The 12 No-Prep Youth Group Games for Christmas

It’s the most wonderful (and busiest) time of the year! If you’re a youth group leader scrambling to pull together a holiday gathering, you’re not alone. That’s why I’ve created this list of 12 no-prep Christmas games to make your event festive and fun—without the stress of planning or gathering supplies. Whether your group loves high-energy activities, brain-teasing challenges, or just a good laugh, there’s something here for everyone.

So, grab your group and get ready to make some memories!

1. Christmas Character Showdown

How to Play:

1. Each person picks a Christmas character (Santa, Frosty, an elf, etc.) but keeps it a secret.
2. Players take turns asking yes/no questions to figure out who everyone is (e.g., “Does your character have a red outfit?”). See list below for 20 Christmas Character Ideas
3. First to correctly guess everyone’s characters wins.

Why It’s Great:

• It’s a fun guessing game with a festive twist.
• Easy for all ages middle school or high school to enjoy.

Christmas Character Ideas

1. Santa Claus
2. Mrs. Claus
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
4. Frosty the Snowman
5. An Elf
6. The Grinch
7. Cindy Lou Who
8. A Wise Man (from the Nativity)
9. Mary (from the Nativity)
10. Joseph (from the Nativity)
11. Baby Jesus
12. A Shepherd
13. An Angel
14. Ebenezer Scrooge
15. Tiny Tim
16. Kevin McCallister (from Home Alone)
17. Buddy the Elf (from Elf)
18. The Polar Express Conductor
19. Max (the Grinch’s dog)
20. Jack Skellington (from The Nightmare Before Christmas)

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2. Christmas Carol Chaos

How to Play:

• Pick a word often used in Christmas carols (e.g., “joy,” “snow”). See the word list below for ideas
• Teams alternate singing a line from a Christmas carol containing that word.
• If a team can’t think of one, they’re out for the round.

Why It’s Fun:
It’s fast-paced and hilarious, especially when people forget lyrics!

Christmas Carol Word List

1. Joy
2. Snow
3. Star
4. Night
5. Peace
6. Light
7. Angel
8. King
9. Silent
10. Bells
11. Glory
12. Merry
13. Shepherd
14. Tree
15. Noel
16. Holy
17. Baby
18. Happy
19. Santa
20. Winter
21. Bright
22. Gift
23. Wonder
24. Bethlehem
25. Rejoice
26. Child
27. Gloria
28. Heaven
29. Christmas
30. New

How to Use This List:

• Select a Word: Choose one of the words from the list for each round.
• Alternate Singing: Teams take turns singing a line from a Christmas carol that includes the chosen word.
• Examples:
  • For “Joy”:
    • “Joy to the world, the Lord is come…”
    • “Repeat the sounding joy…”
  • For “Star”:
    • “Star of wonder, star of night…”
    • “Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light…” (though this line contains “night” and “light” but not “star”, so players need to think carefully)

Tips for a Successful Game:

• Adjust Difficulty: Choose simpler words for younger groups and more challenging ones for older participants.
• Encourage Creativity: If a team gets stuck, allow them a brief moment to think or collaborate.
• Keep It Light: The goal is fun, so consider allowing humorous or made-up lines for extra laughs!

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3. Christmas Freeze Frame

How to Play:

• Divide the group into small teams.
• Each team has 2 minutes to plan a frozen pose that depicts a Christmas activity or scene (e.g., building a snowman, the nativity).
• The other teams take turns guessing what the pose represents.

Why It’s Fun:
This game brings creativity and teamwork into play while keeping things simple.

Christmas Activities and Scenes for Freeze Frame

1. Building a snowman
2. Decorating a Christmas tree
3. Wrapping presents
4. Opening gifts on Christmas morning
5. Hanging stockings
6. Sledding down a hill
7. Caroling door-to-door
8. Baking Christmas cookies
9. The Nativity scene
10. A family sitting by the fireplace
11. Santa coming down the chimney
12. Elves making toys in Santa’s workshop
13. Rudolph leading the sleigh
14. Drinking hot cocoa
15. Throwing a snowball
16. Ice skating
17. A snowball fight
18. A Christmas dinner feast
19. A reindeer flying
20. Watching a Christmas movie

Tips for Leaders:

• Optional Prompts: Write these on slips of paper and let teams draw one at random.
• Encourage Creativity: Let teams interpret the scenes however they like for extra laughs.
• Add a Timer: Use a 30-second limit to freeze for quick rounds if needed.

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4. Santa’s List (Memory Game)

How to Play:

• The first person says, “Santa is bringing a ___ for Christmas,” and fills in the blank (e.g., toy train).
• The next person repeats the phrase and adds their own item.
• The game continues until someone forgets an item or messes up the order.

