Isang kamot sa naumod kada lumbaanay nga duwa sa Christmas party!
Ah, Christmas. For kids, it’s the most magical time of the year—no school, delicious food, and of course, the Christmas party! The excitement of class parties filled with food, games, and performances (that you secretly dreaded but still did) was enough to make us feel like little stars. And who could forget the mandatory parlor games? These games weren’t just for fun; they were an integral part of every party, so much so that we sometimes looked forward to them more than the Christmas presents!
Now that we’re older, and probably too “mature” to scream for presents, we’ve moved on to more sophisticated types of fun. But what if we brought back those timeless classics?
So, here are the top Filipino Christmas party games we should never forget—and totally revive at our next celebration!
Planting Rice
As soon as eating time is over, our teachers immediately put forward the empty cola bottles and plastic straws, and that’s when we knew that it’s time for one of the most competitive games ever invented: PLANTING RICE!
How to Set Up
- Make 2 teams.
- Line up 10 empty cola bottles for each team.
- Give each team 10 plastic straws.
How to Play
- The first player in each team holds all 10 straws.
- When the game starts, he has to plant a straw into each cola bottle, one by one, until all bottles are filled.
- Once the last straw is in, the player has to take out the straws in reverse order, starting from the last bottle, and put them all back in his hand.
- After that, the player passes the 10 straws to the next teammate, who will repeat the same steps.
- The first team to finish planting and removing all their straws will win!
It’s a game that requires speed, focus, and a little bit of teamwork. But, PRO TIP: plant and remove 2 straws at the same time to do it faster.
Sack Race
Who can forget hopping inside a sack and trying to beat everyone to the finish line? It’s a fun game that everyone—kids and adults—can enjoy. It gets a little crazy when the sack gets tangled or when someone falls, but hey, it’s all part of the fun! Plus, it’s a great way to show off your sprint skills or, in our case, just have a good laugh trying to get out of the sack quickly.
How to Set Up
- Make 2 teams.
- Give each team a sack.
- Place a chair at a reasonable distance for each player to go around.
How to Play
- Each player will hop inside a sack and make their way towards the chair placed in front of them.
- When the player reaches the chair, he must go around it while still in the sack.
- Then, the player must hop back to the starting line, take off the sack, and pass it to the next player.
- The first team to finish all players hopping and passing the sack wins!
This is a fast-paced game and is one that’s prone to injuries, or at least falls especially when the sacks are a bit smaller than the size of the players. So, if you’re the game master, make sure to prepare sacks that your players can actually get in to lessen the injuries.
Trip to Jerusalem
The Trip to Jerusalem (or Musical Chairs) is one Christmas game that never gets old. The best part? It’s a race against time and everyone’s inner drama queen as the music stops, and we scramble to find a chair. One by one, chairs get eliminated, and someone always ends up dramatically throwing a tantrum when they’re out.
How to Set Up
- Get at least 8-10 players.
- Arrange chairs in a circle, but always have one less chair than the number of players. For example: If you have 10 players, set up 9 chairs. If you have 11 players, set up 10 chairs.
- Prepare some fun, lively music.
How to Play
- When the music starts, players must walk (or dance!) around the chairs in a circle, staying a little bit away from each one.
- When the music stops, everyone must quickly sit in a chair.
- The player who doesn’t find a chair is out of the game.
- After each round, remove one chair, and keep playing until only one player remains!
It’s all about strategy and presence of mind for the players as they go around a trip to Jerusalem!
Longest Line
This is one of the games that I dread the most, especially if I end up wearing a very simple attire during the Christmas party. It’s a test of creativity and resourcefulness because you’ll see people using belts, shoelaces, scarves, and whatever they can find to have the longest line.
How to Set Up
- Get at least 8-10 players for each team.
- Prepare a big space for everyone to spread out.
- Have a measuring tape ready to measure the line.
How to Play
- When the game starts, each player must use whatever they’re wearing—belts, jackets, hair ties, even shoes—to create a long line.
- The longer the line, the better! Players MUST link their items together to stretch the line as far as possible.
- The team with the longest line wins!
It’s a game of creativity, so get ready to laugh and watch everyone scramble for ways to stretch their wardrobe to the limit! I once had a classmate who took everything off, leaving just his boxer shorts and camisole on because he really wanted their team to win.
Paper Dance
The type of game that I always end up losing because of my large physique–the PAPER DANCE! The most essential attribute that a player must have to win this game is balance and a quick mind, especially when it’s done by pair!
How to Set Up
- You can choose whether to have each player be a pair or just individuals.
- Prepare one newspaper for each player/duo.
- Have your tunes ready for them to dance to.
How to Play
- Players must dance while the music is playing.
- When the music stops, they must quickly hop onto the newspaper and stand on it.
- After each round, players must fold the newspaper in half to make it smaller.
- Anyone whose foot touches the floor or can’t fit on the smaller paper is out of the game until only one pair or player is left on the tiniest folded paper.
It’s like a mini version of dance floor survival, where you have to be quick on your feet—and pray the paper doesn’t rip under pressure! Another version of it adds the need for players to be very steady and not move while pausing, making the game a “PAPER STATUE DANCE,” where a whole new level of balancing is needed.
So, Sugboanons, it’s time to bring these games back and get the Christmas party vibe going again! Whether you’re a kid or a kid-at-heart, these classic Pasko games will make you laugh, bond with loved ones, and relive the magic of Christmas just like we did when we were young.
