Christmas charades: 180 words and a card generator

180 Christmas charades words by theme

Thirty per theme, ten at each level. Print a theme, cut the words into slips and drop them in a bowl, or read them off your phone to each actor.

How to play Christmas charades

Five rules cover it. Agree on them before the first actor stands up.

1. 1Make two teams. Up to about ten a side in one room. Mix departments so the finance team isn't only guessing for itself.
2. 2The actor gets a card in secret. Draw it on your phone with the generator, or pull a slip from a bowl of printed words.
3. 3Signal the theme first. Use the six Christmas signals below so your team knows if it's a movie, a song or an office moment.
4. 4Act it out in silence. No words, no humming, no spelling letters in the air. Props within arm's reach are fine at a party.
5. 5Sixty seconds to guess. A right guess scores one point for the actor's team. Then the other team sends an actor.

Christmas charades signals

Show the theme first, then the number of words. Teach these in one minute before the game.

• Movie or TV special: Crank an old film camera beside your head.
• Song: Cup a hand by your mouth like you're about to sing (no sound).
• Tradition: Hang an invisible ornament on an invisible tree.
• Character: Tap your own shoulder twice: it's a who.
• Winter: Hug yourself and shiver.
• Office party: Type on an invisible keyboard.
• Number of words: Hold up that many fingers, then fingers again to show which word you are acting.
• Sounds like: Tug your ear, then act a word that rhymes.

In the office, hybrid or on video

• In the office: Clear a small stage at the front, give the referee the timer, and keep the score on a whiteboard everyone can see.
• Hybrid: Point the room camera at the stage, mix remote and office players on both teams, and take remote guesses in the chat.
• On a video call: The host copies each word to the actor in a private message, spotlights the actor, and the actor stands back until both arms fit in frame.

Charades fills about 15 to 20 minutes. Planning the full party for a remote team? See our virtual holiday party options, with hosted games, tastings and kit workshops priced for your headcount.

Four Christmas twists

Played a few rounds already? Change one thing.

• What's in the box? The actor unwraps an invisible gift and uses it. The team guesses the gift. Works great with the Traditions and Office party cards.
• Holiday card freeze-frame A whole team poses one frozen scene, like a family photo for a holiday card. The other team gets 30 seconds to name the card.
• Seated charades Everyone acts from their chair using only hands and face. Easier on video and open to everyone in the room.
• December countdown One card at the start of each team meeting in December. The first right guess picks the music for the next meeting.

For a cozy, low-key hour instead, Comfy Cozy Game Shows puts the whole team on a hosted game show. Want words for the rest of the year? Our charades generator has 500+ more, and the Christmas minute to win it games fit the same party.