Christmas Who Am I? Game — 20 Character Clues
The "Who Am I?" game is one of the simplest and most entertaining party games you can play during the holiday season. No boards, no cards, no apps required — just read the clues and guess the character.
Each character below has 3 to 4 clues that go from vague to specific. The earlier you guess correctly, the more points you earn. We recommend awarding 4 points for a correct guess after the first clue, 3 after the second, 2 after the third, and 1 after the fourth.
How to Play
- Read-aloud version: One person reads the clues one at a time. After each clue, players can buzz in or write down their guess. Reveal the answer after all clues are read.
- Headband version: Tape a character name to each player's forehead. They ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who they are. Use the clues below as hints if someone gets stuck.
- Team version: Split into teams. One person from each team sees the character name and gives the clues (in their own words) to their teammates. First team to guess wins the point.
Characters 1-5: The Classics
Character #1
- I have been around for centuries, and my look has changed many times throughout history.
- I employ a large workforce and am known for my management of a major annual logistics operation.
- I keep a detailed list that I check twice, and I have a fondness for cookies and milk.
- I travel by sleigh on the night of December 24th, visiting homes around the world.
Who Am I?
Santa Claus. Also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and many other names around the world. The modern image of Santa was shaped by various artists and writers, with Coca-Cola's 1930s advertising campaigns helping to popularize the red-suited, white-bearded version we know today.
Character #2
- I was born different from everyone else around me, and I was teased because of it.
- My most famous feature would be considered a flaw by most, but it turned out to be my greatest strength.
- I was immortalized in a song written by Johnny Marks in 1949.
- My glowing red nose lights the way on foggy Christmas Eves.
Who Am I?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolph was created by Robert L. May in 1939 as part of a coloring book for the Montgomery Ward department store. The famous song came later in 1949, sung by Gene Autry, and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Character #3
- I came to life unexpectedly and brought joy to a group of children.
- A law enforcement officer once chased me through town.
- I have a corncob pipe, a button nose, and two eyes made out of coal.
- I promised "I'll be back again someday" before I melted away.
Who Am I?
Frosty the Snowman. Frosty first appeared in the 1950 song by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, made famous by Gene Autry. The beloved 1969 Rankin/Bass animated TV special brought the character to life for generations of children. The magic silk hat brought him to life, and a traffic cop chased him down the street.
Character #4
- I live in a place that overlooks a joyful community, but I want nothing to do with their celebrations.
- My heart is famously undersized — specifically, two sizes too small.
- My only companion is a loyal dog named Max.
- I tried to steal Christmas from the Whos in Whoville, but the holiday came just the same.
Who Am I?
The Grinch. Created by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) in the 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The character has been portrayed in a 1966 animated special (voiced by Boris Karloff), a 2000 live-action film (Jim Carrey), and a 2018 animated film (Benedict Cumberbatch).
Character #5
- I am a fictional British businessman created by a famous Victorian author.
- I once said "Bah! Humbug!" and I underpay my loyal clerk.
- I was visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve who showed me my past, present, and future.
- After my night of ghostly visitors, I became the most generous man in London.
Who Am I?
Ebenezer Scrooge. The central character of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. His clerk is Bob Cratchit, father of Tiny Tim. The three spirits — the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come — transform Scrooge from a miser into a kind and generous man.
Characters 6-10: Movie & TV Favorites
Character #6
- I was raised by people much shorter than me and never quite fit in.
- I traveled to a big city to find my biological father, who did not know I existed.
- I am famous for my love of sugar — especially syrup on spaghetti.
- I was played by Will Ferrell and my catchphrase is "I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite."
Who Am I?
Buddy the Elf. From the 2003 movie Elf, directed by Jon Favreau. Buddy was a human baby who crawled into Santa's sack, was raised by elves at the North Pole, and then traveled to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs (played by James Caan).
Character #7
- I am a young boy who was left behind by my family during the holiday season.
- I am resourceful, creative, and surprisingly good at building booby traps.
- I defended my home against two bumbling burglars known as the Wet Bandits.
- My name is Kevin, and I was played by Macaulay Culkin.
Who Am I?
Kevin McCallister. From the 1990 movie Home Alone, directed by Chris Columbus. Eight-year-old Kevin was accidentally left behind when his large family rushed to catch a flight to Paris for Christmas. He defended the house against burglars Harry and Marv with an elaborate series of traps.
