Categories: Christmas

Christmas Scattergories Online: 12 Festive Lists to Play or Print

12 festive lists, a letter roll that skips the hard letters and a 3-minute timer. Fill the sheet on your phone, or print it for the table.

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3:00
Roll the die. The clock starts when it lands.
Same letter, same clock, everyone on their own phone.

Christmas classic 1

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Quick answer

How do you play Christmas Scattergories?

Pick a Christmas list of 12 categories, such as "Things on a Christmas tree" and "Things you would bring on a sleigh ride", roll a letter and start the 3-minute timer. Everyone writes one answer per category that starts with that letter. Unique answers score a point, matching answers score nothing, and after three rounds the highest total wins.

Updated · By Playroomy Games Team How to playListsQuestions

How to play

How to play Christmas Scattergories

  1. 1

    Pick a list and roll

    Pick a list of 12 categories and roll a letter.

  2. 2

    Start the timer

    Start the timer. Everyone writes one answer per category that starts with the letter.

  3. 3

    First word counts

    Any number of words is fine as long as the first word starts with the letter. Ignore A, An and The at the start.

  4. 4

    Read answers aloud

    When time is up, read answers aloud category by category.

  5. 5

    Score unique answers

    A unique answer scores 1 point. If two or more players give the same answer, nobody scores for it.

  6. 6

    Alliteration bonus

    Optional alliteration bonus: a proper noun scores 1 point for each word that starts with the letter.

  7. 7

    Challenge answers

    Anyone can challenge an answer. The group votes; on a tie, the challenged player's vote is dropped.

  8. 8

    Play three rounds

    Play three rounds with a new letter each round. Highest total wins.

Category lists

12 Christmas Scattergories lists, 12 categories each

Tap a list to put it on the answer sheet above, or print them all for the table. Every item is checked for clarity, the right age group and family safety before it joins the deck, and weak ones are rewritten or cut.

Christmas lists for kids and families4 lists

Christmas lists for teens and adults8 lists

What are good Christmas Scattergories categories?

Good Christmas Scattergories categories are broad enough to have answers for most letters but festive enough to feel like the season. Here are some from the lists on this page.

  • Things on a Christmas tree
  • Things you can share
  • Things kids get excited about
  • Things that are fluffy
  • Candy
  • Things that are shiny
  • Things that are striped
  • Things you could fit down a chimney
  • Things you should never give a cat
  • Things you bring to a potluck
  • Secret Santa gifts under a budget
  • Things that need batteries
  • Things you see in the night sky
  • Things you can fill
  • Things with a lid
Scattergories online

Festive lists for kids

Scattergories for kids at Christmas works best with the Kids 16 letter die and the 90-second timer, so every letter has easy answers. Let younger players say answers out loud while a grown-up writes. The Christmas classic 1 list is a good start.

  • Things on a Christmas tree
  • Things you find in a stocking
  • Toys
  • Things that are red
  • Things that are green
  • Things that sparkle
  • Things you can wrap
  • Holiday foods
  • Winter clothes
  • Things you can share
  • Things that are cold
  • Things in a Christmas window display

Harder holiday categories for adults

For adults, add trickier categories and the full 3-minute timer. Turn on the alliteration bonus for an extra point when every word starts with the letter. Try the Holiday party for adults list.

  • Things you find at grandma's house
  • Things you would put in a time capsule
  • Things you bring to a potluck
  • Gifts for someone who has everything
  • Things you buy at the last minute
  • Things that are heavy
  • Cities to visit in December
  • Things in a fridge
  • Things that cost too much
  • New Year's resolutions
  • Things that come in a box
  • Things you do on a day off

Can you play it on a video call with family far away?

Yes. To play with family far away, the host shares this page in Room mode and everyone writes answers on paper or their own phone.

  1. The host picks a Christmas list and turns on Room mode.
  2. Share the screen so everyone sees the letter, the list and the timer.
  3. Everyone writes their 12 answers.
  4. At the bell, go category by category and read answers aloud.