Why It’s Fun:
It challenges memory and gets funnier as the list grows.

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5. Christmas Emoji Pictionary

How to Play:

• Text or write Christmas-related phrases using only emojis (e.g., 🎄⭐🎅 for “O Christmas Tree”). See the list below
• Players or teams guess what the emojis represent.

Why It’s Fun:
It’s a modern twist on traditional Pictionary that’s perfect for tech-savvy teens!

Christmas Emoji Pictionary Ideas

Christmas Carols/ Songs

1. 🎄⭐🎅 = O Christmas Tree
2. ❄️🤍🎶 = White Christmas
3. 🤶🎶🎵 = Here Comes Santa Claus
4. 🌟👶🛐 = Away in a Manger
5. 🛷🔔🎶 = Jingle Bells
6. 🙏🌌🎶 = Silent Night
7. 🐏👼📖 = While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
8. 🎁🙌🏾🎶 = We Wish You a Merry Christmas
9. 🕊️☮️🌎 = Let There Be Peace on Earth
10. ❄️☃️🎵 = Frosty the Snowman

Christmas Movies

1. 🎄🏠 = Home Alone
2. 🏰👻👑🎄 = The Nightmare Before Christmas
3. 👦🎁🛷🎅 = The Polar Express
4. 🤶🎄🧑‍🎄🍪 = Elf
5. 🌟👶🐑🐪 = The Nativity Story
6. 🦌🎅🛷🎁 = Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
7. 👻🎄🕰️ = A Christmas Carol
8. 🐓🥚❄️🕰️ = It’s a Wonderful Life
9. 🐻🎄📦 = The Christmas Chronicles
10. 🏔️☃️❄️🎶 = Frozen

Christmas Phrases

1. 🎅🏠🌉🎁 = Santa’s Coming to Town
2. 🎁🙌🎄 = Merry Christmas
3. ❄️🌟🎄👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 = Let it Snow
4. 🎁❤️📦 = The Gift of Love
5. 🎄🕯️🏠☃️ = Deck the Halls
6. 🤶🎄🏠 = Santa’s Workshop
7. 🕯️🛷🎁❄️ = Twas the Night Before Christmas
8. 🎅❌🎄🚫 = Grinch Stole Christmas
9. 👶🛐🎁⭐ = Born to Save the World
10. 🔔🎶🛷❄️ = Silver Bells

Christmas Words/ Concepts

👼⭐🛐 = Angel of the Lord

🦌❄️🎄 = Reindeer Games

🎁🌟🛐 = Christmas Gifts

🛏️👶🐑 = Manger Scene

🔥🎄👪 = Christmas Around the Fire

How to Use This List:

• Text the emoji combination to participants or display them on a board/slide.
• Award points for correct answers or for the team that guesses the fastest.
• Adjust difficulty by mixing up common songs, movies, and phrases!

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6. The Candy Cane Hunt

How to Play:

• Hide imaginary or real candy canes around the room.
• Players hunt for the candy canes based on clues or by asking “hot or cold” questions.

Why It’s Fun:
It’s interactive and brings out everyone’s inner detective!

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7. Reindeer Relay

How to Play:

1. Form two lines for a relay race.
2. Each team member must act like a reindeer (prance, gallop, or make up a “reindeer move”) to a designated point and back.
3. Add silly challenges along the way (e.g., “deliver” an imaginary present or dodge invisible snowballs).

Why It’s Great:

Perfect for groups with lots of energy.

Encourages creativity and movement.

Reindeer Relay Challenges

1. Deliver an Imaginary Present: Carry an invisible gift while prancing to the designated point and back.
2. Dodge Invisible Snowballs: Pretend to duck and weave as if avoiding snowballs thrown by the opposing team.
3. Reindeer Antlers: Use your hands or arms as “antlers” while running, and if they fall (you drop them), you must restart.
4. Sing a Line: Pause halfway and sing a line from a Christmas carol before continuing.
5. Gallop Like Rudolph: Skip or gallop with a “red nose” (use a red sticker, ball, or just pretend).
6. Pull Santa’s Sleigh: Pretend to pull a heavy sleigh while moving slowly to the point and back.
7. Tiptoe Past Santa: Act like you’re sneaking past a sleeping Santa without making noise.
8. Spin in a Blizzard: Spin around three times at the halfway point before continuing.
9. Reindeer Leap: Jump over imaginary obstacles like fences or piles of snow.
10. Decorate Yourself: Pick up and “wear” imaginary decorations (e.g., lights, tinsel) before returning.
11. Jingle Bells Run: Pretend you’re wearing jingly bells and make “ding-a-ling” sounds as you run.
12. Wrap a Gift: Pretend to wrap an invisible gift at the halfway point before returning.
13. Eat a Carrot: Stop at the halfway point and pretend to eat a “reindeer snack” (a carrot or treat).
14. Follow the Leader: The first team member makes up a unique move for the next person to copy.
15. Fly Like a Reindeer: Run with your arms stretched out like wings, pretending to fly to the point and back.
16. Freeze at the North Pole: Pause halfway and freeze for 3 seconds before continuing.
17. Reindeer Dance: Do a silly reindeer dance before running back to tag the next teammate.
18. Snowy Steps: Pretend the ground is slippery ice and tiptoe carefully to the point and back.
19. Hop on One Leg: Hop to the point and back as a “one-legged reindeer.”
20. Carry Santa’s Sack: Pretend you’re carrying a heavy sack of presents on your back while running.

