4 Christmas Games for the Whole Family: Christmas on a Budget
If Netflix is to be believed (which we know it is not always!), then the Queen enjoys nothing more than a glass of wine and the occasional game of Ibble Dibble when she is entertaining her guests at Balmoral, including past prime ministers like Maggie Thatcher. This got me thinking of all the creative Christmas games I have played over the years; and more importantly, ones that can be played, without spending many pennies over the festive season!
Read on for some great game ideas, and if you have any family tradition Christmas games, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments!
Ibble Dibble
Skills for this game require speed and accuracy. The first thing you need is a round of drinks for everyone. The second item required is a cork, which must be charred, in order to leave dibble ibble marks. Players must then number themselves, and call on another numbered player, counting how many dibble ibbles they have on their face.
Number 3 ibble dibble with 2 dibble ibbles calling number 5 ibble dibble with 4 dibble ibbles.
Any hesitation in the player calling must result in an extra dibble ibble, and a swig of their drink.
Spoons
A classic game that is based on lightning speed, sheer luck, and determination. All you need for this game is a pack of cards and some spoons. The amount of spoons required is 1 less thsn the amount of players you have. If you had 5 players, you’d need 4 spoons. The cards are dealt out evenly between players, so all players have the same amount of cards. There is no maximum player limit, although ideally every player needs 4 cards. The dealer will then say ‘Pass’ every 5 seconds, and each player must pass a card to their right. The aim of the game is to end up with 4 of a kind in their hand. Once someone does, all players must grab a spoon and hold it to their heads. The player without a spoon must drink, or if two players have grabbed the last spoon; the one with the shortest end must let go and drink.
Charades
A game of pantomime. A player must think of something to fit the following categories: Book, film, TV shows, songs, celebrities, and well-known phrases. They must then act out each word, confirming a correct guess by touching their nose. A tug of their ear indicates ‘sounds like’. Players can earn points individually or play as teams. The person/ team to guess correctly gets a point!
Quizzes
If you are partial to the occasional pub quiz, then why not get a Christmas quiz going at your house! Playable as either individuals, pairs or teams, depending on how many players you have. Nominate a quiz master, who is responsible for finding quiz questions. Pick a prize (or a forfeit!) and get cracking! You can either have a bulk set of questions, or rounds, knocking a person or team out in each round, until you have the ultimate champion!
