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GoodHolidayStore planning guide

Free Christmas Charades Generator: 120 Ideas

By GoodHolidayStore · Updated · Published

Nobody wants to invent a Christmas charade while six people stare at them. Draw a free prompt here, give the actor 60 seconds, and let the room guess. There are 120 original ideas across Christmas actions, things in a Christmas house, winter outdoors and Kids-easy. Turn off the trickier categories for little ones, or print the cards before guests arrive so your phone can stay beside the gravy boat.

Play it now

Christmas charades

Act it out. Take turns choosing a prompt from these lists.

Christmas actions

  • Wrapping a present with too little paper
  • Untangling a stubborn string of lights
  • Hanging a wreath on a high door
  • Balancing a star on the tree
  • Sneaking a cookie before dinner
  • Carrying a stack of wrapped gifts
  • Trying to find the end of the tape
  • Pulling a stocking off its hook
  • Building a gingerbread roof that falls down
  • Hiding a gift behind your back
  • Shaking a parcel to guess its contents
  • Writing gift tags with a dried-out pen
  • Setting a crooked tree upright
  • Opening a present without tearing the paper
  • Reaching under the tree for one last gift
  • Testing a strand of tree lights
  • Tying an enormous bow
  • Folding a paper snowflake
  • Putting a tiny hat on a snowman
  • Blowing on a mug of hot cocoa
  • Hanging a decoration that keeps slipping
  • Taking a family photo with a timer
  • Peeling a clementine in one long strip
  • Rolling out sticky cookie dough
  • Carrying a pudding very carefully
  • Brushing crumbs off a festive sweater
  • Filling a stocking until it overflows
  • Catching a falling tree ornament
  • Looking for a missing gift tag
  • Waving goodbye to departing guests

Things in a Christmas house

  • A rocking horse beside the tree
  • A music box slowly winding down
  • A toy train circling the tree
  • A candle flickering on the table
  • A snow globe being shaken
  • A cuckoo clock striking midnight
  • A nutcracker opening its mouth
  • A wreath swinging on the door
  • A stocking stretching under its gifts
  • A paper chain coming apart
  • A toy robot walking across the floor
  • A teddy bear waiting in a gift box
  • A jack-in-the-box popping open
  • A spinning top wobbling to a stop
  • A wind-up toy running out of power
  • A doorbell announcing another visitor
  • A kettle coming to the boil
  • A fireplace crackling on a cold night
  • A cat batting a hanging ornament
  • A puppy asleep under the tree
  • A mantel clock ticking very slowly
  • A ribbon curling around a parcel
  • A pile of coats sliding off a chair
  • A squeaky chair at Christmas dinner
  • A curtain blowing through an open window
  • A snowflake decoration dangling overhead
  • A stack of gift boxes toppling over
  • A cookie jar with a stuck lid
  • A toy airplane looping over the sofa
  • A sleepy guest snoring in an armchair

Winter outdoors

  • Pulling a sled up a snowy hill
  • Making a snow angel with stiff arms
  • Rolling a snowball that gets enormous
  • Walking through deep fresh snow
  • Catching a snowflake on your tongue
  • Brushing snow off a park bench
  • Scraping frost from a car window
  • Shoveling a path to the front door
  • Losing a mitten in the snow
  • Warming your hands with your breath
  • Trying to zip a coat while wearing gloves
  • Tiptoeing around a frozen puddle
  • Skating in a tiny circle
  • Learning to ski on a gentle slope
  • Building a snow fort with a friend
  • Knocking snow off your boots
  • Pulling a hat down over cold ears
  • Throwing a soft snowball at a tree
  • Watching your breath in cold air
  • Rescuing a scarf from a branch
  • Taking a photo with cold fingers
  • Dragging a sled that keeps tipping over
  • Packing a snowball that will not stick
  • Trying to walk in oversized snow boots
  • Looking for footprints in the snow
  • Making a snowman taller than yourself
  • Hanging a bird feeder on a branch
  • Jumping over a slushy puddle
  • Brushing snow off your shoulders
  • Marching home with frozen toes

Kids-easy

  • Putting on a woolly hat
  • Eating a crunchy cookie
  • Ringing a little bell
  • Giving someone a big hug
  • Opening a tiny present
  • Putting on long mittens
  • Pretending to be a reindeer
  • Waving from a sleigh
  • Drawing a Christmas tree
  • Placing a carrot on a snowman
  • Clapping for a Christmas song
  • Carrying a small Christmas tree
  • Putting on a cozy scarf
  • Sleeping while Santa visits
  • Pointing to a bright star
  • Stirring a cup of cocoa
  • Licking a candy cane
  • Jumping into a pile of snow
  • Hanging one shiny bauble
  • Reading a Christmas picture book
  • Tiptoeing past a sleeping grown-up
  • Making antlers with your hands
  • Pulling a cracker with a friend
  • Putting a gift in a sack
  • Counting presents under the tree
  • Rolling a small snowball
  • Waving hello at the front door
  • Putting a toy in a stocking
  • Pretending to be a dancing snowman
  • Blowing a kiss across the table

Pack a ready-to-print 32-card Christmas charades deck.

See the printable game

Start with the adult who will commit to the mime

Take the first turn yourself. Silently wrap an imaginary present, struggle with the tape, then hold it up. Once the group understands that exaggerated gestures count as acting, the next person has a much easier start.

Choose teams before drawing. Give one point for each correct guess and alternate turns so the loudest side doesn't take over. For a smaller family, skip teams and let everyone guess together. Pick a stopping point, such as two turns per willing actor, before the first card.

  • Let each actor read the card before starting the timer.
  • Agree that speaking and sound effects stay out of this round.
  • Allow a skip without a penalty when a prompt falls flat.
  • Give guessing and keeping score to guests who don't want to act.

Match the categories to the people in the room

Kids-easy gives you concrete actions such as putting on a hat or eating a cookie. Christmas actions adds little stories for older players. Things in a Christmas house asks actors to become objects, animals or a sleepy guest. Winter outdoors suits a group that enjoys big movements.

Read the category labels before play and select only the ones your group recognizes. Nobody needs to know how to ski to join the party. A seated actor can mime hands, faces and objects; clear a small space and let the actor choose a comfortable position.

Print before the kitchen gets busy

Select your categories, then print the cards. Check one sheet in your home printer before sending the full set. Make sure the card edges and category labels fit inside the printable area. Plain white paper works for one evening; thicker paper makes a less see-through draw pile.

Cut along the card borders and stack the cards face down. Keep the unused categories in a separate envelope so they don't wander back into the children's round. If you're playing from a device, hold the screen toward the actor while the guessers look away.

Want the printable version?

The Christmas Charades printable gives you 32 cut-apart cards in large text, with separate four-page US Letter and A4 PDFs. Pick it when you want a prepared deck to pack with the party supplies. The free generator above has its own prompts.

Questions and answers

Can younger children play without reading a card?

Yes. Select Kids-easy and have an adult whisper the prompt to the actor. Let a child act with a partner, and accept the idea rather than demanding the exact wording.

What happens when we have seen every prompt?

The deck reshuffles after the selected pool runs out. If you want fresh material for the next round, turn on a category you left out earlier.

Can we play without a timer?

Yes. Leave the timer stopped and give each actor an unhurried turn. Agree that the actor can skip whenever a prompt stops being enjoyable.