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Christmas Taboo words: describe the word on your card so your team can guess it, without saying any of the forbidden words underneath. Below are 24 ready-made Christmas Taboo cards, each with five banned words, plus the rules, a timer setup and tips for kids. You only need a phone timer and two teams.
Want a boxed game with the same energy?: Poetry for Neanderthals
Instead of banned words, clue-givers can only use one-syllable words, and the other team gets an inflatable club to bonk anyone who slips. It is for ages 7 and up and costs about $20.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Check today’s price on Amazon
How to play Christmas Taboo
- Split into two teams and sit so team members are next to each other.
- A player from the first team takes a card and has 60 seconds to get their team to say the word at the top.
- They cannot say the word itself or any of the five forbidden words. A player from the other team watches the card and calls out any slip.
- Each correct guess scores 1 point. Each slip costs 1 point, and the clue-giver moves on to the next card.
- Teams take turns until every card has been played. The team with the most points wins.
To print the cards, copy each word and its forbidden list onto an index card, or simply read them from this page on a phone that the other team holds.
24 Christmas Taboo cards
The word to guess is on the left, and the five words you cannot say are on the right.
| Word to guess | Forbidden words |
|---|---|
| Santa Claus | red, beard, presents, North Pole, chimney |
| Reindeer | Rudolph, sleigh, antlers, fly, Santa |
| Snowman | Frosty, carrot, nose, build, melt |
| Stocking | sock, hang, fireplace, fill, candy |
| Mistletoe | kiss, hang, plant, under, doorway |
| Candy cane | stripes, red, white, peppermint, hook |
| Gingerbread house | cookie, build, icing, candy, bake |
| Elf | Santa, helper, workshop, toys, shelf |
| Wrapping paper | gift, tape, present, bow, rip |
| Christmas tree | pine, lights, ornaments, star, decorate |
| Eggnog | drink, milk, egg, cinnamon, cup |
| Sleigh | Santa, reindeer, snow, ride, bells |
| Chimney | Santa, fireplace, smoke, roof, brick |
| Ugly sweater | party, knit, wear, contest, tacky |
| The Grinch | green, steal, Whoville, heart, Dr. Seuss |
| Hot cocoa | chocolate, drink, marshmallows, warm, mug |
| Snowball fight | throw, snow, winter, outside, hit |
| Nutcracker | ballet, soldier, nuts, Clara, wooden |
| Ornament | tree, hang, glass, ball, decorate |
| Carolers | sing, door, songs, group, neighbors |
| North Pole | Santa, cold, ice, workshop, top |
| Fruitcake | cake, dried, fruit, gift, nobody |
| Advent calendar | doors, chocolate, count, December, days |
| Ice skating | rink, skates, frozen, glide, fall |
Rules that keep the game fair
- No rhymes or “sounds like” clues: saying “rhymes with bleigh” for sleigh does not count.
- No spelling or first letters: spelling out the word is a slip.
- No gestures: keep your hands still. Acting things out turns it into charades.
- Parts of forbidden words count: if “snow” is banned, so is “snowy.”
- Passing is allowed: skip a card if you are stuck, but it goes to the bottom of the pile.
Playing Christmas Taboo with kids
For younger players, give them 90 seconds instead of 60, and let them ignore one of the five forbidden words. Easy cards for kids include Snowman, Candy cane, Hot cocoa and Snowball fight. Older kids usually love being the watcher who calls out slips, so give them that job between turns.
Ways to change up the scoring
- Speed round: cut turns to 30 seconds for the last lap, and double the points.
- Silent watcher: the watcher on the other team uses a bell or a squeaky toy instead of shouting when someone slips.
- Team pass: each team gets three passes for the whole game instead of unlimited skips, so choosing when to pass becomes part of the strategy.
Make your own cards
Pick a Christmas word, then list the five words people are most likely to use to describe it. Those are your forbidden words. Test each card on someone before the party. If it is impossible, swap out one forbidden word for an easier one.
For a group that enjoys word games, Just One is a cooperative clue game that costs about $25, and Pictionary works with the same teams for about $19.
For more ideas, see our Christmas Heads Up words, our Christmas Pictionary words, our best games like Taboo and our list of Christmas party games for large groups.
Christmas Taboo FAQ
How do you play Christmas Taboo?
One player describes a Christmas word to their team without saying the word or any of the five forbidden words listed with it. The team scores a point for each correct guess within the time limit.
How many players do you need for Taboo?
At least four, so you can have two teams of two. Bigger teams work fine and are often more fun.
How long should each turn be?
60 seconds is standard. Use 90 seconds for younger kids.
Can kids play Christmas Taboo?
Yes. Give them extra time, let them skip one forbidden word, and start with the easier cards like Snowman and Hot cocoa.
