After Christmas dinner this year, avoid falling asleep on the sofa and get involved in some festive fun instead. There are countless games to play and keep everyone entertained… often with hilarious results! Here are some ideas to keep you busy…
Pass the orange
Divide the group into two teams, making two lines. Place an orange under the chin of the two people at the front. They then have to pass their orange to the person behind them, without the use of their hands. When the orange reaches the end of the line, the last person runs to the front. The winning team is the first one which gets their starting person to the front again. This is also hilarious with a small balloon!
Apple of discord
Each pair of guests holds an apple between their foreheads. The leader gives commands such as ‘Three steps to the left!’, ‘Three steps to the right!’, ‘Squat!’ and ‘Jump!’ The pairs fulfil these commands but if the apple drops, that pair is out
Choose it and lose it
Each guest is issued a number on a ticket, and corresponding numbers are put in a bowl and drawn one at a time. As the first person’s name is drawn, they come and select a wrapped gift. They have to open it in front of everyone and let everyone see what it is. The next person whose number is drawn has the choice of selecting a new gift, or ‘stealing’ a gift that has already been opened. If someone’s gift is ‘stolen’, they get to select a new gift. You can only steal once, but your gift can be stolen any number of times. This can even be done as a gift exchange, where each person brings a gift. It’s very funny when the same gift gets stolen repeatedly!
Christmas tree wrap
Group players into teams of four. Each team selects someone to be the Christmas tree. Give each team green paper and Christmas tree ornaments, scissors and construction paper. Send a judge out of the room. Each team gets five minutes to decorate their tree. Then the judge returns and decides who wins. Alternatively, you could dress them up as Santa.
Limbo
Everyone loves to limbo! To make it more Christmassy, use a string of twinkle lights or a strand of sparkly garland for your limbo stick. For a fun variation on the game, make it a little more challenging by adding a Santa Stomach to guests as they take their turn. Have a couple of oversized shirts and some fluffy pillows on hand!
Balloon battle
Divide the group into two teams. Tie balloons to everyone’s ankles. Say ‘go’ and watch the teams trying to burst the other team’s balloons first. The team with the last balloon wins. As your balloon is burst you withdraw from the game. Hilarious!
