Unwrap the Gift Game / Pass the Parcel
Supplies: Gift items, wrapping paper, tape, music - that can be turned on and off
This gift has layer and layers of wrapping paper but who will be the lucky person to unwrap the last layer and win the gift! This hot potato type game has variations that can make each unwrapping entertaining.
Wrap a gift or gifts if several groups in several layers of wrapping paper. The number of layers depends on how long you want the game to last, plus the more people the more layers.
Have everyone sit in a circle and give your group / groups a gift and tell them when you turn on the music to pass the gift in one direction and when you turn off the music who ever has the gift gets to take off ONE layer of wrapping paper, continue this until the last layer of paper is taken off and whoever has the gift unwrapped gets to keep it.
Thanks Elaine
Variation
Place a slip of paper in between each wrapping. On each piece of paper will be and Action / Challenge or Prize.
Examples:
Action: Hop on one foot 20 times, Blow up a balloon and pop it, etc… something silly
Prize: Include 1 small prize in 4 or 5 wraps – Could be a candy bar or dollar store gift.
By adding these twists guests don’t know whether they want the gift or not! We recommend you randomly add in these pieces of paper so you don’t even know what is next. Then it is a surprise for everyone.
Dice Doubles - Unwrap the Gift Game
Supplies: Gift, dice, various wrapping paper, tape, scissors
Announce that you are going to play a game where you upwrap a gift sounds simple enough, then tell after everyone is seated and ready to go place a set of oven mitts next to the gift. Now it gets a little harder!
Get a gift or gift certificate and place in a solid box. We used a hard jewelry case but most boxes will do.
Then wrap the gift with paper, then masking tape, paper, masking tape, paper etc… The more layers, the harder the game will be to play and the more interesting.
Sit everyone in a circle and announce how the game is played.
- Each player takes a turn at rolling 2 dice.
- The first person to roll doubles goes to the center of the circle put on the oven mitts/gloves and then starts unwrapping the gift with their hands. They can not use their teeth.
- While the person is working on trying to unwap the gift, the dice continue to be rolled and passed until the next person rolls the dice and yells, “Stop unwrapping”.
- At that point the person in the middle must put down the gift, take off the oven mitts/gloves and return to their seat. The next person now puts on the mitts and works to unwrap the gift.
The dice rolling and unwrapping continues until someone finally gets through all the layers of wrapping paper and tape and holds up the gift. Then the gift is theirs to keep.
Hint - to build the excitement, do not tell players that you used masking tape and several layers of paper.
Dice Game Variation:
Have contestants wear more clothes hat, scarf, and gloves, this just adds more prep time.
Instead of changing places every time doubles are rolled, change to be every time double sixes or ones are rolled.
Christmas Stocking Guessing Game
Supplies: Oversized stocking, holiday objects, pen and paper
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Can your guests figure out what Holiday objects are in the stocking? Well pass around a Christmas stocking filled with Holiday items and see how many they can identify.
You take a new large Christmas stocking. Then you put objects, that you see or use around Christmas time, into the stocking. If you have more than one stocking make sure you put the same things in each Christmas stocking.
Consider things like holly, scotch tape, ornament, pine cone, etc. Make sure you put about 20 to 25 different objects in. Tie a ribbon or rope around the opening to make sure nobody peeks.
Give everyone a piece of paper and pass the Christmas stocking or stockings around at your party and tell them how many objects there are in the stocking and have them write down all they can feel. Two stockings just make the game go a little faster. The person that correctly guesses the most objects in the sock is the winner.
Thanks, Patsy
Variation
instead of one large stocking. Have lots of stockings with 1 item in each. Then number the Christmas stocking and have a list of numbers on a piece of paper. Then as the kids check each stocking they can write down what they think is in it. The child with the most correct wins.
Santa’s Christmas Puzzle Mystery
Supplies: Camera, photos, planning and craft supplies
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This is a Christmas scavenger hunt type game where you challenge teams (tables) or individuals to find out where Santa’s elves have hidden the toys / Christmas gifts. First you set the stage by sharing the Santa doesn’t know where the gifts are and needs help else there may not be a Christmas.
The good news is the elves had left clues so they would remember where the toys are, but one of our favorite elves Patty Puzzle thought they were toys and cut them all up! Now we need your help to find out where the toys are.
Now you give out envelopes with a puzzle to each team. Once the puzzle is finished it should give a hint to where the toys / gifts are. Once completed the team can go and find the gifts. Note: Each team can be sent to a different location if everyone gets a gift, this is a fun way to play.
You can play this as the first team to find the gifts wins or maybe someone from that team has a shot to win a bigger prize. (Vary as needed.)
If playing with kids, you can set this up as a scavenger hunt and have several photo puzzle clues. So one puzzle clue resolved leads to another puzzle clue. This will keep the kids busy and once the gifts are found, there would be a gift for each child.
So How to Prep for the Game:
1. Plan where to hide the gifts first and then take photos of the hiding place. Helps to have 1 or 2 gifts in the photograph place have a green glove on so it has an elf touch to it.
2. Have photos printed and choose 8 x 10 or larger for groups. You can do small if for just kids. Now you need cut up the photos into squares. (1, 1.5 or 2 inch blocks) and place into an envelope. If you want to make it really tricky turn the photo into a real puzzle, this is great for office events because it is a huge challenge.
3. Now just decide whether you are solving one puzzle or if you are creating a photo scavenger hunt.
4. Make sure you place presents at the hiding place. If you want have the toys in a sack and have whoever finds it to bring it to Santa to get a reward and then Santa can give a special gift to those that find the gifts and then hand out the rest.
This Christmas game is easily adaptable for office parties, small gatherings where you have kids or it can be a fun indoor event on the weekend for families.
A Party Game Ideas Original by Sarah
Increase the challenge, Create a real puzzle for your event.
Holiday Office Guess Games
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Supplies: Varies by game - Childhood photos, item from desk, time to get everything, pen and paper
How well do you know co-workers and could you match up an item from their desk to them or would you be able to identify who is in the childhood photo? Two office guess games
1) Our law firm had a Christmas party last year. Our accountant was able to get childhood photos of each person who worked in the firm from spouses, family members, significant others, etc. It was a secret!!!
At the party, she posted each picture on a huge white poster board with a number under each. Each member of the firm had to write down who they thought each person was. It was great fun!
2) The day before our Christmas party, our accountant secretly went around to each person's desk in the firm and snatched one somewhat 'personal' item off of their desk. At the party, she laid everything out on a table, each assigned with a number. Everyone had to figure out which item came from whose desk!
It is interesting to see who knows what is on other people’s desks.
Christmas Carol Pictionary Relay
Supplies: List of Christmas Carols, paper and pen and people willing to sing
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Team member race to receive the name of a Christmas Carol which they must get their team to recognize and then sing. The first team to have all team members complete the task wins.
Based on the number of Christmas Carols you come up with not all players may get a chance to draw out the name of a song. The goal is however that everyone would have a turn. (Adjust game as needed.)
Divide group into teams. Each team sends one person up to the Gamemaster / Host who gives them the name of a Christmas carol. Then the person returns to group and in the manner of Pictionary tries to get the group to guess the name of the carol by DRAWING ONLY.
As soon as the group knows the song, they must sing it as a group until the Gamemaster / Host gives the thumbs up sign (10 – 20 seconds). Once they get the thumbs up, the team sends a new person for another song. Play continues until one group completes all their songs.
Here are some Christmas Carols to get started. Remember there can not be any duplicate carols.
Jingle Bells
Deck the Halls
Here Comes Santa Claus
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Silent Night
Joy to the World
Away In a Manger
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Up On the Housetop
