Family Fun & Games
Holiday Traditions
Chances are that this holiday season you either will be throwing a party or going to one or two. We love December because of all the holiday happenings. It is the time of year when you get to see many friends and family, both near and far. It’s a time to get together and celebrate with delicious family recipes, singing holiday songs or taking long strolls after that “must-have” dessert. But one of the best things about holiday parties is the time spent laughing and playing those traditional festive games. Some are timeless traditions that both young and old can join in on, and some are newer and more of a challenge, but take the time to teach grandma and grandpa, making the memories all that more memorable. We have gathered a few of our staff favorites to share with you. Who knows? Maybe some of these will become your family tradition for years to come. Happy Holidays!
Spoons
Players: Up to 13 players (1 suit per player)
Required: Table and chairs, deck of playing cards, spoons
How to play: Shuffle deck and deal players four cards each. Place one less number of spoons to players in the center. The object is to collect four of a kind by passing one unwanted card to the player’s left. When someone gets four of a kind, they take a spoon, and the loser is the one who is not fast enough to grab a spoon.
Pin The Nose On Rudolph
Players: Unlimited
Required: Large picture of Rudolph, a wall, red noses and blindfolds
How to play: Mount the picture on the wall. Blindfold each player and give them a red nose to attach to the picture. The winner is the one closest to the proper place.
Spin The Dreidel
Players: Unlimited
Required: Dreidel, 10 to 15 game pieces per person
(traditionally pennies, nuts, gold coins, etc.)
How to play: Every participant puts one game piece into the center “pot.” In addition, every time the pot is empty, or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot. Player spins the dreidel once. Depending on the side it lands on, you give or get game pieces from the pot. The winner is the player with all of the game pieces.
White Elephant
Players: Unlimited
Required: One wrapped gift per person
How to play: Each person brings a wrapped gift of a predetermined value. Each player takes a number from a hat. The number they pull determines the order of play. Number 1 picks a gift and unwraps it. Number 2 can either choose another gift or take Number 1’s gift, and Number 1 gets to pick again. The game continues until all numbers have picked a gift.
Coin Towers
Players: Unlimited
Required: Gold-wrapped chocolate coins, bouncy balls, floor space
How to play: Each player builds a tower of chocolate coins and then rolls a bouncy ball into the tower. The winner is the one who has the most coins still standing.
Christmas Bingo
Players: Unlimited
Required: Bingo sheets with holiday items, pens and a bingo caller
How to play: Each player has a card, and when the caller calls out a picture, the player marks it off. The winner is the first person to mark off all pictures on their card.
Kissing Under The Mistletoe
Participants: Two
Required: Two willing participants and hanging mistletoe
How To Play: Wait for your favorite person to walk underneath the mistletoe, smile and point overhead, indicating a kiss is warranted. This has long been a Christmas icebreaker for many adults wanting to steal a kiss from someone they admire.
Florida Monopoly
Players: Two to eight
Required: Florida Monopoly board game
How to play: Traditional Monopoly showcasing various places found all over the State of Florida. Search for it in stores or online!
Christmas Pong
layers: Unlimited
Required: Table, green and red drink cups, ping-pong balls, small toys/treats
How to play: Arrange cups in shape of a Christmas tree at one end of a table. Put little gifts in the bottom of each cup. Each player throws a ping-pong ball with the objective of dropping it into a cup and then taking the prize and throwing again. The winner is the player with the most prizes.
