What's on the Christmas charades cards
The deck has 60 Christmas charades ideas, each a short action that's fun to act out: untangling Christmas lights, shaking a present, sipping hot cocoa, sledding down a big hill. Here's a taste of what's inside.
Decorating
Hanging lights on the roof, putting the star on top of the tree, catching a falling Christmas tree.
Santa and the North Pole
Leaving cookies out for Santa, a reindeer learning to fly, an elf wrapping presents super fast.
Gifts
Shaking a present to guess what's inside, pretending to love a gift, running out of wrapping paper.
Snow and treats
Texting with mittens on, skating on a frozen pond, frosting sugar cookies, trying a slice of fruitcake.
Charades suits families, classrooms and office parties because nobody needs to know anyone well. Easy cards to start with: eating a candy cane, sledding down a big hill and ringing sleigh bells. Harder ones for the show-offs: texting with mittens on, a nutcracker soldier marching and pretending to love a gift.
How to play Christmas charades
The rules fit in one breath: one person acts, their team guesses, and the actor can't talk.
- 1Split into two teams. Shuffle the cards and put them face down in a bowl or a stack.
- 2The first actor draws a card and reads it without showing anyone.
- 3Start a one-minute timer.
- 4Act it out. No talking, no mouthing words and no pointing at the real thing in the room.
- 5If the team guesses before time runs out, they get a point. If not, the card goes back in the pile.
- 6Teams take turns, with a new actor each time. When the cards run out, the team with the most points wins.
Charades hand signals
These classic signals help your team without a word. Go over them before the first card, so everyone knows what they mean.
- Number of words: hold up that many fingers. “Building a gingerbread house” is four.
- Which word you're on: hold up one, two or three fingers again before you act that word.
- Number of syllables: lay that many fingers on your forearm.
- Sounds like: tug your earlobe, then act out a word that rhymes.
- Small word, like “a” or “the”: hold your thumb and finger close together.
- The whole idea: sweep your arms in a big circle, then act out the whole scene at once.
- Getting close: wave your hands toward you to say “keep going.”
- You got it: touch your nose and point at the person who said it.
Printing and party tips
- Print on cardstock so nobody can read the words through the back.
- Fold the cards and draw them from a Santa hat or a stocking.
- Keep score with candy: one piece for each correct guess.
- Laminate a set and save it for next year.
- Push the coffee table back. Charades needs room more than skill.
- Players who can't read yet can act in pairs, or have a teammate whisper the card to them.
Christmas charades variations
Speed round
Give each team two minutes to act out as many cards as they can. Skipping is allowed, but the card goes to the bottom.
Whole team acts
The whole team acts out the card together while the other team guesses. Try it with “Singing carols door to door.”
Freeze frame
The actor strikes one pose and holds it, with no moving at all. Good for cards like “Taking a photo with Santa.”
No teams
Anyone can guess, and whoever gets it right acts next. Works well with a small group or a whole class.
Draw it instead
Sketch the card on paper or a whiteboard instead of acting it. Same cards, different game.
Play the same deck on one phone
Our charades game has the same Christmas deck built in, with a timer and a scoreboard. The actor holds the phone so only they can see the prompt while the team guesses. It's handy when there's no printer nearby or no time to cut.
For a bigger holiday lineup, see our Christmas games, or the office holiday party games for a work crowd. Printing more? Try the Christmas would you rather cards.
Questions
How do you play Christmas charades?
Split into two teams. One player draws a card and acts it out without talking while their team guesses. A correct guess within a minute earns a point. Teams take turns, and the most points wins.
What are the charades hand signals?
Hold up fingers for the number of words, lay fingers on your forearm for syllables, tug your ear for “sounds like” and touch your nose when someone gets it right.
How many cards are there?
60 Christmas charades cards. They print 8 to a page, so the full deck fits on 8 pages.
Are the cards OK for kids and coworkers?
Yes. Every card is a clean, everyday holiday action, like sipping hot cocoa or hanging a wreath on the door.
How many people do you need?
Four or more is best, so you can make two teams. With three, take turns acting and let anyone guess.
Can we play without printing?
Yes. Open our charades game on one phone and pick the Christmas deck. It keeps time and score for you.