Remember those school dances where the boys and girls were too shy to mingle and ended up staring at each other from across the room while the music played? That’s pretty much the last thing you want for your Christmas party.
Okay, maybe you’re not planning any actual dancing at your event, and most of the people in attendance will be supposedly self-assured adults. Nevertheless, the basic problem is real, even if the details differ. The bottom line is that people often need some gentle encouragement to let down their guards at a social gathering.
This is where icebreakers come in. Icebreakers are group activities that help everyone relax and get to know each other better. You’ve probably participated in one of these before, whether it was for school, work, church, or some other group.
Because some people dread icebreakers, it’s often best to keep it simple and non-threatening. Asking people to answer a “get-to-know-you” question about themselves is about as easy as it gets. So, to help melt away the awkwardness at your next holiday gathering, I’ve come up with these fun Christmas icebreaker questions.
About the Printable: If you like these questions, feel free to download and use this printable for your holiday party. Simply cut along the lines and toss the questions into a hat for people to draw.
- What’s the best – or worst – Christmas present you’ve ever received?
- Describe a Christmas present you wanted badly as a kid, but never received.
- Name something about Christmas that most people like, but you hate (or at least dislike).
- If you could only have one type of Christmas candy this year, what would you choose?
- What holiday movie or special do you watch over and over again?
- What’s the weirdest/ugliest Christmas decoration you’ve ever owned?
- What was Christmas like when you were growing up?
- Who is the toughest person you have to buy for this Christmas?
- What one thing are you most grateful for this holiday season?
- Share one vivid Christmas memory, good or bad.
- What’s your favorite – or least favorite – Christmas song?
- If you could travel anywhere for Christmas, where would you go?
- What’s the most memorable thing that’s happened to you since last Christmas?
- What’s your least favorite item on your Christmas to-do list?
- Would you rather have three feet of snow for Christmas, or no snow at all?
- If someone offered you a gift card to any store you wanted, which one would you choose?
- What’s your favorite holiday? Least favorite?
- What’s your favorite character from a Christmas-themed movie, book, or TV special?
- What’s the best gift you’ve ever given someone?
- If you were Santa Claus, what type of cookie would you want to be left out for you on Christmas Eve?
- Name three words that best describe Christmas for you.
- Describe a funny Christmas card you have given or received.
- Would you rather build a snowman, go sledding, have a snowball fight, or stay inside drinking hot cocoa?
- The true meaning of Christmas is [fill in the blank].
You know what else works well as an icebreaker? A gift exchange, of course! For small-to-medium-sized groups, a standard game of White Elephant is ideal. However, a gift exchange can work for larger groups as well.
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