The Left Right Christmas Game
The Left Right Christmas game (also called the Right Left game or the pass the gift game) is the easiest, giggliest gift swap there is: everyone holds a wrapped gift, someone reads a story aloud, and every time you hear "left" or "right" you pass your gift that way. Whatever you are holding when the story ends is yours. Here are the rules, plus a free printable story.
What is the Left Right Christmas game?
The Left Right Christmas game is a gift-passing party game that needs almost no setup. Each player brings one wrapped gift, everyone sits in a circle, and a reader reads a short Christmas story out loud. Every time the word "left" or "right" is said, players pass their gift in that direction. When the story ends, you keep whatever gift is in your hands. It is sometimes called the Right Left Christmas game or simply the pass the gift game, and it is a classroom, family, and office-party favorite because everyone plays at once and no one gets left out.
It is a lighter alternative to the steal-and-swap White Elephant game, and it pairs well with assigned-gift Secret Santa. See more in our gift exchange games guide.
Left Right game rules
Everyone brings a wrapped gift
One gift per player, all within the same budget so every gift is a fair surprise.
Sit in a circle
Players sit in a circle, each holding their own wrapped gift to start.
Read the story aloud
One person reads the Christmas left-right story below, slowly at first, then faster for chaos.
Pass on "left" and "right"
Hear "left," pass your gift to the left. Hear "right," pass to the right. Keep passing on every word.
Keep what you hold
When the story ends, everyone keeps the gift in their hands, then opens together.
Free printable Left Right Christmas story
Here is a free Left Right game story to read aloud. Every left and right is a cue to pass. Read slowly for new players, then speed up. Copy it, print it, or read it straight from your phone.
It was the night before Christmas and the whole family gathered, so Grandma took the comfy chair on the far LEFT. Dad had LEFT the tree lights unplugged, so Mom reached RIGHT over and switched them on. "Did you hear that?" asked Lily, looking LEFT, then RIGHT, then LEFT again. It was only the cat, curled up on the RIGHT side of the tree.
Up north, Santa checked his list and, RIGHT away, realized he had LEFT the cookies back in the sleigh. He turned LEFT out the workshop door, then RIGHT toward the reindeer, with presents stacked LEFT and RIGHT. "To the house on the LEFT!" called the elves. "No, the one on the RIGHT!" A reindeer swerved LEFT, corrected RIGHT, and LEFT a trail of jingle bells behind.
The stockings on the RIGHT were stuffed full, but the ones on the LEFT were empty, so Santa moved a gift from RIGHT to LEFT. "That's RIGHT," he grinned, "everyone gets something, LEFT or RIGHT." He hopped LEFT, spun RIGHT, and with one last look LEFT and RIGHT, up the chimney he rose. And whatever gift you are holding, LEFT or RIGHT, is yours to keep. Merry Christmas, RIGHT down to the very last LEFT!
Want a longer game? Read the story twice, or add a house rule: on the word "Santa," everyone passes all the way across the circle.
Gift ideas for the Left Right game
Because gifts move randomly, the best picks are universal, useful, and gender-neutral so anyone is happy with where theirs lands. Easy crowd-pleasers on a shared budget:
- Cozy holiday socks and soft throw blankets.
- Scented candles and small self-care sets.
- Gourmet chocolate or snack boxes everyone enjoys.
- Travel mugs and tumblers, always useful.
- Small gift cards for a safe sure-thing.
For classrooms and offices, swap full gifts for candy, ornaments, or small stocking-stuffers to keep it quick and cheap. See more in our Secret Santa gift ideas.
Left Right Christmas game questions, answered
What is the Left Right Christmas game?+
How do you play the Right Left Christmas game?+
Is there a free Left Right game story?+
How many gifts do you need?+
Can you play with candy or small gifts?+
Running the gift exchange too?
Set a budget, collect wish lists, and invite everyone free in two minutes, then play the Left Right game at the party.
🎁 Set up your gift exchange free