Christmas Categories

What it is

Christmas Categories is a fast word game in which everyone tries to think of festive answers that fit the same categories and begin with the same letter. A round might ask for a Christmas food, a gift, a song, a decoration and something associated with winter, with players racing to fill as many categories as they can before time runs out.

The game works well with families, friends and coworkers because everyone plays at the same time and the rules are easy to adjust. Familiar categories make it accessible to younger players, while unusual letters and more specific categories can make later rounds much harder.

Setting up

Give each player a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Prepare a short list of Christmas-themed categories that everyone will use, then choose a letter for the first round. Decide how long players will have to answer; about two minutes works well. Before starting, agree whether closely related answers count and whether proper names are allowed.

You may need: paper, pens or pencils, Christmas category list, timer.

How to play

1. Give every player the same list of Christmas categories.
2. Choose one letter that answers should begin with for the round.
3. Start the timer and have everyone write one answer for as many categories as possible.
4. When time expires, everyone stops writing.
5. Read the categories one at a time and have players share their answers.
6. Award one point for each valid answer that no other player wrote.
7. Choose a new letter and play another round using the same categories or a fresh list.
8. After the agreed number of rounds, add up the points. The player with the highest total wins.

Rules

• Each answer must fit the category and begin with the chosen letter.
• Players may write only one answer for each category in a round.
• An answer scores only if the group accepts it as a reasonable match for the category.
• If two or more players wrote the same answer for a category, none of those matching answers earns a point.
• Different forms of essentially the same answer should normally be treated as duplicates unless the group agrees otherwise.
• Choose letters and categories appropriate for the age and Christmas knowledge of the people playing.

Winning

Players earn one point for each valid answer that no other player used. After the agreed number of rounds, the player with the most points wins. If there is a tie, play one additional category with a new letter; the first tied player to give a valid unique answer wins.

Variations

• Family Version: Use broad categories such as Christmas foods, decorations, gifts, songs, characters and winter activities.
• Team Categories: Divide a larger group into teams and let teammates work together on one answer sheet.
• Quick Round: Use five categories and a 60-second timer for a faster game.
• No-Letter Version: Skip the starting letter and ask players to write as many different answers as possible for one Christmas category before time expires.