Christmas Left Right Game: Nativity Story + Free Printable
If you’re looking for a fun Christmas gift exchange game that also keeps the focus on Jesus, I have a free printable you’re going to love!
This Christmas Left Right Game is a little different from the usual holiday gift exchange. Instead of just passing presents around, everyone listens to a retelling of the birth of Jesus and passes their gifts whenever they hear the words LEFT, RIGHT, or ACROSS.
It’s a fun way to get everyone involved, from the kids to the grandparents, while remembering the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
You can play it at your family Christmas party, Sunday school gathering, women’s ministry Christmas party, or even with a group of friends.
And don’t worry, it’s really easy to play! I’ve included the instructions and a free two-page printable Christmas story below.
Free Printable Christmas Left Right Game
I’ve created a two-page Christmas gift exchange story that you can download and print at home.
The story follows the birth of Jesus, beginning with the angel Gabriel visiting Mary and ending with the shepherds sharing the good news. Throughout the story, you’ll see the words LEFT, RIGHT, and ACROSS highlighted in red. Those are the words everyone needs to listen for as they pass their gifts around.
To get your free printable Christmas Left Right Game, simply enter your email address in the form below and check your inbox for the PDF.
If you’ve never received an email from Keeper of Our Home before, you might need to check your spam or junk folder.
You can print the story on regular printer paper, or use cardstock if you’d like to save it and play again next Christmas.
What Is the Christmas Left Right Gift Exchange Game?
The Left Right Christmas Game is a gift-passing game that’s perfect for holiday parties.
Instead of drawing names for a Secret Santa exchange or stealing gifts like you would in a White Elephant game, everyone starts with a wrapped present.
One person reads a Christmas story aloud, and the players pass their gifts whenever they hear certain words.
By the time the story ends, everyone has a different gift to take home!
What makes this version special is that the story is based on the Nativity. So while everyone is laughing and passing gifts around, they’re also hearing about the birth of our Savior. I love finding simple ways to include our faith in family Christmas traditions, and this is such an easy one.
If you enjoy Bible-based Christmas games, you might also like my free printable Nativity Christmas Bingo Game.
How to Play the Christmas Left Right Across Game
This is a simple game that almost everyone can join in on. Younger children might need a little help, but that’s part of the fun!
Here’s how to play:
- Have everyone bring a wrapped gift. You’ll need one gift for each person playing. Set a dollar limit ahead of time so everyone brings something of about the same value.
- Have everyone sit in a circle. Since this version includes ACROSS, it’s best to have an even number of players sitting across from each other.
- Give each player one wrapped gift. It doesn’t have to be the gift they brought.
- Choose someone to read the Christmas story aloud. The reader can be the party host or anyone who would rather read than participate in the gift passing.
- Listen for LEFT, RIGHT, and ACROSS. Every time the reader says one of the highlighted words, everyone passes their gift in that direction.
- Keep passing until the story ends. Whatever gift each player is holding at the end is theirs to keep.
- Open the gifts! This is always one of the best parts. It’s fun to see what everyone ends up with.
What Do LEFT, RIGHT, and ACROSS Mean?
Here’s a quick explanation so nobody gets confused:
- LEFT: Pass your gift to the person sitting on your left.
- RIGHT: Pass your gift to the person sitting on your right.
- ACROSS: Pass your gift to the player sitting directly across from you.
One important thing to remember is that everyone needs to pass their gift at the same time.
And the person reading should pause for a second after each highlighted word to give everyone enough time to pass their presents.
A little tip: My printable also includes words like RIGHTLY and RIGHTEOUS highlighted in red. Those count as RIGHT, too! Just follow the highlighted words as you read.
If you have an odd number of people playing, decide ahead of time who each person will pass their gift to when they hear ACROSS. That way, nobody is left wondering what to do in the middle of the game.
What if Someone Ends Up With Their Own Gift?
I’ve included an extra line at the end of the printable for this very reason.