Character #8
- I am the king of my own holiday, but I became obsessed with someone else's.
- I am very tall, very thin, and I wear a pinstripe suit.
- I tried to take over Christmas with good intentions but terrible results.
- I am the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, created by Tim Burton.
Who Am I?
Jack Skellington. From the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas, produced by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick. Jack is the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town who stumbles upon Christmas Town and becomes enchanted, ultimately kidnapping "Sandy Claws" and trying to run Christmas himself.
Character #9
- I am a small child with a big heart who has a famous catch phrase about a blessing.
- I use a crutch to walk, and my family struggles financially.
- My father works for one of the stingiest men in London.
- I say "God bless us, every one!" and my fate depends on whether Scrooge changes his ways.
Who Am I?
Tiny Tim. The youngest son of Bob Cratchit in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol (1843). Despite his illness and disability, Tiny Tim is cheerful and kind. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge a future where Tiny Tim has died, which helps motivate Scrooge's transformation.
Character #10
- I am a legendary winter figure known for nipping at your nose.
- I am associated with freezing temperatures, frost patterns on windows, and icy landscapes.
- I have appeared in songs, poems, and movies as a personification of cold weather.
- Nat King Cole sang about me, and I have been portrayed as both a mischievous sprite and a villain.
Who Am I?
Jack Frost. A personification of cold weather, frost, and winter. The character appears in folklore from many cultures. "Jack Frost nipping at your nose" comes from "The Christmas Song" (1945), written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells and made famous by Nat King Cole.
Characters 11-15: Beloved Holiday Figures
Character #11
- I am not human, and I have a very famous nose — but it is not red.
- I live at the North Pole and was originally created for a department store's holiday promotion.
- I sit on a shelf and watch children during the holiday season, reporting back nightly.
- Children are told never to touch me or I will lose my magic.
Who Am I?
The Elf on the Shelf. Created by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell in their 2005 book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. The elf serves as a scout for Santa, watching children during the day and flying back to the North Pole each night to report on behavior.
Character #12
- I am a wooden figure that has been a Christmas decoration in Germany since the 17th century.
- I am a soldier or king with a large mouth that opens and closes to crack nuts.
- Tchaikovsky composed a famous ballet about me in 1892.
- In the ballet, I fight the Mouse King and take a girl named Clara to the Land of Sweets.
Who Am I?
The Nutcracker. Wooden nutcracker figures shaped like soldiers originated in the Erzgebirge region of Germany. The story was written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816 as The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, and Tchaikovsky's ballet premiered in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.
Character #13
- I am a woman who bakes constantly and runs a tight operation at the North Pole.
- I am married to the most famous man in the world — at least on December 25th.
- I keep things organized while my husband focuses on toy delivery.
- I am often depicted as a cheerful, rosy-cheeked woman in a red dress and apron.
Who Am I?
Mrs. Claus. The wife of Santa Claus first appeared in print in the 1849 short story "A Christmas Legend" by James Rees. She became a more prominent character through various stories and songs throughout the 20th century and is now an essential part of Christmas lore.
Character #14
- I am a young girl who receives a special gift on Christmas Eve.
- I fall asleep under a Christmas tree and enter a magical dream world.
- I watch a battle between toy soldiers and mice.
- I travel to the Land of Sweets with a prince who was once a wooden toy.
Who Am I?
Clara. The heroine of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet. On Christmas Eve, Clara receives a nutcracker doll from her godfather Drosselmeyer. That night, she dreams of a battle, and the Nutcracker transforms into a prince who takes her to the Kingdom of Sweets.
Character #15
- I am a real historical figure who lived in the 4th century in what is now Turkey.
- I was known for my generosity, especially to children and the poor.
- Legend says I once dropped gold coins down a chimney, which landed in stockings hung to dry.
- I am the original inspiration for Santa Claus, and my feast day is December 6th.
Who Am I?
Saint Nicholas. Nicholas of Myra was a Christian bishop in the 4th century, born around 270 AD in Patara (modern-day Turkey). He was famous for his generosity. The Dutch brought the tradition of "Sinterklaas" to America, which eventually evolved into "Santa Claus."
