Why Christmas Scattergories Should Be Your New Holiday Tradition
It’s that time of year again, folks—when the Christmas tree is up, the lights are twinkling, and the holiday spirit is in full swing. But let’s be real: After the presents are unwrapped, the turkey is devoured, and you’ve survived yet another round of small talk with distant relatives, there’s only one thing left to do to salvage the evening: Game time. And not just any game—Christmas Scattergories. If you’ve never played, you’re about to find your new favorite holiday tradition. Seriously.
Now, I know what you might be thinking: “Scattergories? Isn’t that just a game for when you’re bored at a family reunion?” Wrong. Christmas Scattergories takes this classic game to a whole new level. It’s got all the wit, charm, and silliness that we love about the holidays. But with a twist. A Christmas twist. Picture this: You’re sitting around the table, glasses of eggnog in hand (or maybe just a really strong cup of coffee because it’s been a long day), and suddenly, you’re trying to come up with a Christmas tree ornament that starts with the letter “B.” Yes, “B”—good luck with that one!
What Is Christmas Scattergories, Anyway?
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few decades (or just don’t get invited to game nights), let me break it down for you. Scattergories is a simple yet genius party game where players try to come up with unique answers for a set of categories, all starting with the same letter. You roll a die with the letters of the alphabet and have a limited amount of time to fill in your list with answers for each category. The catch? Your answers must be unique—if someone else has the same one, it doesn’t count.
Now, Christmas Scattergories is exactly what it sounds like: the Christmas version of the classic game. The categories are all holiday-themed, so you’re brainstorming about Christmas trees, holiday movies, festive foods, and all the other stuff we love (or love to hate) about the season. Instead of worrying about random categories like “things you can find in a kitchen,” you’re thinking about Christmas-specific stuff, and trust me, it gets ridiculous.
Here’s the best part: it’s a game where you can make a fool of yourself, and it’s totally encouraged. You’ll find yourself shouting out answers like “Bells” when you meant to say “Baking” or coming up with an answer that’s just outside the box—because let’s face it, everyone’s been there.
How Do You Play Christmas Scattergories?
It’s really easy to get into the groove of Christmas Scattergories, and honestly, that’s part of the charm. You don’t need to be a pro at strategy games or have a high IQ. It’s all about having fun, being creative, and coming up with the most outlandish answers possible. Here’s how it works:
- Set Up Your Categories: Christmas Scattergories usually comes with a pre-made list of holiday-themed categories, like “Christmas songs,” “Things in Santa’s sleigh,” or “Holiday decorations.” If you’re feeling extra creative, you can even make your own categories—because let’s face it, Christmas is all about personal flair, right?
- Roll the Alphabet Die: This is where the magic happens. You roll a die that has all 26 letters of the alphabet, and whatever letter it lands on is the one you’re working with. Let’s say it lands on “G”—now you have to come up with answers for each category that start with the letter “G.” (Good luck thinking of a Christmas movie that starts with “G.”)
- Time’s Ticking: Set a timer (usually for 2-3 minutes) and start filling in your categories with as many answers as you can think of that start with the chosen letter. Don’t worry, you’ll be racing against the clock, and that’s where the real fun begins. You’re bound to come up with some hilarious—and possibly ridiculous—answers in the frenzy.
- Sharing Time: When the timer goes off, everyone shares their answers. If two people have the same answer, no points are awarded for that category. The goal is to be unique! The more outrageous, the better. If you come up with something that no one else thought of, congratulations—you win those precious points.
- Scoring and Winning: At the end of the round, count up your points. The person with the most points wins the round. If you’re playing a few rounds, keep a running total. The game is super fast-paced, so expect to laugh a lot, yell at your friends when they steal your answers, and maybe even make up some new Christmas traditions along the way.
Christmas Scattergories Printable—Because We All Need a Little Help
Look, I know we all like to think we have the memory of Santa’s elves, but sometimes, you need a little assistance. Enter: The Christmas Scattergories printable. This handy-dandy cheat sheet gives you all the categories you could possibly need to make your game night flow seamlessly. From “Christmas Carols” to “Famous Christmas Gifts,” these printables ensure that you’ve got everything covered. No more scrambling to come up with categories while everyone’s impatiently waiting for the next round. Plus, if you’re anything like me, you’ll need that little reminder of what’s actually considered a Christmas movie in the first place (looking at you, Die Hard).
A-Z Answers: The Ultimate Christmas Scattergories Hack
One of the best parts about playing Christmas Scattergories is when you get to the A-Z answers. I’m talking about those categories where you must come up with answers for every letter of the alphabet. A lot of people panic when they hit a letter like “Q” or “Z”—and for good reason. But for me? That’s the fun part.
Here’s the thing: Christmas doesn’t have to be all serious. The holiday season is about fun, creativity, and finding joy in the little things. If your Christmas Scattergories list says “Christmas food” and you’re stuck on “Y,” guess what? Yule log. Done. (See what I did there?)
And don’t get me started on the game’s potential for epic fails. You’ll laugh so hard you’ll forget what you were even trying to think of in the first place. Who cares if someone says “Snowman” for every category? The point is, everyone is having fun, and isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
Why You Need to Play Christmas Scattergories This Year
Let’s be honest: Christmas is about more than just presents and food. It’s about spending time with the people you love and creating memories that will last long after the decorations come down. And what better way to do that than with a game that brings everyone together for some laughs and light-hearted competition?
Whether you’re with family, friends, or even just your cat (hey, it’s a stressful time of year, okay?), Christmas Scattergories is the game you never knew you needed. It’s simple, it’s fast, and it’s sure to leave you with a belly full of laughs and a holiday hangover (in the best way possible).
So this Christmas, toss out those tired board games and bring out the Scattergories. You’ll be glad you did—and you might just find that your new holiday tradition doesn’t come from a store, but from sitting around a table with the people who make your Christmas memories truly special.
Merry Christmas, and may your Scattergories skills be as sharp as your holiday spirit!
