Christmastime is a time of celebration and cheer. Moreover, to share the joy of Christ's birth in this world, to save us sinners, we invite people over. There's nothing like spending Christmas with friends and family. Some people host quiet dinners, while others throw parties. Parties require fun activities to keep the energy going. Planning some party games would be a good idea to raise the energy levels of the guests. Moreover, it sets the mood going for the rest of the evening. Popular Party Games for Christmas Passing the Christmas Parcel (For Kids/Adults) 'Passing the Parcel' has been an ever-popular party game. It has been often played at birthday parties, office parties, etc. So what's the fun in keeping this game for a Christmas party as well? What we are talking about is not just the regular passing the parcel, but the same game with a Christmas twist. Keep the parcel something in tune with the Christmas theme, like a little Santa stuffed toy or a gift box, etc., which the winner can open and claim when the game is over. Instead of the regular music, play Christmas carols. Now, if someone is caught with the parcel when the music stops, instead of ousting them from the game unceremoniously, have them come up to the center of the group and ask them a Christmas trivia question. If they answer the question correctly, let them rejoin the game, and if they cannot, they are out! This way, you can ensure the game goes on longer too. The person who lasts till the end is the winner. However, make sure you have enough trivia questions. Pin the Christmas Tree (For Adults) Ever played 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey'? It's a popular party game where a tailless donkey's picture is drawn on a board, and blindfolded people try to attach the tail in the right place. It is hilarious to see the various places where people pin the tails when they cannot see! Here's a variation of the game with a Christmas touch. Take an actual Christmas tree (or use a large picture and fix it to a board). Make some cards, like our regular playing cards, and write Christmas trivia questions on them. Then, attach these cards on the Christmas tree, face down, so that the questions cannot be seen. Then call your players one by one. Give them a big pin, suitably designed with a Christmas look, and tell them to pin it onto the tree. There is no need to blindfold them because the cards are already kept inverted. When they pin a card, remove it from the tree, and ask them the question. Score them according to the answers they give. You can make this game more fun by dividing your players into two groups. Tell people to come up alternately from each of the groups and ask them questions. Keep your questions interesting. Christmas Treasure Hunt (For Kids/Adults) This is a very common game, but it is still very popular. This game is real fun for kids and adults alike. The concept is very simple. Hide about 20 things (better if you select Christmas-related things like small toys, decoration articles, etc.) in different places, indoors or outdoor. Then draw up two lists of things. Divide your players in two groups and give them the lists. Let them find out the things and bring them to the center table. The team that brings in the largest number of items wins! Adding clues will make the game easier and add to the fun element. You can put clues like this - Under the table, and over the carpet brown; I lay there, find me before sundown! Of course, you will have several tables in your house, and then too, there are many possibilities of hiding things under tables! You can think of putting clues with the items people find. Like, if they find the first item, they will find the clue to the second item kept with it. This keeps the mystery of the game going on. However, this game does require quite a bit of prior preparation. In, Out! (For Kids) This is a real fun game to play if you have kids and teenagers as your guests. Moreover, having a spacious space would be ideal for this game. Draw a huge circle on the floor with a chalk. Make everyone stand around the circle (on the outer side). When the referee says - In, everyone has to jump inside the circle. When he says - Out, they have to jump out. The actual fun begins when the referee stars confusing them, by saying something like In - Out - In - Out - Out! It will be fun to see how everyone goes out when they should be in, and stays in when they should be out! To make this game Christmassy, you can add Christmas-related gifts for the winners. And, instead of drawing a plain circle, you can draw a decorative wreath on the floor. The Christmas Telephone (For Kids/Adults) There is no winning and losing in this game, but still it is great fun, especially with large groups. Make your players sit in a circle. Then write something Christmas-related on a card, like - We went Christmas shopping on Sunday at the mart. There were no sugarplums, so we bought jellybeans instead. The longer it is, the better; but do not make it too long. Then show this card to the first person. He or she has to memorize the line, and then whisper it in the ear of the next person. They have to memorize it and do the same to the next one. The message is to travel in this manner, till it reaches the ears of the last person. Ask the last person to say it out aloud. It is a very rare chance that the person will say it right. It will surely be a moment of great hilarity when you compare it with what is written on the card! Four Corners (For Kids/Adults) This game can be played outdoor, and is an excellent game if you have a large number of guests. Moreover, it requires only some amount of prior preparation. You need a CD player and Christmas carol CDs. Then you need four A4-sized sheets of paper on which you have to write down names of four cities Jesus visited. For example; Galilee, Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Jordan. Stick these sheets at four corners of the place, high enough so that everybody can see. Also write the names of these cities on 4 small cards, fold, and place into a box/bag. The game goes like this: when the music starts people start walking from one corner to another. When the music stops, people are to quickly run to a corner of their choice and stand. If a person is not at a corner, he or she is out. Then from a bag of four cards, you are to remove one card and say, Jesus has decided to visit 'Galilee' (or any of the four places mentioned on the chit). The people standing at that place are out and have to leave the game. The one who sustains till the end is the winner. Apart from these, you can play other interesting games like relay, memory game, charades, or plan fun activities like decorating a Christmas tree in a funny way, or making a snowman, etc. You can even come up with your own games. Just think of a party game, add a Christmas twist to it, and your themed party game is ready! However, make sure you have interesting prizes at the end to excite the guests. Have fun!