100+ Christmas Charades Ideas for the Whole Family

Christmas charades works better than ordinary charades for one reason: everybody already shares the reference. A group that would argue about a film title will all recognise "wrapping a present badly" instantly, which means fewer stalled rounds and more laughing.

The lists below are grouped by who is playing. If you want to skip straight to a game, the Christmas pack has all 83 words published on the page and plays free in the browser.

Easy Christmas charades for kids

Single objects and actions with one obvious gesture. Anyone from about four upwards can act these.

Snowman, Christmas tree, Reindeer, Santa Claus, Elf, Present, Bell, Star, Candy cane, Stocking, Gingerbread man, Snowflake, Sleigh, Angel, Sledging, Building a snowman, Throwing a snowball, Hanging a decoration, Opening a present, Eating a mince pie, Drinking hot chocolate, Wrapping paper, Fairy lights, Christmas cracker, Robin, Penguin, Polar bear, Icicle, Mittens, Scarf

More in the Kids pack, which has its full 60-word list on the page.

Christmas films and specials

Titles are best for teenagers and adults, since younger kids often have not seen the older ones.

Home Alone, Elf, The Grinch, A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, The Polar Express, Love Actually, Die Hard, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, Frozen, Klaus, Jingle All the Way, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bad Santa, Arthur Christmas, The Santa Clause, Gremlins, Trading Places

Christmas songs and carols

Songs are the one category where humming is normally allowed — agree that before you start, because a silent "Jingle Bells" is nearly impossible.

Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Last Christmas, All I Want for Christmas Is You, Frosty the Snowman, Deck the Halls, White Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, O Holy Night, Let It Snow, Feliz Navidad, Fairytale of New York, Little Drummer Boy, Twelve Days of Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Silver Bells, Sleigh Ride, Do They Know It's Christmas, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Carol of the Bells

Christmas traditions and activities

The strongest category for a mixed room, because everybody has done all of these.

Decorating the tree, Hanging stockings, Writing a letter to Santa, Wrapping presents, Carol singing, Pulling a cracker, Making gingerbread, Kissing under the mistletoe, Putting the star on top, Untangling fairy lights, Taking a family photo, Advent calendar, Secret Santa, Christmas jumper day, Nativity play, Midnight mass, Roasting chestnuts, Ice skating, Watching the King's speech, Leaving out mince pies for Santa

Christmas food

Turkey, Mince pie, Christmas pudding, Gingerbread house, Candy cane, Eggnog, Mulled wine, Roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, Yule log, Stollen, Panettone, Hot chocolate, Cranberry sauce, Pigs in blankets, Christmas cake, Trifle, Chestnuts, Satsuma, Cheese board

Hard Christmas charades for adults

Multi-word ideas and small disasters. These need ninety seconds rather than sixty.

Regifting something to the person who gave it to you, Assembling a toy at midnight, Running out of wrapping paper, The awkward office party conversation, Pretending to like a jumper, Queueing on Christmas Eve, Forgetting whose turn it is to host, The argument about when to open presents, Batteries not included, A tree that will not stand up straight, Family video call with a frozen screen, Overcooking the turkey, The relative who arrives early, Boxing Day sales, Taking the decorations down in January, Explaining Secret Santa rules, Finding a present you hid last year, The cracker joke nobody laughs at, Christmas Day washing up, Falling asleep in front of the television

How to run a Christmas game

Mix the difficulty deliberately. A room on Christmas Day usually spans a five-year-old and a grandparent. Alternate between the kids list and the adults list rather than picking a middle level that suits nobody.

Let the little ones use sounds. Silent charades is hard enough for adults. Allowing noises for the kids' turns keeps them in the game.

Ninety seconds for the adult words, forty-five for the kids' ones. Different timers per player is not cheating; it is what makes a mixed room work.

Play in pairs. Putting a child with an adult means the youngest players get to act without freezing, and the round moves.

The rest of the setup is in how to play charades.

Christmas packs to play right now

• Christmas charades — 83 words, complete list published
• Christmas Act It Out — situations instead of nouns
• Seasonal packs — everything filed by time of year
• Kids charades — 60 easy words for the youngest players

Or open the charades generator, pick Christmas, and start.