If someone ends up with the same gift they brought, you can read the optional last line:
“And that is all that is LEFT of our Christmas story.”
That gives everyone one more chance to pass their gifts to the left. Of course, if someone still ends up with their own gift, you can always have everyone pass one more time. The whole point is to have fun!
Inexpensive Gift Ideas for a Christmas Left Right Game
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make this Christmas gift exchange fun.
If you’re hosting a party, you can ask everyone to bring a wrapped gift within a certain price range. Or, if you’d rather not have guests bring anything, you can purchase and wrap all the gifts yourself.
Just remember that you’ll need the same number of gifts as players.
Here are some inexpensive gift ideas that work well for both family gatherings and Christmas parties:
- Candy bars or other favorite treats
- Books
- Gift cards
- Travel board games
- Batteries
- Christmas night lights
- Lip balm
- Fuzzy socks
- Multi-tool pens
- Travel mugs
- Beanies
- Puzzles
- Flashlights
- Slippers
- Headphones
- Mini milk frothers
- Mini waffle makers
- Mini popcorn makers
You can go as inexpensive as you want. Sometimes the simplest gifts are the ones everyone ends up wanting!
For even more ideas, take a look at my Stocking Stuffers With Purpose gift guide. There are lots of small gifts in that post that would work for this game, too.
Free Printable Left Right Christmas Story About Jesus’ Birth
The story in my printable is based on the Nativity account found in Luke 1–2.
It begins with the angel Gabriel telling Mary she will give birth to Jesus. Then it follows Mary visiting Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, and the shepherds hearing the good news from the angels.
I’ve added the directional words throughout the story to turn it into a fun gift exchange game.
It’s a creative retelling rather than a word-for-word Bible passage, but I love that it gives us another opportunity to talk about the birth of Jesus during our Christmas celebrations.
Left Right Across Christmas Game Free Printable Story
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
RIGHT around the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel RIGHT to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a RIGHTeous man named Joseph.
The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went RIGHT to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled, and RIGHTly so at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her…”Do not be afraid, after I have LEFT you will conceive and give birth to a son and you will call him Jesus.”
“I am the Lord’s servant” Mary said, and the angel LEFT her.
Mary then LEFT to visit her cousin Elizabeth RIGHT in the town of Judea. When she entered her home and RIGHT when Mary’s greeting LEFT her mouth, the baby inside Elizabeth’s belly leaped for joy to the LEFT and to the RIGHT and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for RIGHT around three months and then LEFT to go back home.
RIGHT around the time Jesus was to be born, Caesar Augustus wanted to count everyone who was LEFT in the Roman world.
Mary and her RIGHTeous husband Joseph, then LEFT to the town of Bethlehem to register for the census.
While they were in Bethlehem the time came for baby Jesus to be born. They went RIGHT to the inn, but there was no more room LEFT for them there. Traveling ACROSS the town of Bethlehem they found a manger and it was there where baby Jesus was born.
RIGHT around there, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them in the night and the glory of the Lord shone around them to the LEFT and to the RIGHT.
The angel said to them…”Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” All ACROSS the field a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had LEFT them, the shepherds decided to go RIGHT then to see this thing that had happened.
As soon as they saw baby Jesus, the shepherds spread the news of his birth to the LEFT and to the RIGHT to anyone who would listen. And all who heard the news were RIGHTly amazed.
Mary pondered and treasured all these things RIGHT in her heart.
The shepherds LEFT Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus returning ACROSS the fields praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.
STOP THERE unless someone ends up with their own gifts they brought to the holiday party then add the following line….
“And that is all that is LEFT of our Christmas story”
And if you’d like another way to share the Christmas story with your children throughout December, I also have a 25-day Advent Bible reading plan for families.
Where Can You Play This Christmas Gift Exchange Game?
One of the things I like about this game is that it works for so many different Christmas gatherings.
