what about the small gift exchange where you pick something, and then it can be taken from you?
depending how many people we're into card games...some of the kids just got straight to the holiday vids, but a couple of my grands (math kids) loved poker! or canasta, lol.. at one point we had to play with 3 decks of cards...
Posts: 8145 | Location: se mi | Registered: Sep 25, 2002
I have 2 word games that you might be interested in. Both about Christmas carol titles. One has just first letter of each word and you have to figure out what they stand for. The other has the title rewritten in other words that you need to decypher. I have NO idea how to post them here, but if you're interested... just PM me. Then if you like them (or think others might), maybe YOU can post the??
Posts: 5521 | Location: mount holly, NJ, USA | Registered: Sep 19, 2002
Charades are always the best fun. You can choose a category like movie titles or sports teams or you can use random words. If you include things that the children know, they can have as much fun as the adults.
This game is always a big hit at my family party. You'll need two standard decks of playing cards and 8 to 10 small "prizes", these need to be small enough to conceal easily on one's person such as coins, postage stamps, pens, small knickknacks, key chains, small toys, gift cards, toiletries, etc. Shuffle both decks. Take one deck and distribute the cards as evenly as possible to the people playing. One person acts as the "caller" and uses the other deck to call off the rank and suits of the cards one at a time. After each call, a player must take a prize from the booty and announce what he/she is taking. Tell everyone that they have to try to remember who takes what. This is done until all prizes are taken, then the caller keeps calling out the cards one by one. After each call a player can "steal" a prize from another player if he/she can say who has what prize. If they are correct in naming the player and what prize he/she has, they can take that prize from the person that has it. If they guess incorrectly, they lose their turn and the play proceeds. This is done until all cards are called. When the game ends, whoever is in possession of any gift(s) gets to keep them. It is possible for the gifts to pass through many hands during the game.
Posts: 544 | Location: upstate New York, USA | Registered: Mar 15, 2007
And if your gathering includes some "rowdy" people... I'd suggest a game of SPOONS!! Kind of a take on musical chairs in a way. On table... one less spoon than participants around it. Deck of shuffled cards, dealt out, doesn't matter if everyone has the same amount. When dealer says GO, you start passing one card at a time (left/right, dealer call). When someone finally gets 4 of a kind, they take a spoon. Whoever doesn't grab one... they're out. One spoon removed and game continues. One strategy is to SNEAK the spoon off the table and see how long everybody else continues to pass cards before they realize it.
It can get really crazy... have known blo od to be shed
Posts: 5521 | Location: mount holly, NJ, USA | Registered: Sep 19, 2002
Another idea is to have a "mystery" item in a box or paper bag (decorated or not). Players, one at a time, can ask a question about it that can only be answered "yes" or "no", e.g. "Is it made out of paper?" When a player thinks he/she knows what it is, they can take a guess. If they are correct, they get the item, if wrong, they are out of the game and the play proceeds.
Posts: 544 | Location: upstate New York, USA | Registered: Mar 15, 2007
I'm a little late, but at a recent family reunion, we all brought wrapped white elephants-some nostalgic-some family un-heirlooms. Then we played Bingo & it was a blast. We played so you could steal someone else's prize when you won. it was a good game for a bunch of mostly elderly folks.
Twister! The boys will love winning so you won't feel so badly about thumping them in the next go-around! I like "thatchairlady's" game of spoons! Have fun!
Weakestlink - I love your game too!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident,
We always play Left,Right,Center. You can play with chips,pennies,candy or dollars! The more people the better. Any age can play. Simple roll of the dice, and you put your chip either in the center, or pass it to the left/right. Can find it at Bed,Bath & Beyond. Just when you think your out of the game, you end up back in it!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident, 
