There’s something magical about Christmas, twinkling lights, the smell of cookies baking, and the sound of giggles echoing through the house. And if you love a good laugh and a friendly competition, then you’re probably always looking for ways to spice up those holiday gatherings.

Well, get ready to wow everyone at your next Christmas party with these epic Minute to Win It Christmas Games! They're silly, speedy, and guaranteed to get everyone, kids, teens and grown-ups in on the fun.

Most of these games use things you already have at home, and they only take a minute to play, which means no one gets bored and everyone gets a chance to shine (or totally flop in the funniest way possible). Ready to bring the holiday cheer? Let’s gooo!

What You Need to Play Christmas Minute to Win It Games

Before we jump into the list, here are a few basic things you’ll want to have on hand. Nothing fancy, promise!

• Candy canes (lots of them)

• Red and green plastic cups

• Mini marshmallows

• Christmas ornaments (shatterproof, please!)

• Jingle bells

• Chopsticks

• Gift wrap and tape

• Stockings

• Christmas cookies

• Ping pong balls

• Timer or stopwatch (or just use your phone)

You can divide your group into teams, or have everyone play individually. Keep score, or just play for fun!

Get the Printable Christmas Minute to Win It Games here

Classic Minute to Win It Christmas Games

Let’s start with some tried-and-true favorites that are always a hit at our holiday parties!

1. Candy Cane Hook-Up

What you need: Candy canes
How to play: Place a bunch of candy canes in a pile on the table. Each player gets one candy cane they hold in their mouth (hook-side down). Without using hands, they have to hook and transfer as many candy canes as they can from the pile to a bowl. One minute on the clock, GO!

2. Snowball Toss

What you need: Mini marshmallows + cups or bowls
How to play: One person tosses marshmallows (a.k.a. snowballs) and their partner tries to catch them in a cup. Try not to laugh too hard when marshmallows start flying everywhere!

3. Jingle Bell Shake

What you need: Empty tissue box, jingle bells, belt or string
How to play: This is a fun version of the junk in the trunk game. Strap the tissue box filled with jingle bells to the back of a player’s waist. They have one minute to shake out all the bells, no hands allowed! It’s ridiculous. It’s hilarious. It’s perfect.

4. Marshmallow Stack

What you need: Jumbo marshmallows
How to play: How high can you stack marshmallows before they tumble? You’ve got 60 seconds to build the tallest fluffy tower you can. Good luck, it’s slipperier than it looks!

5. Christmas Cookie Face

What you need: Christmas cookies
How to play: Place a cookie on each player’s forehead. They must move it down to their mouth using only facial muscles. No hands! Expect lots of wrinkly faces and giggles.

6. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss

What you need: Inflatable reindeer antlers + rings (or use pipe cleaners shaped into rings)
How to play: One person wears the antlers while the others try to toss rings onto them. You’ll look ridiculous and have an absolute blast doing it.

7. Wrap Battle

What you need: Boxes, wrapping paper, tape
How to play: Each player has to wrap a present as neatly (or hilariously) as they can in one minute. Bonus challenge? Do it wearing oven mitts!

Fun NEW Christmas-Themed Minute to Win It Games

Alright, now for the fresh stuff! These new games are perfect if you’ve played the classics and want to surprise your crew with something different.

8. Elf Hat Stack Attack

What you need: Red and green solo cups + paper plate
How to play: Players must stack cups into a pyramid using only one hand, and then place the plate on top like an elf hat! Can they balance it before the timer runs out?

9. Santa’s Beard Blower

What you need: Cotton balls + straw
How to play: Place cotton balls (Santa’s beard bits!) at one end of the table. Players use a straw to blow the beard all the way across to the finish line. It’s harder than it looks!

10. Christmas Tree Cone Stack

What you need: Ice cream cones + frosting and M&Ms
How to play: Players try to decorate their 'tree' with M&Ms, using frosing to stick the candy to the ice cream cone. See how many they can stick on in just one minute. Make it harder by using only chopsticks. Fast fingers and steady hands win this one!