Family Christmas Parties
This is a fun alternative to the usual Christmas gift exchange, especially if you have a mix of adults, teenagers, and younger children. You could even make it a new Christmas Eve tradition.
Church Christmas Parties
Since the story is about the birth of Jesus, it’s a great option for Sunday school classes, women’s ministry gatherings, church small groups, and other Christmas celebrations. It gives everyone a chance to enjoy a fun activity while keeping the focus on Christ.
Youth Group Christmas Gatherings
Teenagers can have a lot of fun with this game, too!
Set a small gift budget, have everyone bring something wrapped, and let the gift passing begin.
Christmas Parties With Friends
You don’t have to be hosting a large gathering to play. A small group of friends can enjoy it just as much. Just make sure you have enough gifts for everyone.
Tips for Hosting a Fun Christmas Left Right Gift Exchange
Here are a few little things that can help everything go smoothly.
Set a gift budget. Let everyone know the price range ahead of time. This helps keep things fair and takes away the pressure to spend too much.
Wrap every gift. Even if you’re giving something simple, wrapping it makes the game more exciting because nobody knows what they’re going to end up with.
Choose a good reader. Pick someone who can read clearly and doesn’t mind pausing when everyone needs to pass their gifts.
Arrange the seating before you start. Since the game includes ACROSS, make sure everyone knows who they’re passing to.
Don’t rush through the story. Give everyone a chance to pass their gifts before reading the next sentence.
And most importantly, don’t worry if things get a little silly or someone passes their gift in the wrong direction. That’s half the fun!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Christmas Left Right Game
Is this a Bible-based Christmas Left Right Game?
Yes! This version is based on the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 1–2. I’ve added LEFT, RIGHT, and ACROSS throughout the Nativity story to make it into a Christmas gift exchange game.
Is the Christmas Left Right Game printable free?
Yes, the two-page printable is free. Simply enter your email address in the download form near the top of this post and check your inbox for the PDF.
How many people can play the Christmas Left Right Game?
You can play with a small group or a larger Christmas party. You’ll need one wrapped gift for each person playing.
For the ACROSS part of the game, an even number of players makes things easier. If you have an odd number, agree on who everyone will pass to before starting.
Can kids play this Christmas gift exchange game?
Absolutely! Younger children might need a little help passing their gifts, but it’s a fun game for the whole family.
Do the gifts need to be expensive?
Not at all! You can set whatever gift budget works best for your group. Small, inexpensive gifts are perfectly fine.
What happens if someone ends up with the gift they brought?
The printable includes an optional final sentence that lets everyone pass their gifts one more time to the left. You can also agree on an additional pass if needed.
More Free Christmas Games and Printables for Families
If you’re looking for more simple Christmas activities, here are a few other printables I’ve created that you might enjoy:
- Nativity Christmas Bingo Game — Another fun Bible-based Christmas game that’s great for families and church gatherings.
- Christmas Bible Trivia Questions and Answers — Test everyone’s knowledge of the Christmas story with over 40 trivia questions.
- Free Printable Christmas Mazes for Kids — Four Christmas-themed mazes for a quiet activity.
- Free Christmas Activity Booklet for Kids — A collection of fun Christmas activities for younger children.
- 25 Fun Christmas Activities for Families — Simple ideas for making memories together throughout December.
- Christian Alternatives to Elf on the Shelf — Meaningful ideas for keeping the focus on Jesus during the Christmas season.
A Final Thought
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, and I love finding little ways to make memories with my family.
As a mom, I hope my boys will look back on our Christmas traditions with fond memories and maybe even carry some of them into their own homes one day.
And while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying all the fun that comes with Christmas, I especially love traditions that remind us of why we celebrate in the first place.
I hope this Christmas Left Right Game brings lots of laughter to your next family or church gathering and gives you another opportunity to share the beautiful story of Jesus’ birth.
I’d love to hear about some of your favorite Christmas games or family traditions in the comments!
From my home to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a joyful, peaceful holiday season.
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
