Get into the holiday spirit with our free Christmas gift exchange cards! This gift exchange game adds a unique twist to your gift exchanges. Download to receive 18 different cards and get ready to enjoy a new holiday tradition that is so much fun! This gift-passing game is a different take on the traditional gift-giving traditions some family members are accustomed to.
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This Christmas gift exchange game is an outstanding choice for large groups. It’s perfect for adding a dash of festive fun to your home celebrations or office holiday parties.
A Simple and Fun Christmas Gift Exchange Game
This fun gift exchange game is super easy for everyone to follow along!
Host a gift exchange to remember
Hosting a gift exchange can be a delightful and fun event, but it does require some planning. Here are some tips to make your gift exchange a success:
- Set a Budget: Establish a budget for the gifts to ensure fairness and make sure everyone is comfortable with the amount they’re spending.
- Decide on a Theme: Having a theme can add an element of fun and challenge to the gift exchange. It could be anything from ‘handmade items’ to ‘books’, ‘gourmet food’, or ‘eco-friendly products’.
- Choose a Game: Decide on a gift exchange game that will entertain your guests. Some popular ones include White Elephant, Secret Santa, and Dice Exchange. Decide if players need to bring a wrapped or unwrapped gift.
- Send Invitations Early: Give your guests plenty of time to find a gift that fits the theme and budget. Include all the details about the event in your invitation.
- Explain the Rules: At the start of the event, make sure everyone understands the rules of the gift exchange game you’ve chosen.
- Provide Snacks and Drinks: Festive snacks and drinks can make the gift exchange even more enjoyable. Consider asking guests to bring a dish to share.
- Create a Comfortable Space: Make sure there’s enough room for all guests to sit and open gifts. A circle works well so everyone can see the gifts being opened.
- Facilitate the Game: As the host, guide the game along, making sure everyone gets a turn and the rules are followed.
- Have Extra Gifts: It’s a good idea to have a couple of extra gifts on hand, just in case someone forgets theirs or a surprise guest shows up.
- Keep the Atmosphere Light and Fun: Remember, the goal is for everyone to have a good time. Encourage laughter, story-telling, and a bit of friendly competition.
Remember, the goal of a gift exchange is to bring people together and spread holiday cheer. Make sure to have fun, so make sure the rules are clear and fair for everyone. Happy hosting!
ACTIVITY PREP
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SUPPLIES
You don’t need a lot of supplies to get started. Gather the following materials to kick off this Christmas activity:
- Cardstock paper or paper
- Printer (or have the cards printed at a local printer)
- Optional: Laminator to laminate the paper for more durability.
Gift Exchange Passing Ideas
We’re all familiar with the traditional method: someone picks a number, then chooses a gift, and the next person can either select a new gift or ‘steal’ an already opened one. But this game is different and includes unique and fun commands. Players randomly draw a card and obey the task.
Our free Gift Exchange Cards PDF includes 18 different cards with various commands including Swap gifts with:
- … someone wearing glasses.
- … the person whose birthday is next.
- … someone with blonde hair.
- …someone with brown hair.
- … the funniest person playing.
- … the person 3 seats to the left.
- … the person 3 seats to the right.
- … somewhere wearing a sweater.
- … the person to your left
- … the person to your right.
- … the shortest person in the room.
- … the tallest person in the room.
- … swap gifts with someone wearing red.
- … swap gifts with someone wearing green.
- … swap gifts with the oldest person playing.
- … swap gifts with the youngest person playing.
How to use these Gift Passing Cards
- Start by downloading and printing the gift exchange cards. Simply subscribe below to get access to these free printable cards.
- Once you’ve got your printouts, carefully cut out each exchange card along the lines. After cutting, gather all the tags and stack them neatly together.
- Next, assemble all the participants in a circular arrangement. This allows everyone to see each other and adds to the fun of the game. Explain the rules at the beginning of the game.
- Decide who will kick off the game. You can make this decision in a fun way – perhaps the tallest person in the room, the youngest participant, or the one whose birthday is coming up next gets to go first.
