Free Printable Right Left Christmas Game Story

This free printable Left Right Christmas game is perfect for a Christmas gift exchange or white elephant party!

Christmas gift exchange games make holiday parties so much fun! There are lots of variations of Left Right (or Right Left) Christmas games, but this story adapted from the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is a classic!

This would be perfect for a white elephant gift exchange, office Christmas party, or any other holiday party you have this Christmas season.

Get the instructions and free printable story below!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

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How to play the Left Right Christmas game

The Left Right Christmas game is an easy and fun Christmas gift exchange game, and it’s a perfect game for adults and little kids alike. It’s a gift passing game where you start with one gift and end with a different, randomized gift by the end.

Before playing this fun game at Christmas parties, be sure to inform everyone ahead of time to each bring a wrapped gift. (Though, when I’ve played this game at my family’s Christmas Eve party, sometimes my mom would just buy enough random gifts for each family member in attendance. If you’re the host, you’re welcome to do it that way if you want.)

Start by sitting in a circle with each person holding a wrapped gift (it usually works best to start with your own gift). Designate someone to be the narrator (they can still play the game if they’re good at multi-tasking). As the narrator reads the Left Right story, listen for the words “left” and “right.” When you hear the word “left,” pass your gift one person to the left. When you hear the word “right,” pass your gift to the right. (For the narrator, be sure to emphasize each time you say “left” or “right”, pausing on the word so players clearly hear the verbal cues to know when to pass their present.) When the story is over, you get to unwrap and keep the gift you’re holding.

How many players can play the Left Right Christmas game?

I recommend a minimum of four or five players for a left-right game (enough people to form a circle), though I think it’s more fun in large groups. The number of players doesn’t affect the reading of the story, so this is actually a great game to keep handy for any gift exchanges you might have.

How many passes are there in this game?

There are 45 total passes in this game (31 right and 14 left, not including the title of the story). This is a net of 17 right passes, so if you have exactly 17 people (or any multiple of that), you will want to split your group into two smaller circles so you don’t end on the same gift you started with.

If for some reason you get to the end of the story and you DO have the same gift, you can add an optional line like, “And with that, there’s nothing LEFT but to open the gift you’re holding.”

What gifts are best for the Left Right Christmas game?

Almost any gifts will work for this, but I recommend gender-neutral and age-appropriate for your group since the gift you receive at the end of the game will be totally random. The type of gifts will depend on who you’re playing with, so just be sure to specify any requirements you might want ahead of time so guests know what to bring (such as theme, price limit, etc.).

Some of the most fought-over items at my family’s gift exchanges have been the most useful items (we don’t usually do the funny/quirky white elephant gifts, but I have a list of great white elephant gift ideas HERE if you want to go that route).

Here are a few popular gift ideas:

• a gift card (Amazon and Target always go over well)
• tool packs (like mini screwdrivers) or batteries
• homemade food or treats (my aunt brought homemade salsa from her garden one year and certain family members––ahem, me––were definitely jealous of the recipient)
• those extra large holiday candy bars
• Christmas tea towel and hand soap
• a cute mug or tumbler filled with treats: this is the BEST tumbler that I recommend to everyone I know!
• any kind of stocking stuffer: stores like Walmart are full of these around Christmas time

For a fun twist on your gift exchange, ask everyone to bring a similar gift with one of these fun theme ideas:

• something that starts with the same letter as your first name
• bring your favorite book
• bring one Christmas ornament (the quirkier, the better!)
• favorite movie and/or movie treats
• favorite kitchen item or gadget: this is one of my favs
• something nostalgic from your childhood: I had no idea they still made these and it makes me so happy!
• favorite board games
• things made in a foreign country (but not China)
• only thrifted or secondhand items
• a literal white elephant: anything resembling or associated with an elephant, wouldn’t necessarily have to be white though

Free Right Left Christmas game printable

This Left Right Christmas story is from the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, adapted to include a lot more uses of the words “left” and “right.” Reading this classic story about Santa Claus is often a favorite Christmas tradition, and it’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit, so I know you’re going to enjoy this at your holiday gathering!

Note: This printable is for personal use only and may not be shared, sold, or distributed, in whole or in part. Please do not share this PDF file or the download link–they are for personal use only. Please share a link to this blog post instead!

Click the image or button below to download the free story printable:

Tips for printing: Make sure your printer settings are set to scale 100% and print at a high quality. For best results, print on white cardstock. Feel free to laminate your printed story to use every holiday season! (This laminator was such an awesome investment and not even that expensive!)

Right Left Christmas Game Printable

I hope you enjoy this free printable and the fun Christmas party game! Enjoy your holiday parties, and may the story end when the best gift is in your hands!

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Don’t forget to pin and save for later!