'Twas the Night Before Christmas Gift Exchange

Christmas nuts like me love everything about the season – the traditions, the lights, the music, even the tacky decorations. And so when it’s time to plan a gift exchange, we yuletide fanatics naturally ask ourselves: “How can I make this even more Christmassy?”

One answer to that question is to combine the gift swap with another beloved holiday tradition, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. While there are different versions of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas gift exchanges floating around, the one I’ve created here has players reading the classic holiday story and following prompts to tell them what to do with their gifts. It’s easy for people of all ages and works well for larger groups (up to 16 people anyway).

Even better, it doesn’t require much more setup than the average gift exchange. I’ve included a printable containing the story and prompts, and that’s pretty much the only extra you need to pull this off. Read on for all the details.

Note: If you like this concept, you’ll surely want to check out the 12 Days of Christmas gift swap as well.

How to Play

Similar to the left-right gift-passing game, this type of gift swap tells the players what to do as they go. That means there’s no need for everyone to learn rules in advance. That said, the organizer (that’s you) should have an understanding of how things play out.

What you will need:

A printout of the story with gift-passing prompts (see below)
A wrapped present for each player

1. Pass out the gifts and have players sit in a circle.

The players themselves usually supply the gifts, with a price range or limit communicated in advance. Make sure players aren’t holding their own gifts at the start.

2. Determine who goes first.

This could be youngest person or the person whose birthday is closest to Christmas – whatever works.

3. The first person opens the gift they’re holding and shows it to everyone. Then they read the first prompt and do what it says.

The gift exchange prompts may have the person trading their gift to someone else, or tell everyone to pass their gifts in a particular direction.

4. Go clockwise around the circle until the story ends.

Note that if you have less than 16 people, some players will potentially have an advantage by taking multiple turns. If this is a concern, you can trim the number of prompts to match the number of players. Just make sure the story still makes sense!

5. Now go around the circle one last time. Anyone holding their own present may swap with someone else.

When the last swap is made, players keep the gifts they’re holding!

The Story with Prompts

Here’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas with prompts inserted for a gift exchange. Note that I’ve omitted a few lines from the original story to keep the number of turns manageable.

Remember that each player opens the gift they’re holding before reading the prompt and following the instructions.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Let’s get things moving on this cozy night,

Pass all your gifts one space to the right!

Example prompt for the Twas the Night Before Christmas gift exchange game

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Now that we’ve properly set the scene,

Trade your gift with someone wearing green!

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

While dreaming of goodies, they had smiles on their faces,

Now pass those gifts to the right three spaces!

And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

While the characters in our story are napping,

Trade your gift for one still in its wrapping!

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

As the narrator decides out what to do,

Swap with someone on either side of you!

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

I hope you don’t think this is rash,

But two spaces to the left is where everyone should pass.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

As the story describes this incredible sight,

Swap presents with the person to your right!

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

Now our story is picking up the pace,

Everyone pass to the left one space!

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen!

On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!

Santa is really using his voice,

Now trade presents with anyone of your choice!

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

With Santa in the house, the story just gets better,

Now swap with anyone wearing a sweater.

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

Santa Claus has a favorite color, it’s said,

In honor of him, trade with someone in red!

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

While we all contemplate Santa’s heft,

Trade your gift with the person on your left!

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk.

Like Santa, you’ll be turning, too,

But trading with the person to your right is what you’ll do!

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

If you like your gift and losing it would cause pain,

Stand up now – you’re out of the game!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

If the gift you’re holding would hurt to lose,

Just leave the game – you are excused!

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

As Santa Claus exits with a “ho ho ho” …

One last move to the right is where the presents should go!

As promised, here’s the printable file with the story and gift exchange prompts. You can leave the sheet intact and simply read from it, or cut along the lines to separate the prompts. Click here or on the preview image below to view/download.

Please note that this printable is for personal, non-commercial use only.