Getting a group together for the holidays usually means someone's going to end up laughing at a terrible drawing, which is why christmas pictionary games are such a staple at my house every December. There is just something incredibly funny about watching your cousin frantically try to sketch a "partridge in a pear tree" while the rest of the family yells out increasingly ridiculous guesses. It's a low-stress, high-energy way to bridge the gap between dinner and dessert without having to resort to another round of small talk about the weather.
The beauty of these games is that you really don't need much to get started. Forget about those fancy boxed sets with the tiny boards and the timers that never seem to work. All you actually need is a big stack of paper, a few markers that haven't dried out yet, and a list of holiday-themed words that range from "easy enough for a five-year-old" to "so hard it might cause a minor family argument."
Setting the Stage for the Scribbles
Before you start diving into the prompts, you've got to get the logistics out of the way. If you're hosting a larger crowd, I highly recommend using a large easel or even a whiteboard if you have one. There's something about the "theatricality" of standing up in front of the room that makes the game feel more like an event. If you're just hanging out on the couch, a simple clipboard and a thick Sharpie work just fine.
One thing I've learned the hard way: don't use pencils. Nobody can see what's being drawn from three feet away, and you'll spend half the night with people squinting and shouting, "Is that a stick or a chimney?" Go for the bold lines. You want the drawings to be clear—or at least as clear as they can be when someone is drawing under pressure.
Choosing Your Christmas Categories
To keep the game moving, it helps to break your word list into categories. This gives the guessers a bit of a head start and stops the game from becoming a total free-for-all. Here are a few categories that always seem to work well for christmas pictionary games.
Classic Christmas Objects
These are the bread and butter of the game. They're usually pretty easy to draw, making them perfect for the kids or the "non-artists" in the group. Think along the lines of a nutcracker, a stocking, a wreath, or a candy cane. Even if you're bad at drawing, most people can manage a vaguely hook-shaped stick and some stripes.
Festive Foods and Drinks
This is where things get a bit trickier. How do you draw "fruitcake" without it just looking like a brick? Or "eggnog" without it just looking like a glass of milk? These prompts usually lead to some pretty creative (and confusing) sketches. Try adding items like gingerbread men, roast turkey, or even a mug of hot cocoa with exactly three marshmallows.
Holiday Movies and Songs
This is usually the most competitive category. Trying to draw The Polar Express or Home Alone is a challenge that requires some strategic thinking. For songs, you've got "Silent Night" (how do you draw silence?) or "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (which is always a crowd-pleaser). If you want to be really mean, give someone "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and watch them struggle to draw Mariah Carey.
Adding a Twist to the Rules
Standard Pictionary is great, but if you want to spice things up, you can add some "house rules" to your christmas pictionary games. One of my favorite variations is "The Mitten Challenge." Basically, the person drawing has to wear thick, chunky winter mittens while they try to hold the marker. It turns even the simplest drawing of a Christmas tree into a chaotic, wobbly mess.
Another fun one is "Partner Draw." Instead of one person drawing, two people hold the same marker and have to work together to create the image without talking to each other. It's a great way to test how well couples or siblings actually get along when the pressure is on. If you're feeling particularly brave, you could even try "Blindfolded Pictionary," though you'll definitely want to make sure you're using washable markers for that one, just in case they miss the paper entirely.
Why It Works for All Ages
The reason I keep coming back to christmas pictionary games every year is that it's one of the few activities that truly works for every generation. My niece, who's just starting school, can draw a snowman just as well as my grandfather can. It levels the playing field. Plus, it's not about being a "good" artist. In fact, the worse the artist is, the funnier the game usually becomes.
I remember one year my brother tried to draw "The Grinch," and it looked so much like a hairy avocado that we were laughing for ten minutes straight. We didn't even care about the score at that point. That's the real goal of any holiday gathering—creating those weird, specific memories that you'll talk about at dinner next year.
Keeping the Peace (The Timer Debate)
If your family is anything like mine, "healthy competition" can sometimes lean a little too far into "intense debate." To keep things from getting too heated, I suggest using a very clear timer. A one-minute sand timer is classic, but a phone timer with a loud, obnoxious alarm is even better because there's no arguing when the time is up.
Also, it's worth deciding beforehand if "sounds" are allowed. Some people like to play strictly silent, while others allow the artist to grunt or point. Personally, I think a little bit of "charades-style" gesturing makes it more fun, but you've got to set the ground rules early or someone's going to feel cheated.
A Few Prompt Ideas to Get You Started
If you're scrambling for ideas right now, here's a quick list of prompts you can jot down on scraps of paper and toss into a Santa hat:
- Mistletoe (Surprisingly hard to draw without looking like a random weed)
- Jack Frost (Usually ends up looking like a very cold man)
- The North Pole (A classic, but easy to mix up with a candy cane)
- Scrooge (Focus on the top hat and the frown)
- A Snow Globe (Great for people who like drawing circles)
- Ugly Christmas Sweater (The more detail, the better)
- Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (This one is a nightmare, good luck!)
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, christmas pictionary games aren't really about who wins or who has the best artistic technique. They're about that moment when the whole room finally realizes that the weird squiggle on the paper is actually a reindeer's antler, and everyone starts cheering at once. It's about the frantic energy, the ridiculous guesses, and the shared snacks.
So, if you're looking for a way to liven up your next holiday party, grab some markers and a stack of paper. You don't need a fancy setup or a big budget to make it happen. Just a little bit of imagination and a willingness to look a little bit silly in front of your loved ones. After all, isn't that what the holidays are really about? Whether you're drawing a masterpiece or a stick figure that looks like a potato, you're bound to have a good time. Just remember: keep the markers away from the white rug, and maybe don't make the prompts too difficult if you want to stay on everyone's nice list.