I played this gift exchange right left game over Christmas, I had to share it! This unique gift exchange game uses the popular story of “Twas The Night Before Christmas” and turns it into a fun gift exchange experience that is sure to bring plenty of laughter to your Christmas event.
Twas The Night Before Christmas Gift Exchange Game Setup
- Seat everyone participating in the gift exchange game in a circle.
- Each person should be holding their gift in their lap.
- Instruct the participants that you are going to read a Christmas story and when you say the words “Left” or “Right” they should pass their gifts to the person on the left or right depending on the word you say.
- Read the story below.
Twas The Night Before Christmas Story
Twas the night RIGHT before Christmas when RIGHT through the house,
Not a creature was LEFT stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung RIGHT by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be RIGHT there.
The children were nestled RIGHT snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced RIGHT around in their heads.
And mama LEFT in her kerchief, and I LEFT in my cap.
We had just settled RIGHT down for a long winter’s nap.
When RIGHT out on the LEFT lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang RIGHT from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the RIGHT window I LEFT like a flash;
Tore open the RIGHT shutters and threw up the LEFT sash.
The moon on the crest of the new-fallen snow,
LEFT the luster of mid-day to objects RIGHT below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver RIGHT lively and quick;
I knew RIGHT in a moment it must be St. Nick!
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came;
And he whistled and shouted, and called them RIGHT by name:
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen!
To the RIGHT top of the porch! To the LEFT top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash RIGHT away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet RIGHT with an obstacle, mount RIGHT up to the sky.
So RIGHT up to the housetop the coursers they LEFT flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard RIGHT on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little RIGHT and LEFT hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around down,
The LEFT side of the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, RIGHT from his head to his LEFT foot,
And his clothes were all LEFT tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he flung RIGHT on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His RIGHT and LEFT eyes, oh how they twinkled!
His dimples? Oh, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was LEFT drawn up like a bow!
And the beard LEFT on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held RIGHT in his teeth,
And the smoke– it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a round little belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was RIGHT chubby and plump, a RIGHT, RIGHT jolly old elf,
And I was LEFT laughing when I saw him in spite of myself.
A wink of his LEFT eye and a LEFT twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing LEFT to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went RIGHT straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; LEFT to RIGHT then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger to the LEFT of his nose,
And giving a nod, he LEFT… Up the chimney, he rose.
He sprang RIGHT to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all LEFT like the dawn of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he LEFT—out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
As you can see this game is full of twists and turns. In the end, everyone will receive a gift other than the one they brought. It is fun to see everyone opening their gift at the end too. This game is ideal for a wide variety of Christian retreats and youth camps.
We highly recommend it during Christmas time for ladies retreats and special Christmas church camps or meetings. Be sure to print this right-left game to keep it with you during your various Christmas parties.
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