# Christmas This or That Questions, Movies and Secret Santa Pairs Source: https://thisorthatquestion.com/christmas-this-or-that Updated: 2026-11-11 Pairs for family dinner, the office party and your Secret Santa questionnaire. Twenty pairs fill about 10 minutes. ## Quick facts - Christmas falls on December 25 every year. Most groups start playing Christmas this or that in early December, once decorations go up. - A Secret Santa questionnaire this or that style uses 10 to 15 pairs. It gives the giver real clues, such as Candle or Plant, without spoiling the surprise. - Set a gift budget, such as $25, before anyone draws names. A budget keeps gift questions fair for everyone in the exchange. - Christmas movie this or that pairs work across ages when you mix old and new films, such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Elf (2003). - Read pairs aloud at dinner and let each person answer in turn. A table of 8 gets through 10 pairs in about 10 minutes. ## This or that Christmas edition: traditions Every family runs Christmas a little differently. These this or that Christmas questions show whose house does what. 1. Open gifts Christmas Eve or Open gifts Christmas morning? 2. Real tree or Fake tree? 3. Matching pajamas or Ugly sweaters? 4. Christmas cards or Christmas texts? 5. Snowy Christmas or Sunny Christmas? 6. Advent calendar or Countdown chain? 7. Elf on the Shelf or No elf? 8. Caroling or Christmas lights drive? 9. Big family Christmas or Quiet Christmas at home? 10. Stockings or Gifts under the tree? 11. Christmas Eve service or Christmas Eve movie night? 12. Up at dawn or Sleep in? ## Christmas food and treats 1. Gingerbread cookies or Sugar cookies? 2. Hot cocoa or Eggnog? 3. Glazed ham or Roast beef? 4. Candy canes or Chocolate coins? 5. Fruitcake or Yule log cake? 6. Peppermint bark or Fudge? 7. Mashed potatoes or Roast potatoes? 8. Gingerbread house or Cookie decorating? 9. Marshmallows in cocoa or Whipped cream on cocoa? 10. Christmas dinner or Christmas brunch? 11. Cookies for Santa or Carrots for reindeer? 12. Cinnamon rolls or Pancakes on Christmas morning? ## Christmas movie this or that Movie pairs start the longest arguments. Pair a classic with a newer film so every generation at the table has a side. 1. Home Alone or Elf? 2. The Polar Express or The Santa Clause? 3. A Christmas Story or Christmas Vacation? 4. 1966 Grinch cartoon or 2000 Grinch movie? 5. It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street? 6. The Muppet Christmas Carol or A Charlie Brown Christmas? 7. Rudolph or Frosty the Snowman? 8. Klaus or Arthur Christmas? 9. Die Hard is a Christmas movie or Die Hard is not a Christmas movie? 10. Love Actually or The Holiday? 11. Animated Christmas movie or Live-action Christmas movie? 12. Christmas movie marathon or One movie and bed? ## Decorations and lights 1. White lights or Colored lights? 2. Star on top or Angel on top? 3. Tinsel or Garland? 4. Matching ornaments or Handmade ornaments? 5. Inflatable yard Santa or Simple wreath? 6. Decorate after Thanksgiving or Decorate in mid-December? 7. Twinkling lights or Steady lights? 8. Red and green or Silver and gold? 9. Tree in the window or Tree in the corner? 10. Take decorations down January 1 or Leave them up until February? ## Secret Santa this or that questions Send these this or that Secret Santa questions to everyone after names are drawn. Each answer narrows down what to buy. Copy the pairs into Google Forms or Microsoft Forms, or print the page and hand it out. 1. Mug or Socks? 2. Candle or Plant? 3. Sweet treats or Salty snacks? 4. Gift card or Wrapped surprise? 5. Practical gift or Fun gift? 6. Book or Puzzle? 7. Hot cocoa kit or Coffee beans? 8. Scented or Unscented? 9. Desk gadget or Kitchen gadget? 10. Handmade or Store-bought? 11. Experience or Thing to keep? 12. Funny gift or Sentimental gift? 13. Bright colors or Neutral colors? 14. Lotion or Lip balm? 15. Board game or Card game? ## This or that gift questions and gift ideas Use these this or that gift questions with family before you write a this or that Christmas list. They also give you this or that gift ideas for people who say they want nothing. 1. Stocking stuffers or One big gift? 2. Wrapping paper or Gift bags? 3. Shop early or Shop last minute? 4. Wish list or Surprise me? 5. Giving gifts or Getting gifts? 6. Shop in stores or Shop online? 7. Cozy blanket or Fuzzy slippers? 8. Gadget or Clothes? 9. Name tags on gifts or Guess who it's from? 10. Open one at a time or Everyone opens at once? ## Christmas this or that questions for adults These pairs suit office parties, friend groups and family members old enough to host. 1. Mulled wine or Spiked cocoa? 2. Office party or Friends' party? 3. Host Christmas or Travel for Christmas? 4. White elephant or Secret Santa? 5. Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day feast? 