11. Rudolph’s Nose Relay

What you need: Red pom-poms, Vaseline, spoons
How to play: Dab a bit of Vaseline on each player’s nose. Pick up the red pom-pom (Rudolph's nose!) from one bowl and transfer it to another using only their nose, no hands! You’ll all look ridiculous. And yes, it’s wonderful.

12. Present Pop

What you need: Balloons + wrapping paper
How to play: Wrap balloons like presents (just loosely). Players must sit and pop as many as they can in one minute. It’s a little wild, and VERY loud!

13. Grinchy Grab

What you need: Green pom-poms or mini balls + kitchen tongs
How to play: Scatter the “Grinch puffs” across the table. Each player must use tongs to grab as many as possible and move them to a bowl. 

14. Christmas Chopstick Challenge

What you need: Tiny items like buttons, mini ornaments, bells
How to play: Using chopsticks, players must pick up as many tiny items as they can and move them from one bowl to another. It’s all about speed and coordination!

15. Tinsel Tangle

What you need: A long string of tinsel
How to play: Players must untangle a knotted mess of tinsel in under a minute. Whoever has the longest strand untangled by the buzzer wins!

Printable Minute to Win It Game Ideas (Perfect for Seniors or Sit-Down Fun!)

Not everyone wants to hop around with jingle bells tied to their waist, especially after a big Christmas dinner! That’s why printable Minute to Win It games are a total win. They’re festive, fast-paced, and super easy to play from the comfort of a chair.

These printable games are also perfect for seniors, quieter kiddos, or anyone who just wants to have a little fun without all the hustle and bustle. All you need is a timer and a pen… and maybe a little holiday spirit! 

Here are some fun printable Christmas games you can play Minute to Win It style:

Christmas Emoji Pictionary

Can you crack the code? Players must decode the Christmas-related word or phrase using only the emojis given. Some are easy, some will have you scratching your head, but you’ve only got 60 seconds to guess as many as you can!

Christmas Scattergories

Christmas Scattergories Game

You’ve got one minute to think fast! Each sheet has fun holiday-themed categories. Try to fill in a word for each one before the time is up. Comes with four different rounds, great for replaying!

Christmas Think Fast

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Christmas Think Fast Printable Game

Ready to be put on the spot? Players have just 60 seconds to name three things that fit each category. Think: “3 red Christmas decorations” or “3 Christmas songs with the word snow.” It's harder (and funnier) than it sounds!

Christmas A to Z

Christmas A-Z Printable Game

From A to Z, how many Christmas words can you come up with? Set the timer and try to list a holiday-related word for each letter of the alphabet. Great for older kids and adults.

Christmas Word Scramble

Christmas Word Scramble Game

Put those brains to work! Try to unscramble all the Christmas-themed words before the buzzer goes off. Perfect for puzzle lovers and a great quiet-time game between all the excitement.

Christmas Movie Trivia Quiz

Christmas Movie Trivia Quiz

How well do you know your holiday classics? Players have just 60 seconds to answer as many Christmas movie trivia questions as possible. From Home Alone to Elf, it’s game on for movie buffs!

Tip: Print out a few copies of each game, set a timer, and hand out candy canes or stickers as little prizes. You’ll be amazed how competitive and giggly everyone gets, even from the comfort of the couch!

And the best part? These printable Minute to Win It games are easy to set up and require no cleanup. Total Christmas win. 

Tips for Hosting a Minute to Win It Christmas Party

Here are a few mom-tested tips to make your game night merry and bright:

Set the stage: Turn on Christmas music, wear ugly sweaters, and deck the halls with twinkle lights!
Have small prizes: Candy canes, mini ornaments, or holiday stickers make perfect little rewards.
Take pictures: The cookie-face game and jingle bell shake make for hilarious photo ops.
Be flexible: Let younger kids team up with older ones, and adjust the rules if needed to keep it fair and fun for everyone.
Make it silly: The point is to laugh together. Don’t worry about being perfect, embrace the chaos!

Minute to Win It Christmas games are the perfect way to add fun, laughter, and a little friendly chaos to your holiday season. Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering or just want to make a regular December night extra special, these games bring people together in the best way.

So put on that Santa hat, grab your candy canes, and let the holiday games begin!