How to Use This List:

• Mix and match challenges for different rounds to keep it fresh.
• For added laughs, let the team vote on the “best reindeer performance” at the end!

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8. Elf Hunt

How to Play:

1. The leader picks one “Elf” in secret.
2. Players ask yes/no questions or take turns guessing who the Elf is.
3. The Elf can give fake clues or distract others to stay hidden.
4. If someone guesses the Elf correctly, they win and become the next Elf.

Why It’s Great:

• Works in any size group.
• Combines mystery and interaction for lots of laughs.

9. Would You Rather: Christmas Edition

How to Play:

• Ask the group fun Christmas-themed “Would You Rather” questions. For example:
  • Would you rather drink hot cocoa or eggnog?
  • Would you rather decorate a gingerbread house or a Christmas tree?
• Players move to one side of the room for each answer.

Why It’s Fun:
It’s a great icebreaker and reveals funny personal preferences!

Would You Rather: Christmas Edition

1. Would you rather drink hot cocoa or eggnog?
2. Would you rather decorate a gingerbread house or a Christmas tree?
3. Would you rather receive one big present or 10 small presents?
4. Would you rather go caroling or watch Christmas movies all night?
5. Would you rather spend Christmas in the mountains or on the beach?
6. Would you rather have a snowball fight or build a snowman?
7. Would you rather only eat Christmas cookies or candy canes for a whole week?
8. Would you rather meet Santa Claus or Frosty the Snowman?
9. Would you rather give up Christmas dinner or Christmas presents?
10. Would you rather wear an ugly Christmas sweater or a Santa hat every day in December?
11. Would you rather have a Christmas tree that constantly sings or one that never stops flashing lights?
12. Would you rather wrap all the presents for your family or cook Christmas dinner?
13. Would you rather open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
14. Would you rather have a white Christmas with no gifts or a warm Christmas with lots of presents?
15. Would you rather have reindeer antlers or a red nose like Rudolph?
16. Would you rather go ice skating or sledding?
17. Would you rather visit the North Pole or Santa’s workshop?
18. Would you rather eat fruitcake or drink eggnog every day for a week?
19. Would you rather have tinsel for hair or jingle bells for feet?
20. Would you rather get only socks for Christmas or get no presents at all?

How to Use This List:

• Read each question aloud and point to one side of the room for each option.
• Encourage participants to explain their choices for extra laughs!
• Keep the game light and fast-paced with 10-15 seconds for each question.

10. Christmas Movie Trivia

How to Play:

• Prepare trivia questions about popular Christmas movies (e.g., “What’s the Grinch’s dog’s name?” or “In Home Alone, where does Kevin’s family go for Christmas?”).
• Divide into teams and keep score.

Why It’s Fun:
It’s a great way to bring holiday classics into the mix, and everyone loves showing off their movie knowledge!

Christmas Movie Trivia Questions

Easy Questions

1. What’s the Grinch’s dog’s name in How the Grinch Stole Christmas? (Max)
2. In Home Alone, where does Kevin’s family go for Christmas? (Paris)
3. Who plays Buddy in Elf? (Will Ferrell)
4. What’s the name of the train in The Polar Express? (The Polar Express)
5. In The Santa Clause, what happens when Scott Calvin puts on Santa’s suit? (He becomes Santa Claus.)

