6 Gift Exchange Games for Your Holiday Gathering

Oct 25th 2022

Gift swapping is a favored part of holiday celebrations. After all, who doesn’t enjoy receiving presents? There are various methods to make gift exchange games more pleasant during Christmas, whether by setting a budget for cost-conscious guests or encouraging a specific theme for the gifts.

For a fun twist on the traditional Christmas gift exchange, we present several activities to energize your gathering!

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1. White Elephant

A White Elephant Gift Exchange, also known as a Yankee Swap, involves everyone bringing a wrapped, unmarked present to be placed on a specified gift table. Participants take turns selecting and unwrapping a gift from the table. During the game, each participant has the option to either “steal” an already chosen gift from another guest or pick a new one from the table. Those who have their gift taken can return to the table to choose a new gift, which cannot be stolen again in that round. Some groups get quite inventive with the presents they select for this game.

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2. Hot Potato

This Christmas gift-swapping activity is reminiscent of the childhood game of Hot Potato. Participants pass around one gift (without throwing it) until a timer goes off or a Christmas carol ends. The person holding the present at the end keeps it and leaves the circle. The game continues until everyone has a gift.

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3. Secret Santa

Secret Santa is a timeless gift exchange tradition. Well before the celebration, names are drawn from a hat, and each person buys a present for the individual whose name they picked. In the spirit of surprise, participants should not reveal whose name they drew. At the party, everyone unwraps their gifts and tries to guess who their “Secret Santa” is.

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4. Gift Auction

In a gift auction, each participant exchanges their brought gift for play money. As the host unveils each gift, guests bid using their play money. The highest bidder wins the gift, and this process repeats until everyone has received a present.

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5. Musical Chairs

You may recall Musical Chairs from your youth, but this version incorporates a gift exchange element. Arrange chairs in a circle with a gift under each one. Play music while everyone walks around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone finds a chair, and the present beneath it becomes theirs.

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6. Trivia Game

For this game, each participant brings a wrapped present. The host asks trivia questions, and the first person to answer correctly either selects a gift or is given one by the host. Once a person claims a gift, they are out of the game, which continues until all the presents are distributed.

After the challenges of recent years, this Christmas might be the first holiday gathering you’ve attended in some time.

Incorporating a lighthearted gift exchange activity can be just the thing to boost the festive spirit of holiday gifts.

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