Christmas Never Have I Ever: Rules and 30 Prompts

In Christmas Never Have I Ever, players say things they have never done, and anyone who has done them loses a finger or a candy. It is a simple way to learn funny facts about each other.

How to Set Up

1. Sit in a circle so everyone can see each other.
2. Give each player 5 wrapped candies, or have them hold up 5 fingers.
3. Pick the first player to read a prompt. You can take turns or draw from a list.

How to Play

1. The first player says, “Never have I ever” and finishes with something from the list.
2. Everyone who HAS done that thing puts down one finger, or gives one candy to the middle pile.
3. Ask any player who lost a candy to tell a short story about it. This part is the best.
4. The next player to the left takes a turn.
5. Players are out when they have no fingers or candy left.
6. The last player standing wins.

Questions and Answers

Read each one after “Never have I ever …”

1. peeked at a present before Christmas.
2. fallen asleep before opening gifts.
3. burned a batch of cookies.
4. sung carols loudly in the car.
5. worn an ugly sweater on purpose.
6. spilled hot chocolate on myself.
7. gotten stuck untangling lights.
8. regifted something.
9. lied about liking a gift.
10. gotten coal in a joke stocking.
11. waited in a long line to see Santa.
12. built a gingerbread house.
13. knocked over a Christmas tree.
14. forgotten to buy someone a gift.
15. eaten cookie dough straight from the bowl.
16. worn Santa hat in July.
17. watched the same holiday movie five times.
18. left cookies out for Santa.
19. been on a sleigh or sled ride.
20. thrown a snowball at a friend.
21. wrapped a gift in a newspaper.
22. cried at a Christmas movie.
23. sent a Christmas card by mail.
24. gotten up before sunrise on Christmas morning.
25. eaten fruitcake.
26. helped decorate a tree.
27. forgotten where I hid a gift.
28. stayed up late to hear Santa.
29. ordered a gift too late to arrive.
30. shared my last cookie.

Scoring and Winning

The last player with fingers or candy left wins. If time runs out, the player with the most remaining wins. Winners can keep the candy pile or choose a prize.

Tips for a Fun Game

• Keep the stories short so the game moves.
• Skip any prompt that makes someone uncomfortable.
• Let players write their own prompts on slips and draw them from a hat.
• Keep a bowl of extra candy for round-up rewards.

Variations

• Little kids: Use only simple prompts and let everyone keep all fingers. The game is just for sharing.
• Teen version: Use prompts about school, friends and social media, kept clean.
• Reverse: Say “I have, have you?” and anyone who has done it earns a candy.