Characters 16-20: Deeper Cuts
Character #16
- I am a stop-motion animated character who learns an important lesson about fitting in.
- I want to be a dentist, not what everyone expects me to be.
- I befriend a famous reindeer who also feels like a misfit.
- My name is Hermey, and I am an elf in the 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special.
Who Am I?
Hermey the Elf. From the 1964 Rankin/Bass stop-motion TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Hermey does not fit in at Santa's workshop because he wants to be a dentist instead of making toys. He runs away and teams up with Rudolph and Yukon Cornelius on their adventure.
Character #17
- I am a mean one, and I am as cuddly as a cactus according to a famous song.
- I was a villain in a holiday story, but I also appeared in my own sequel adventures.
- I have termites in my smile and garlic in my soul.
- Boris Karloff narrated my story, and a famous song describes me with a "greasy black peel."
Who Am I?
The Grinch (as described in the song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"). The song was written by Dr. Seuss (lyrics) and Albert Hague (music) for the 1966 animated special. It was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft, though he was not credited on screen. The song is often mistakenly attributed to Boris Karloff, who narrated the special.
Character #18
- I am an angel who has not yet earned my wings.
- I was sent to Earth on a special mission on Christmas Eve.
- I showed a desperate man what the world would be like if he had never been born.
- My name is Clarence, and I appear in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
Who Am I?
Clarence Odbody. The guardian angel (Angel Second Class) from Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, played by Henry Travers. Clarence is sent to help George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) on Christmas Eve and earns his wings by showing George how much his life has meant to others.
Character #19
- I am a ghost, and I am the first of three supernatural visitors in a famous story.
- I resemble a strange child-like figure with a bright light shining from my head.
- I take a bitter old man on a journey through his memories.
- I am the Ghost of Christmas Past from A Christmas Carol.
Who Am I?
The Ghost of Christmas Past. The first of the three spirits to visit Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. Described as a strange figure resembling both a child and an old person, with a jet of light springing from the crown of its head. It shows Scrooge scenes from his earlier life, including happier times and moments of regret.
Character #20
- I am a prospector and adventurer who lives in the frozen north.
- I travel with a team of sled dogs and I am always searching for silver and gold.
- I befriended a misfit reindeer and a wannabe dentist on their journey.
- I licked my pickaxe to test for precious metals, and I helped defeat the Abominable Snow Monster.
Who Am I?
Yukon Cornelius. The prospector from the 1964 Rankin/Bass special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He befriends Rudolph and Hermey during their adventure and helps them face the Abominable Snow Monster (Bumble). He is always throwing his pickaxe into the air and licking it to prospect for silver and gold.
Scoring Guide
For the read-aloud version, use this point system:
- Correct guess after Clue 1: 4 points
- Correct guess after Clue 2: 3 points
- Correct guess after Clue 3: 2 points
- Correct guess after Clue 4: 1 point
- No correct guess: 0 points
Maximum possible score: 80 points (if you guess every character after the first clue). A score of 40 or above is excellent. Below 20, you might need to watch more Christmas movies this season.
Tips for Game Hosts
Read each clue slowly and clearly. Pause for a few seconds between clues to give players time to think. If playing with teams, you can have each team write their guess on a whiteboard after each clue and reveal simultaneously to prevent copying.
For younger children, skip the harder characters (like Clarence, Ghost of Christmas Past, and Yukon Cornelius) and stick to the more recognizable ones like Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, and the Grinch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play the Christmas Who Am I game?
Read the clues aloud one at a time. Players try to guess the Christmas character after each clue. Award more points for guessing correctly after fewer clues — for example, 4 points after the first clue, 3 after the second, 2 after the third, and 1 after the fourth.
What age group is the Christmas Who Am I game for?
This game works for ages 8 and up. Younger children will recognize popular characters like Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty, while older players will enjoy the more challenging characters from classic films and literature.
Can I use the Who Am I game at a Christmas party?
Absolutely. The Who Am I game is perfect for Christmas parties, family gatherings, classroom activities, and office events. You can play it as a group guessing game or tape character names to people's foreheads and have them ask yes-or-no questions.
How many players do you need for the Christmas Who Am I game?
You can play with as few as 2 people or as many as you like. For larger groups, divide into teams and have them compete to guess the character first. The game scales easily to any group size.