Christmas Pass the Present Game Printable, 7 Left Right & Rhyme Games

Seven original Christmas pass-the-present games: three LEFT/RIGHT stories in rhyming couplets and four recipient-selection rhyme games. These are original verses, not an adaptation of the classic 'Twas the Night Before Christmas poem. Print just one game sheet to play; only the reader needs a copy. Large-print alternatives are included. Suggested for ages 7+ with an adult reader; younger children may need help with directions.

EASY START FOR 10–16 PEOPLE AT THE TABLE, INCLUDING THE READER: Choose Christmas Eve at Home, one of the rhyme games. The reader keeps the one printed game sheet and sits out; the other 9–15 guests pass one wrapped present, which is the prize. Everyone can stay seated around a table. The reader gives the present to a starter, then reads one rhyme at a time. After each rhyme, the holder passes the present hand-to-hand seat-to-seat along the shorter route to the nearest other player who fits the line. On an equal-distance tie, pass LEFT; if no other player fits, pass LEFT one seat. No one needs to stand, reach across the table or bring a gift. The last holder wins. Rhyme games use one present at any group size and have no special ending pass; the reader does not play or win.

For LEFT/RIGHT stories with 13–30 players, use three presents. At exactly 13, 17 or 19 players, the reader calls “One more LEFT!” after THE END so no present ends where it started.

HOW TO PLAY
LEFT/RIGHT stories: sit in a circle with 4–30 players and a reader. The reader reads one story aloud. Pass the present one seat for every LEFT or RIGHT, even when the word means something else in the sentence ("he LEFT the room"). The host hands the starter the present before the story. At THE END, the holder keeps the present (with exactly 13, 17 or 19 players, the reader first calls “One more LEFT!” and everyone passes once more). For a story with 13–30 players, use three presents, evenly spaced around the circle, and pass all three on every cue.
Rhyme games use one present at any group size: before rhyme 1, the host chooses a player and hands them the present. Players can stay seated around a table or in a circle. After each rhyme, pass the present hand-to-hand seat-to-seat along the shorter route to the nearest other player the line describes. On a tie, pass LEFT; if nobody else fits, pass LEFT one seat. Whoever holds the present after the last rhyme keeps it.

Cue counts and net distances: Bell has 37 cues (25 LEFT/12 RIGHT), net 13 LEFT; Tree has 43 (13 LEFT/30 RIGHT), net 17 RIGHT; Pip has 49 (34 LEFT/15 RIGHT), net 19 LEFT. Different distances do not guarantee a different winner. With six players, one shared starter, and no extra pass, all three stories end with the same player. With exactly 13, 17 or 19 players, call “One more LEFT!” after THE END so no present ends where it started. Rhymes do not guarantee everyone a turn. Allow about 4–6 minutes per story and 3–5 per rhyme game; timings are estimates, not live-group measurements.

THE SEVEN GAMES
LEFT/RIGHT stories:
- The Bell in the Snow: Two sleepy children chase a jingle left, right and round the yard to find a lost sleigh bell.
- The Leaning Christmas Tree: A crooked tree, a leaping cat and a whole family pushing it RIGHT while it wobbles LEFT.
- Pip and the Wrong Way: One little elf who keeps turning LEFT, and a girl who calls him RIGHT.
Recipient rhyme games:
- Christmas Eve at Home: Candles, cocoa, cookies and a very long wait.
- Out in the Snow: Sleds, snowmen, wet mittens and hot soup.
- Santa's Busy Night: Sleigh bells, chimneys and a plate of cookies.
- Christmas Morning: Wrapping paper, pancakes and one very long scarf.

WHAT YOU GET: FOUR PDF FILES
Print just one game sheet to play, or choose its numbered large-print pages (18 pt; final continuation prompts are 14.4 pt).
- US Letter color (8.5 × 11 inches), 38 pages
- A4 color (210 × 297 mm), 37 pages
- US Letter low ink, 38 pages
- A4 low ink, 38 pages
(Every file has the same games and words. The A4 color file is one page shorter because its large-print text fits on fewer pages.)

Every file contains: a start-here contents page and a host-help page; 3 one-page host stories with quick rules; 4 one-page rhyme games with 12 rhymes each; a blank write-your-own story page with a LEFT/RIGHT tally; a blank write-your-own rhymes page; large-print pages (25 in Letter color, 25 in Letter low ink, 24 in A4 color, 25 in A4 low ink), mostly 18 pt, with final continuation prompts at 14.4 pt; 4 optional prize cards; and a present, a sleigh bell and a star to cut out and tape onto what you pass. The four files are the same content in two paper sizes and two ink levels. Large print is built into each file; there are no separate large-print files.

PRINT AND PREPARE
Print only the pages you need, single sided at 100% / Actual size. Only the reader needs a copy. Bring one wrapped present, gift bag or light box (three only for stories with 13–30 players; rhyme games always use one). Presents and prizes are not included. Low ink has white backgrounds, outlined badges and grayscale art. Artwork is a vintage engraving style in cream, evergreen and red.

GOOD TO KNOW
Digital download only; nothing is shipped. Ready-to-print PDFs, not editable templates. If your app does not show a download option, open your purchase history in a web browser and choose Download Files. Printer and paper settings affect color. For personal use at your own party, family gathering or classroom. Please do not resell or share the files.

Verses, game design and layout by MadeForTheTask with AI-assisted tools. Illustrations are AI-generated.