Christmas Party Game - Make Your Party a Huge Hit

One of the biggest hits of my family Christmas party, is a game I discovered while holiday shopping at Old Navy, at my local mall. It was devised as a really cool distraction from waiting in horrendously, long lines at the cash register. Old Navy used gift certificates as prizes, instead of money. I revamped the game a little, to suit a smaller setting. You'll need money (lots of $1.00 bills, and a few fives, tens and twenties). Easy to see why this game goes over well...money is involved, and who doesn't love money?

Put one bill in each envelope, and seal. Place these envelopes in a pile. Now take a stack of 3" by 5" file cards and write an item name on each one. These items need to be something that the average person may have with them, either in a purse, a jacket pocket, wallet, key ring or on their person. Some examples are a driver's license, comb, lip balm, pen, grocery store discount card, voter registration card, baby picture, paper clip, sock, etc. Think up as many of these as possible, and write the items on the cards, and place them face down in another stack.

Tell everyone at the party that they are allowed to have their jackets, wallets, purses, key-rings, and any personal items desired with them, as they enter the room. They are not allowed to leave the room to find objects, so they can't go to their cars or another part of the house. Have everyone sit in a circle. Remove all furniture, and put a large basket or container in the center of the circle. Choose a file card, and call out the object. The first person to throw that object in the container is the winner, and gets to pick one of the envelopes containing the money. (You may need to appoint someone to be a referee, to decide which object hits the container first, as things will be flying. They will also need to determine if an object qualifies as being correct.) If you want to have a big prize winner, choose an object that almost no one would have (but still in the realm of possibility, like a toothbrush) and give a bonus prize for that. This can be a larger amount of money, or it could also be a nice door prize.

You might think that women would have the advantage in this game, because of all that they carry in purses. However, my brother won 3/4 of the prizes one year because of the things he had on his key ring, such as a bottle opener, nail file, flashlight, etc. It was really amazing and funny. You can also make it a more even playing field for men, by calling out items of clothing, such as a belt or a black sock. It is funny to see how quickly people will strip off clothing to win money. (But remember, this is a family game!)

When the envelopes with the money start dwindling, ask for donations to keep the game going. You can place the collected money in more envelopes, and continue on.

People in my family have come to expect this game before we open our Christmas presents, and will often pad their pockets with items that might be called out, but it never ceases to be a hilariously fun game that makes my Christmas party a huge hit. Such a simple concept, but something the whole family can participate in and enjoy!