12 Days of Christmas Game Rules

Hey there! Let me tell you all about the exciting game called “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Strap in and get ready for some holiday fun!

First things first, I need to explain the rules to you. Picture this: there are 12 days leading up to Christmas, and each day, you receive a special gift from your secret Santa. But here’s the twist – you can only open one gift each day, starting from the first day of Christmas.

Now, you’re probably wondering what these gifts are. Well, each day, you’ll receive a different surprise. From a partridge in a pear tree to drummers drumming, these gifts are as unique as can be. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you keep track of all the presents.

To play this game, you have to remember what you received on each day and sing them all in order. So, on the second day, you’ll sing the gift from the first day and then add the gift from the second day. And it keeps going like that until you reach the twelfth day.

Let me give you an example to make it crystal clear. On the fifth day, you would sing the five gifts you have received so far: five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. It’s a lot to remember, but I believe in you!

Now, here’s where the fun begins. You can play this game with your friends or family. Take turns being the “caller” who decides which gifts to sing. The rest of the players must listen carefully and sing the gifts in the correct order. If someone forgets a gift or sings them in the wrong order, they’re out of the game. The last player standing is the winner!

This game is a blast because it challenges your memory and brings you closer to the Christmas spirit. Plus, it’s a perfect way to pass the time during the holiday season. So gather your loved ones and get ready for some festive fun!

Remember, the key to winning is paying attention and memorizing the gifts. Keep your singing voice ready and let the holiday cheer fill your heart. Have a jolly good time playing “The 12 Days of Christmas!”

Hey there! Have you heard of the 12 Days of Christmas game? It’s a super fun game that can be played by 2 to 8 players. We play it with a special deck of playing cards inspired by the classic carol.

The goal of the game is to collect as many gifts as possible by getting rid of all the cards in your hand before anyone else. It’s a bit like a race!

Being the Lead Player gives you an advantage because you get to play the first card(s) of each turn. So if you played the lowest card in the previous round, you get to be the Lead Player in the next round.

But here’s the thing, low cards are pretty rare. Just like the carol says, there’s only one partridge in a pear tree. So being the Lead Player isn’t always easy!

Setting Up the Game

We start by taking out the 12 gift cards from the deck. If we want to play a quick game, we give everyone a gift and play only three rounds. But if we want to play the full game, we play 12 rounds and nobody starts with a gift. It’s up to you to decide!

To start the game, we shuffle the remaining deck of 78 cards and deal each player their hand. Depending on the number of players, each player receives 12 cards (11 cards for 7 players or 9 cards for 8 players).

Once everyone has their cards, we sort them out. The player to the left of the Dealer then becomes the Lead Player for the first trick of the first hand.

When it’s Your Turn to Lead

As the Lead Player, you get to play the opening card(s) for the first trick. You have three options for your play:

• If you have two or more identical cards, you can play them together as a Set. For example, if you have 4 maids a-milking, you can play them as a Set.
• If you have two or more successive cards, you can play them together as a Straight. For example, if you have 1 goose, 1 golden ring, 1 calling bird, 1 french hen, and 1 turtle dove, you can play them as a Straight (i.e., 6/5/4/3/2).

Let’s talk about playing the 12 Days of Christmas official game. If you’re not familiar with it, don’t worry—I’ll explain everything to you.

First, let’s look at the different types of combinations you can play:

• Set: a group of cards of the same value.
  Example: 2 turtle doves.
• Straight: a sequence of cards in consecutive order.
  Example: 3 french hens, 4 calling birds, 5 golden rings.
• Singleton: any single card.
  Example: 1 lord a-leaping.

The first player to play a card is called the Lead Player. The lowest card they play is called the Lead’s Low Card.

Now, let’s see how the game progresses:

Starting with the Lead Player and proceeding clockwise around the table, each player can respond by either playing a card or passing.

To respond, you must play the same type of combination as the Lead Player. So, if the Lead Player played a Set, you must also play a Set to respond.

When it’s my turn to play a card, there are a few things I need to consider. First, I must make sure that my new combination includes at least one card that is as low or lower than the low card played by the previous player. This is important because it keeps the game fair and balanced. I don’t want to play a high card and make it impossible for others to follow suit. So, I have to take into account the cards that have already been played and choose my cards wisely.

Next, I need to remember that there are different types of combinations I can play. If the previous player led with a Set or a Straight, I have the option to respond with more or fewer cards than what they played. However, I can never respond with just a single card. This rule prevents any player from easily dominating the game or making it too predictable. It keeps things interesting and gives everyone a chance to strategize and come up with their own unique combinations.

Of course, I always have the option to pass if I don’t want to play any cards. Sometimes it’s better to wait for a more favorable opportunity or to keep my cards for later in the game. Passing allows me to maintain control over my hand and make strategic decisions based on the current state of the game. It’s a way to keep my options open and adapt to the changing dynamics of the game.

Once everyone has had the opportunity to either respond or pass, the player who played the lowest card becomes the new lead player. This means that all the played cards are discarded, and the game continues with a fresh start. It’s like hitting the reset button and giving someone else a chance to take the lead. If there is a tie for the lowest card, the player who played it last becomes the new lead player. This rule adds an element of suspense and creates a sense of anticipation as players try to outsmart each other and claim the lead position.

Example: I’m gonna start with four 11s. Betty goes with two 8s. Carl can’t play because his three 12s ain’t low enough to beat my Low Card.

Daniella doesn’t wanna break her Straight, so she passes on her two 3s. Since Betty’s 8s were the lowest cards played, she’s the next Lead Player for the next trick.

Winning the Hand

The hand ends when you win a trick and have no cards left. If you play your last card(s) and don’t win the trick, you gotta take those cards back into your hand.

But if you’re the one who successfully plays your last card and wins the trick, congrats! You earn a gift card and become the Lead Player for the next hand.

Also, if you got the most unplayed cards left by the end of the hand, you gotta give a single gift card (if you have any) to the winning player.

Game Over

After all the gift cards have been claimed, the person or team with the highest number of gifts wins the game.

Usually, giving is considered more valuable than receiving, but not always.