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Moderate Questions

6. In A Christmas Story, what gift does Ralphie want more than anything? (A Red Ryder BB Gun)
7. In Elf, what are the four main food groups for elves? (Candy, candy canes, candy corns, syrup)
8. Who is the villain in The Nightmare Before Christmas? (Oogie Boogie)
9. In The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, what Christmas gift does Lucy receive from Father Christmas? (A vial of magical healing cordial and a dagger)
10. What item brings Frosty the Snowman to life? (A magic hat)

11. In The Christmas Chronicles (2018), what magical item powers Santa’s sleigh? (A star)
12. In Noelle (2019), what is Noelle’s relationship to Santa Claus? (She is his daughter.)
13. In Spirited (2022), which two actors play the main characters in this modern twist on A Christmas Carol? (Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds)
14. In The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022), who do the Guardians try to “gift” to Peter Quill for Christmas? (Kevin Bacon)
15. In The Nightmare Before Christmas, what is Jack Skellington’s title in Halloween Town? (The Pumpkin King)
16. In The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, what does the White Witch use to lure Edmund? (Turkish Delight)

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Challenging Questions

17. In The Polar Express, what word is punched into the boy’s ticket? (Believe)
18. In Elf, what does Buddy mistakenly call himself when working in the toy department? (A cotton-headed ninny-muggins)
19. In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, where does Kevin stay during the movie? (The Plaza Hotel)
20. What holiday is Jack Skellington trying to take over in The Nightmare Before Christmas? (Christmas)
21. In The Santa Clause 2, what does Scott Calvin need to do to remain Santa Claus? (Find a wife before Christmas Eve.)

Bonus Questions (Tie-Breakers)

22. In A Christmas Carol, what is the name of Scrooge’s deceased business partner? (Jacob Marley)
23. What is the Grinch’s least favorite holiday noise in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?(Singing from the Whos)
24. Who tries to stop Christmas in The Nightmare Before Christmas?(Jack Skellington)
25. What is the first gift of Christmas in The Polar Express?(A bell from Santa’s sleigh)
26. In Elf, what song does Buddy sing in the department store?(“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”)
27. In Home Alone, what is the name of the pizza company that delivers to Kevin’s house?(Little Nero’s Pizza)
28. In The Santa Clause, what does Santa’s sleigh use as a power source?(Christmas spirit)
29. In The Polar Express, what do the children drink on the train?(Hot chocolate)
30. What does Frosty the Snowman say as he comes to life?(“Happy Birthday!”)

12. 12 Days of Christmas Challenge

How to Play:

• Divide into teams and assign each a few lines from “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
• Teams create over-the-top actions for their assigned lines.
• Perform the whole song together with everyone acting out their part.

Why It’s Fun:
It’s a silly way to end the night on a high note!

Instructions for Leaders

1. Divide the Group into Teams:
   • Depending on the group size, divide participants into 12 teams (one for each day) or combine them into smaller groups (e.g., 4 teams, each taking 3 days).
2. Assign Each Team a Line:
   • Provide teams with one or more lines from the song The 12 Days of Christmas.
   • Example:
     • Team 1: “A Partridge in a Pear Tree”
     • Team 2: “Two Turtle Doves”
     • Team 3: “Three French Hens”
3. Create Over-the-Top Actions:
   • Give teams 5-10 minutes to brainstorm exaggerated, silly actions to represent their assigned lines. Encourage creativity!
   • Examples:
     • “Five Golden Rings”: Pretend to toss rings like a basketball shot.
     • “Nine Ladies Dancing”: A conga line with wild dance moves.
     • “Twelve Drummers Drumming”: Beat imaginary drums wildly.
4. Perform the Song Together:
   • The leader sings the verses, and teams act out their lines when it’s their turn.
   • As the song progresses and lines repeat, teams must keep performing their actions for each round, which gets funnier and more chaotic as the song goes on.
5. Vote or Celebrate:
   • Optional: Vote on the funniest or most creative team.
   • End the game with everyone clapping and celebrating the ridiculousness!

Examples of Actions for Each Line

1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Pretend to flap wings while pointing to a tree.
2. Two Turtle Doves: Flap arms slowly like doves flying.
3. Three French Hens: Walk like a chicken with exaggerated French accents.
4. Four Calling Birds: Cup hands like a phone and pretend to make a call.
5. Five Golden Rings: Make large circular gestures like tossing rings.
6. Six Geese a-Laying: Sit and pretend to lay eggs dramatically.
7. Seven Swans a-Swimming: Swim in slow motion with graceful arm movements.
8. Eight Maids a-Milking: Mimic milking a cow with exaggerated movements.
9. Nine Ladies Dancing: Perform over-the-top dance moves.
10. Ten Lords a-Leaping: Jump dramatically in place.
11. Eleven Pipers Piping: Pretend to play a flute or bagpipe.
12. Twelve Drummers Drumming: Beat imaginary drums with wild enthusiasm.

Merry Christmas we hope you and your youth have a ridiculous fun time playing these no prep youth group Christmas games!

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