- The chosen person will then draw a card from the stack of exchange cards and follow the instructions written on it. This could involve choosing a gift, swapping a gift, or any other festive action.
- After the first person has taken their turn, decide on the order for the rest of the participants. The gift exchange could continue with the person to whom the gift was just passed, or you may choose to proceed clockwise or counterclockwise around the circle. This ensures that everyone gets an opportunity to participate in the gift exchange, making it a truly inclusive and enjoyable event
Get the free printable gift exchange cards
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The PDF will include:
- Cover page
- Gift Exchange Cards (2 pages with a total of 16 gift exchange cards)
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What are other fun Christmas gift exchange ideas?
Several popular Christmas gift exchange games are celebrated during the holiday season. Swap gifts or ornaments in a new way with any of these party games:
- Game of Chance Gift Exchange Games: This involves different types of gift exchange games like Santa’s Helper Gift Exchange, Heads or Tails Gift Exchange Game, and Rock Paper Switch Gift Game. These games add an element of surprise and chance to the traditional gift exchange
- Guess the Giver: In this holiday gift exchange game, participants try to guess who gave each present. It’s a fun way to add a bit of mystery to the gift exchange
- Hot Potato Presents: This is a fast-paced game where a gift is passed around until the Christmas music stops. The person holding the gift when the music stops gets to keep it.
- Roll of the Dice Gift Exchange: In this gift exchange dice game, the fate of your present is determined by a roll of the dice.
- White Elephant: Also known as Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa, this is a classic gift exchange game with many variations. It adds a dash of surprise and humor to the gift exchange process and is perfect to play at family gatherings.
- Twelve Days Of Christmas Gift Exchange Game: This game extends the gift exchange over twelve days, adding anticipation and excitement to the holiday season.
- Santa’s Helper Gift Exchange: A fun variation where Santa’s helper decides the order of gift opening or exchange.
- Cobweb Gift Exchange Game: String is attached to various gifts and woven into a “cobweb”. Children have to follow their strings to find their gift.
- Trivia Gift Exchange: Kids answer trivia questions. If they get the question right, they get to pick a gift.
These gift exchange games offer an excellent opportunity to spread holiday cheer and create cherished memories with your loved ones. Whether you opt for one of these suggestions or invent a unique game yourself, you’re guaranteed to have a delightful time together—and receive a present in the process.
MORE CHRISTMAS PRINTABLES AHEAD
Christmas printables, like games and gift-giving games, can significantly enhance the fun and festive spirit of the holiday season. Check out our favorites below:
- Christmas Movie Countdown – is a tradition often celebrated during the holiday season, where people watch a series of Christmas-themed movies leading up to Christmas Day.
- Christmas Scavenger Hunt – a fun game that encourages players to search for things like a Santa hat and a Christmas tree.
- You’ve Been Elfed – The “You’ve Been Elfed” game is a playful holiday tradition, designed to spread cheer and build community spirit during the Christmas season. It’s similar to the Halloween tradition of “You’ve Been Booed”, but with a festive twist.
- You’ve Been Socked Gift Game -The “You’ve Been Socked” game is another fun holiday tradition that playfully spreads Christmas cheer. It’s similar to the “You’ve Been Elfed” game but involves a festive twist with Christmas stockings.
- 50 Random Christmas Random Acts of Kindness – Discover the joy of giving with our guide on Random Acts of Kindness for Christmas. From leaving a surprise in the mailbox for your mailman, to donating to charities, or baking cookies for your neighbors, there are countless ways to spread holiday cheer in small ways.
- Christmas Games – check out the best games for kids including a few of our favorite Christmas party games.
- Christmas Countdown Ideas – These activities provide opportunities for families to spend quality time together, strengthening relationships and creating lasting memories.
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Teresa Wilson says
Thank you for the printable!!
Sandra says
Sounds like fun!
Lorilee Cummings says
Can you send me the gift exchange cards?
Michelle Hancock says
Please subscribe below for free printable or buy it in our shop without subscribing.
Rosalie says
I’m hoping for the gift exchange cards. Thank you
Michelle Hancock says
Please enter your email into the box at the bottom of the post and it will pop up. Thanks!