How do you print Christmas Scattergories sheets?

Tap Print the lists above the lists. Your printer gets every list plus one answer sheet per list, with 12 numbered categories, a line for each answer and spaces for the letter and the player's name.

Example round

Christmas Scattergories answers: an example round

Sample answers for three letters. Ignore A, An and The at the start, so A Christmas Carol counts for C.

CategoryLetter SLetter CLetter B
Things on a Christmas tree StarCandy caneBauble
Christmas foods StuffingCranberry sauceBrussels sprouts
Christmas songs and carols Silent NightCarol of the BellsBlue Christmas
Things in a stocking SocksChocolate coinsBouncy ball
Winter clothing ScarfCoatBoots
Christmas movies The Santa ClauseA Christmas CarolBabes in Toyland
Things that are red Santa's suitCardinalHolly berries

Variations

Christmas Scattergories lists

Christmas classic 1

Christmas classic 1 is an easy list for kids and mixed ages: 12 festive categories, from "Things on a Christmas tree" to "Things in a Christmas window display".

  • Things on a Christmas tree
  • Things you find in a stocking
  • Toys
  • Things that are red
  • Things that are green
  • Things that sparkle
  • Things you can wrap
  • Holiday foods
  • Winter clothes
  • Things you can share

Christmas classic 2

Christmas classic 2 is an easy list for kids and mixed ages: 12 festive categories, from "Things in Santa's sack" to "Gifts for a grandparent".

  • Things in Santa's sack
  • Things that are white
  • Things you do in the snow
  • Desserts
  • Things that light up
  • Things you can decorate
  • Things that are made of paper
  • Things kids get excited about
  • Things you can bake
  • Names for an elf

Christmas classic 3

Christmas classic 3 is a family list: 12 festive categories, from "Things at a holiday party" to "Things on a wish list".

  • Things at a holiday party
  • Things you hang on a wall
  • Things that smell good
  • Things you can do by the fire
  • Things that are fluffy
  • Things in a holiday photo
  • Things in a kitchen
  • Things you say on Christmas morning
  • Things that are gold
  • Things at a Christmas market

Christmas for kids 1

Christmas for kids 1 is an easy list for kids and mixed ages: 12 festive categories, from "Things that are round" to "Things you could build out of snow".

  • Things that are round
  • Things a kid wants for Christmas
  • Candy
  • Things you wear on your head
  • Cartoon characters
  • Things that are fuzzy
  • Things that are soft
  • Snacks
  • Things that go fast
  • Things with stripes

Rules and sources

Watch the rules, then check the source

Plays from YouTube only when you tap it.

A 20-sided letter die is rolled to determine the first letter used. The timer is set for up to three minutes.

Today, there is a wide variety of Christmas ornaments, such as garlands, baubles, tinsel, and candy canes.

Questions

Christmas Scattergories questions

What are some good categories for Christmas Scattergories?

Things on a Christmas tree, Christmas foods, carols, things in a stocking and Christmas movies are the classics. This page has 144 Christmas categories across 12 lists.

Is there a printable Christmas Scattergories?

Yes. Tap Print the lists to print every list with an answer sheet for each one, ready for pens at the table.

What are some fun group games to play at Christmas?

Christmas Scattergories, Christmas charades, Christmas Pictionary and Christmas would you rather all work for big groups and need nothing but a phone, paper and pens.

Can you play Christmas Scattergories online with family far away?

Yes. Share this page in Room mode on a video call so everyone sees the letter and the timer, and read answers aloud at the bell.

What letters are not used in Scattergories?

The classic 20-sided die leaves out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z. The Kids die uses 16 easy letters, and the Hard die uses all 26.

Are these Christmas lists OK for kids?

Yes. Every category is family friendly, and the lists tagged for kids use the easiest festive categories.

More games

Keep the night going.

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