Twelve Days of Xmas Game - How to Play Ideas
The origins of the Twelve Days of Christmas song are uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in England as a way to teach children about the meaning of Christmas. The song was first published in 1780 in a children's book called Mirth Without Mischief, and it quickly became a popular holiday song that is enjoyed by people around the world.
There are many theories about the meaning and symbolism of the gifts in the song, but it's unclear whether the song was intended to be symbolic or if the gifts were chosen simply for their rhyme and meter. Some people believe that the gifts represent various elements of the Christian faith, while others believe that the song is a humorous take on traditional holiday gift-giving.
To play Twelve Days of Christmas game, you will need:
- A copy of the Twelve Days of Christmas song (you can find this online or in a songbook)
- A way to keep track of points (such as paper and pencil, or an online scoring app)
To start the game, divide the group into teams of 2-4 players each. One player from each team should start by singing the first verse of the song (a partridge in a pear tree). Then, the next player on the team should sing the second verse (two turtle doves), and so on, until all twelve verses have been sung.
As each team sings a verse, they should also act out the gift described in the verse. For example, if the team is singing the verse "five golden rings," they might hold up five fingers or use props such as toy rings or paper rings to represent the gift.
Teams should try to sing and act out the verses as accurately and creatively as possible. The team with the best performance for each verse earns a point. If a team makes a mistake or can't think of a creative way to act out a verse, the other teams can earn a point.
Play continues in this way, with each team taking a turn singing and acting out a verse, until all twelve verses have been sung. The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
You can also add a few twists to the game to make it more challenging or fun. For example, you could have teams switch singers after each verse, or you could have teams sing and act out the verses in a specific order (such as backwards or out of order).
Ideas for making the Twelve Days of Christmas a fun and memorable holiday party game:
Use props and costumes: To make the game more interactive and fun, you can encourage teams to use props and costumes to act out the gifts described in the song. For example, if a team is singing the verse "seven swans a-swimming," they might use paper swans or wear swan-themed costumes to represent the gift.
Add a time limit: To make the game more challenging, you can add a time limit for each team's performance. For example, you could give teams one minute to sing and act out a verse, or you could give them 30 seconds to prepare and then 30 seconds to perform.
Play a version of "Hot Seat": To add a little bit of competition to the game, you can play a version of "Hot Seat" with the Twelve Days of Christmas. In this version, one player from each team sits in a "hot seat" and has to answer questions about the song. The other players on the team can help by singing the verses or giving hints.
Sing the song in a different language: To make the game more challenging, you can sing the song in a different language. For example, you could sing it in French, Spanish, or another language that some or all of the players know.
Add a karaoke twist: To add a musical element to the game, you can sing the song with karaoke accompaniment. You can use a karaoke machine or app, or you can find a version of the song with instrumental accompaniment online.
Extra Tips to make Twelve Days of Christmas challenging party game:
Play a scavenger hunt version: Instead of singing and acting out the verses of the song, you can play a scavenger hunt version of the game. For this version, you'll need to create a list of items that correspond to the gifts in the song (such as a pear, two toy doves, three toy hens, etc.). You can then hide these items around the party space and have teams search for them. Teams can earn points for finding the items in the correct order or for finding them first.
Play a memory game: To make the game more challenging, you can play a memory game version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. In this version, one player starts by singing the first verse of the song (a partridge in a pear tree). Then, the next player sings the first and second verses, and so on, until all twelve verses have been sung. Players can earn points for singing the verses correctly or for being the first to complete the song.
Play a drawing game: To make the game more creative, you can play a drawing game version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. In this version, one player starts by drawing the first gift on the list (a partridge in a pear tree). Then, the next player draws the first and second gifts, and so on, until all twelve gifts have been drawn. Players can earn points for drawing the gifts accurately or for being the first to complete the drawing.
Play a trivia game: To make the game more educational, you can play a trivia game version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. In this version, players take turns asking and answering trivia questions about the song or the gifts mentioned in the song. For example, players might be asked to name the birds mentioned in the song or to describe the history of the pear tree.