Left Right Christmas Game: Rules and Story
Pass wrapped gifts left or right every time you hear those words in a story. Get easy rules, an original Christmas story and tips for any group size.
What You Need
The Left Right Christmas game is a story that tells everyone which way to pass a wrapped gift. When the story ends, you keep the gift you are holding.
How to Set Up
- Ask each guest to bring one wrapped gift. Set a price, such as $10.
- Put the chairs in a circle.
- Give each person one gift to hold.
- Pick one reader. The reader does not need to hold a gift.
How to Play
- The reader starts the story slowly and clearly.
- Every time the reader says the word “left,” everyone passes their gift to the person on their left.
- Every time the reader says the word “right,” everyone passes their gift to the person on their right.
- Keep passing until the story ends.
- At the end, everyone opens the gift in their hands. No trading until all gifts are open.
The Story
Read this story out loud. The words left and right are in bold. Pause a little after each one so people can pass.
It was Christmas Eve, and Santa looked left. He looked right. His sleigh was packed, but one elf was left behind at the workshop. “Wait for me!” the elf cried. He ran right past the cocoa station and left past the cookie tray.
Santa checked his list. The first stop was right down the road. The reindeer pulled left and then right to dodge a snowy hill. A candy cane left the sleigh and landed right in a mailbox.
At the next house, a dog barked on the left. A cat hid on the right. Santa tiptoed left around the tree and right around the fireplace. He left a gift under the branches and a note that said, “Right on time!”
The reindeer flew left over a frozen lake and right over a sleepy town. Rudolph’s nose lit up right when the clouds got thick. “Turn left!” said Santa. “No, right!” The sleigh swung left one more time.
At last the sleigh landed. Santa hopped down and went right to the kitchen. He ate the last cookie that was left. Then he waved right and left, and called out, “Merry Christmas to all! The gift in your hands is the one that is left, and it is all yours!”
Scoring and Winning
There are no points. Everyone wins the gift they end up holding. Some groups let players “steal” once, but only if you agree before you start.
Tips for a Fun Game
- Read slowly the first time. Speed up near the end.
- Have the reader point left and right with their hands.
- Put a sticky note with a number on each gift if you want to know who brought what.
- Play two rounds with the same gifts for a bigger laugh.
Variations
- Little kids: Use soft toys or stuffed animals and keep the story short.
- Your own story: Write a story about your family. Use the words left and right 20 to 30 times.
- Adults: Add a rule that you must say “Ho ho ho” every time you pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play the Left Right Christmas game?
Players sit in a circle holding a wrapped gift. A reader tells a story. Each time the reader says left or right, everyone passes their gift that way. When the story ends, you keep the gift in your hands.
How many people do you need for the Left Right game?
You need at least six people so the gifts really travel. It works with 30 or more if you use a big circle.
What kind of gifts work for the Left Right game?
Use gifts of about the same size and price, like five to ten dollars. Candy, mugs, socks and small toys all work well.
