT and RIGHT around Grandma's big table.

Uncle Joe sat on the LEFT of Aunt May, who kept glancing RIGHT at the dessert tray.

Grandma announced, 'Everyone look LEFT!' and they all turned LEFT to see the turkey arrive.

Then she said, 'Now look RIGHT!' and they turned RIGHT to see Grandpa sneaking cookies.

The gifts were piled high on the LEFT side of the tree and low on the RIGHT side.

Little Emma crawled LEFT under the table and popped up on the RIGHT with tinsel in her hair.

Dad said, 'Pass the potatoes to the LEFT!' and Mom said, 'Pass the gravy to the RIGHT!'

The dog ran LEFT, then RIGHT, then LEFT again, chasing a runaway dinner roll.

Cousin Ben leaned LEFT to whisper a secret, then leaned RIGHT to hear the answer.

When the carolers arrived, everyone shifted LEFT to make room, then shifted RIGHT for cocoa.

Grandma pointed LEFT at the stockings and RIGHT at the mistletoe, and winked.

The cat knocked an ornament to the LEFT, and it rolled RIGHT under the couch.

At midnight, they all looked LEFT out the window, then RIGHT โ€” and swore they saw reindeer.

Merry Christmas to all, on the LEFT and on the RIGHT!

Tips

Want more gift exchange games?

Our Left Right Christmas Game printable includes the story plus bonus gift exchange games โ€” pass-the-gift fun ready in minutes.

Get the Left Right Game Pack Browse party games

Frequently asked questions

How do you play the Left Right Christmas game?

Everyone sits in a circle holding a wrapped gift. One person reads the story aloud. Every time the reader says LEFT, everyone passes their gift left; every time they say RIGHT, everyone passes right. When the story ends, you keep the gift you're holding.

How many people can play?

Any number from 4 to 40. The more players, the more the gifts travel โ€” and the funnier the ending. It works for family parties, office gift exchanges, and classrooms.

Do the gifts have to be expensive?

No. Set a limit everyone agrees on โ€” $5, $10, or $20 are common. Funny gag gifts often get the biggest laughs. The game is about the passing, not the price.

Can I print the story?

Yes. The free printable PDF has the full Left Right Christmas story, ready to read aloud. Print one copy for the reader โ€” no sign-up needed.