How it works
This Christmas categories game deals one letter and 12 categories for the season, from things on the tree to gifts for a teacher. All 131 are listed under the game.
Read the full guide
How to play a Christmas category game
Read the letter and the 12 categories aloud and start the clock. Each player writes one answer per category on paper, and every answer begins with the letter: under S, something in Santa's sack could be a sled. When the time is up, go down the list and read the answers out.
Score it and settle the made-up ones
On the printed sheet an answer nobody else wrote is 1 point and a shared answer is nothing. The pencil-and-paper game Categories gives 2 points for an answer of your own and 1 for a shared one. Agree on one before the first round. A made-up answer, such as a name for an elf, counts when the table votes it in.
- Rare answers win. Under C, half the table writes candy cane for a treat in a stocking, so try clementine.
- With young children, play in pairs: each pair whispers and shares one sheet.
Questions and answers
What is a Christmas categories game?
It is the word game Categories played with a Christmas list. A letter is drawn, and each player writes one thing per category that starts with it, against the clock. Only an answer nobody else wrote scores full marks.
How many people can play a Christmas category game?
Two or more. At a big family table, play in pairs or teams that share a sheet, because a dozen players writing alone repeat one another and score little. One letter and one list on a screen serve the whole room.
Can I print the Christmas categories game?
Yes. The answer sheet prints the 12 categories on screen down the side, with a column for each of three rounds and a row for points. Print one for each player, then draw a new letter for rounds two and three.
Is this Christmas categories game good for kids?
Yes, for any child who can read the list and write a word. Every category suits a family table, and most have plain answers, such as a toy or a cookie. The made-up ones, such as a snowman's name, let younger players join in.