The Big Christmas Game

Preparation

Download the presentation (see Download below) and go through it while you read these instructions. It gives you a quick overview and helps you understand the games better.

The Big Christmas Game consists of six team games, accompanied by an exciting story. Each part of the story leads into the next game and sets the right mood with fitting pictures. Even the spectators who are not actively playing are transported to the village of “Snowflake Grove” by the pictures, the story and their own imagination.

Round 1: Gift Hunt

• Task: The participants have to collect the items that appear in the pictures. One team member runs off as soon as the signal sounds and the picture of the item is shown. There are four items to fetch in total.
• What you need: Bible, wristwatch, hat, pen (or other items of your choice)

Round 2: Gift Workshop

• Task: The participants wrap the items they collected earlier as neatly as possible. All team members may help. The first team to finish wrapping all the gifts wins.
• What you need: Per team: 1 roll of wrapping paper, 1 roll of tape and 1 pair of scissors. The limited material encourages the teams to work together strategically.

Round 3: Decorating the Village

• Task: Each team chooses one of its members to become the living Christmas tree. All the decorations provided must be used, but each team member may use only one hand. The first team to decorate its “tree” completely and make it light up wins the round.
• What you need: Per team: 1 battery-powered string of lights, 20 candy canes and 1 string of jingle bells (it should be prepared in advance).

Round 4: Christmas Tree Race

• Task: The teams transport their decorated Christmas tree and the wrapped gifts to the finish line. The whole team works together to make sure the tree and the gifts arrive undamaged. The first team whose tree reaches the finish line in one piece wins the round.
• What you need: Per team: 1 skateboard (a penny board or longboard also works). Make sure the boards are the same size to keep things fair. Optional: obstacles to make the race harder.

Round 5: In the Candy Kitchen

• Task: One team member has to collect as many “marshmallows” (mini pom-poms) as possible into a cup within 60 seconds, blindfolded and wearing oven mitts. The team with the most marshmallows wins.
• What you need: Per team: 1 pair of oven mitts, 1 blindfold and 1 cup, 1,000 mini pom-poms and 1 table on which the pom-poms are spread out

Round 6: Jingle Bell Shaking Contest

• Task: Within 60 seconds, one team member has to shake as many jingle bells as possible out of a tissue box tied around their waist. The person who keeps the fewest bells in the box wins this round for their team.
• What you need: Per team: 1 empty tissue box, 1 belt and 15 jingle bells

Bonus Round: Anagrams

At the end of the presentation, you will find anagrams that you can use for an extra round to get all the participants involved again.

What you need: 1 buzzer

How to play

• Set up a buzzer at the front of the stage. The teams may only answer after they have pressed the buzzer.

• Explain the rules: 1. The first buzzer press decides who may answer. 2. Each correct answer scores 1 point. A delayed answer costs 1 point. 3. Search engines and AI are not allowed.
• Use the first anagram as an example so that everyone understands how the game works.

What else you need

• Prepare all the materials in separate team boxes and game boxes. This saves time during the games and keeps everything running smoothly.
• Prizes for the winning team: Think of small prizes the winning team receives as a reward at the end. They can range from candy to symbolic gifts.

Running the Game

• Divide the group into two teams. Each team chooses a volunteer as captain, who then picks four more members of their team. This way, the other participants (guests) stay actively involved by cheering them on.

• Play fitting music during the games: Christmas music or dramatic music, depending on the mood you want to create. Music adds a great deal to the atmosphere and motivates the participants.
• Give a running commentary on what is happening on stage so that the spectators who are not playing can follow and experience the action. This adds extra suspense and entertainment.
• If you have the option, use a video camera to film the action and project it live onto a wall or screen. This way, guests further back in the room can also follow everything well, and it strengthens the shared experience. It is important that your equipment can switch between the video and the presentation.

The Story for the Big Christmas Game

In the village of “___” [give your village a name], it is becoming clear that Christmas is just around the corner. The villagers stream into the local store to find gifts for their loved ones. There is cheerful chaos.

With their arms full, the villagers return to the gift workshop. Now the big wrapping begins: a task that takes a lot of love and care.

Now the first Christmas trees are already being wheeled in. Every house decorates a Christmas tree.

As the high point of the Christmas festivities, the village holds a Christmas tree race. The decorated trees are driven through the streets, accompanied by music and cheerful shouts.

In the candy kitchen, production is in full swing. Early in the morning, the candy maker and his helper are already hard at work when suddenly a mishap occurs and marshmallows are scattered everywhere. In the dark, they now have to act quickly to gather the candy up again.

A special annual event is the Jingle Bell Shaking Contest, a feast for the ears that the children especially love.

Download