6. Card with a letter or Card with a photo? 7. Visit family or Family visits you? 8. Wrap as you go or Wrapping marathon? 9. Ugly sweater party or Fancy dress party? 10. Spend more on fewer people or Spend less on more people? 11. Christmas music in November or Christmas music from December 1? 12. Leftovers for days or Fresh meal on Boxing Day? ## How to play the Christmas this or that game 1. Pick 15 to 20 pairs from the sections above. Mix food, movies and traditions. 2. Read one pair aloud: "Hot cocoa or Eggnog?" 3. Everyone answers at once by pointing left for the first option or right for the second. 4. Ask one person from the smaller side to defend their pick in one sentence. 5. For a party, give a candy cane to anyone who lands on the losing side alone and still defends it. 6. To get more pairs fast, use the random picker at /this-or-that-generator. It draws one pair at a time. ## How to run a Secret Santa questionnaire this or that style 1. Draw names first, with a hat or Wheel of Names, and set a budget. 2. Copy 10 to 15 of the Secret Santa this or that questions above into a form or onto paper. 3. Add three open lines at the end: favorite snack, favorite color, and "please no". 4. Collect the answers and send each one only to that person's Secret Santa. 5. Give everyone at least one week to shop after the answers come in. ## Tips for this or that questions Christmas edition - Keep pairs balanced. "Gifts or Coal?" has an obvious winner, so nobody argues. - For kids under 7, stick to food, Santa and decoration pairs. Movie pairs only work if they have seen both films. - At work, skip religion and alcohol pairs. Use the traditions, food and decoration pairs. - Use this or that for Christmas cards too. Write one pair inside and ask the reader to text back an answer. - Print the page for a family dinner. The print layout fits the pairs on a few sheets. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Christmas this or that? Christmas this or that is a two-choice question game with a holiday theme, such as "Real tree or Fake tree?" or "Elf or Home Alone?". Families play it at dinner, offices use it at parties, and Secret Santa groups turn it into a gift questionnaire. Each pair takes seconds to answer, and 20 pairs fill about 10 minutes. ### What are good Christmas this or that questions? Good Christmas this or that questions offer two holiday favorites with no clear winner, such as Real tree or Fake tree, Gingerbread cookies or Sugar cookies, and Home Alone or Elf. Mix food, movies and traditions so everyone at the table has a strong opinion on at least a few. ### What are good this or that questions for Secret Santa? Good this or that questions for Secret Santa reveal gift tastes, such as Candle or Plant, Sweet treats or Salty snacks, and Mug or Socks. Use 10 to 15 pairs, then add one open line for allergies and dislikes. The giver gets clues and the gift stays a surprise. ### How do I make a secret santa this or that questionnaire? Copy 10 to 15 pairs from the Secret Santa section into Google Forms, Microsoft Forms or a printed sheet. Add open lines for favorite snack, favorite color and anything to avoid. Send each completed secret santa this or that form only to that person's giver. ### What are the best christmas movie this or that pairs? The best christmas movie this or that pairs match two films people love for different reasons. Home Alone or Elf, The Polar Express or The Santa Clause, and Rudolph or Frosty the Snowman all split a room. "Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?" starts the longest debate. ### Are there christmas this or that questions for adults? Yes. The adults section covers hosting, travel, gift budgets and party pairs such as Mulled wine or Spiked cocoa and White elephant or Secret Santa. Skip the drink pairs at work or when kids are playing. ### How long does a christmas this or that game take? A christmas this or that game with 20 pairs takes about 10 minutes for a group of 8. Add a one-sentence defense from the minority side and it runs closer to 20 minutes. Stop while people still want more. ### How do I use this or that questions christmas style in a classroom? Read one pair each morning in December as a warm-up. Students move to the left or right side of the room to vote. Use food, decoration and Santa pairs, and skip religion so every family feels included. ### Can this or that help me write a Christmas list? Yes. Answer the gift questions section first: Stocking stuffers or One big gift, Gadget or Clothes, Experience or Thing to keep. Your answers show what kind of gifts to put on the list and what to leave off. ### Is there a printable christmas this or that sheet? This page prints cleanly with your browser's Print button, or you can Save as PDF. The site does not host a separate download. For a custom sheet, paste your chosen pairs into Google Docs or Canva and print that.