The name of my favorite game to play at Christmas is the Right and Left of Christmas preparation. I don’t even remember where I obtained my copy of the story or where I played the game, but I’ve had it for a long time.

I suppose the story could be written for any occasion, but I’ve only used it for Christmas. There’s no limit on the number of people who can play, but when you get over ten people the game seems almost out of control with confusion which can make the game no fun.

This is a family game and any age can play as long they understand which way is right and left.

One person will be the leader, everyone else gathers in a circle. The leader presents one wrapped gift to any member and this will be the starting point of the game. The leader starts reading a two page story written about Mr. and Mrs. right and their large left handed family preparing for what has left to do so all will be just right on Christmas day.

The word left and/or right is mentioned in various ways at least one time in every sentence. Each time left or right is mentioned who ever is holding the gift will pass to the person on the left or right of them according to the direction.

In a larger group it could be that not everyone in the circle gets to accept or pass the gift, so with a smaller group this allows everyone to at least touch the gift at least once. The leader is required to read the story as fast as he can with no stopping or losing his train of thought, so it’s a good idea to read over the story a couple of times before the game begins to get familiar with the story.

The faster the story is read the more confused everyone becomes as to which is their left and right because their trying to pass the gift as fast as you read. You must release the gift as fast as possible especially before the next command is read.

At the end of the story who ever is the last to receive the gift gets to take it home with them. And that’s seem only right to take what’s left.