15 Christmas Spirit Week Ideas for Work + Daily Themes

Christmas spirit week ideas are themed days and short activities that coworkers can join during the lead-up to the holiday. This list has 15 activities, from an easy color day to paper-building challenges and a company-supplied snack break. Start with the five-day schedule, then swap in the options that fit your team.

Christmas spirit week is a seasonal version of spirit week built from individual spirit days. The schedule can work as a virtual spirit week or lead into one of your holiday party themes, with Christmas games as a shared activity. You may also see it called holiday spirit week, Christmas spirit days, or December theme days.

Make every day optional and offer a paper, desk, or chat alternative to dressing up. Use holiday or winter wording when it better fits the group. The organizer should provide shared materials so participating does not depend on buying a costume or contributing food.

This list includes:

1. Christmas spirit week schedule
2. Christmas spirit week dress-up ideas for work
3. Christmas spirit week ideas for the office
4. Christmas spirit week contests
5. Christmas spirit week games
6. Virtual Christmas spirit week ideas
7. Christmas spirit week charity ideas
8. Hosted Christmas spirit week activities
9. 12 days of Christmas dress-up ideas for work
10. Christmas spirit week ideas for schools
11. How to plan Christmas spirit week

Christmas spirit week schedule

This five-day plan includes one short activity each day. It takes about 70 minutes across the week, excluding the organizer’s setup. Instructions and supplies for each activity appear below.

Christmas spirit week dress-up ideas for work

1. Festive Color Day

Best for: any team, in person or remotely
Time: 5 minutes at the start of a meeting
Materials: An existing accessory or an organizer-supplied colored paper badge.

Pick a simple color theme that people can join without buying an outfit.

1. Announce a choice of red, green, gold, or another color chosen by the group. An accessory, paper badge, or colored object beside a laptop counts.
2. Invite people to show their item at the start of a meeting, or post an optional picture in the week’s channel.
3. Ask three volunteers what they chose and why. Close the round without ranking outfits or recording who participated.

Make it work: For a broader holiday spirit week, let people choose any celebration color. Work uniforms and ordinary clothes can stay as they are.

2. Sweater Remix

Best for: coworkers who enjoy a small craft or dress-up challenge
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: A sweater or a paper sweater outline; reusable paper decorations and removable fasteners.

Make a festive sweater design with things already available, including a paper version for anyone who prefers not to dress up.

1. Provide a simple sweater outline on paper. Participants can decorate the drawing or add removable paper shapes to an existing sweater.
2. Give everyone five minutes to include a star, a repeating pattern, and one unexpected object in the design.
3. Display the designs in person or through photos. Each creator gives the sweater a name; invite a few one-sentence introductions.

Make it work: Skip the “ugliest person/outfit” framing. The fun is in the design, and paper entries should get equal space in the display.

3. Holiday Headwear Studio

Best for: 4–24 people at tables or on a call
Time: 10–12 minutes
Materials: Paper strips, pens, tape, and optional existing hats.

Create a small paper crown, headband, or desk mascot hat with a recognizable theme.

1. Give everyone a paper strip or let them decorate a hat they already own. Offer three themes: snow globe, toy workshop, or festive forest.
2. Allow five minutes to draw and attach paper details. A tiny hat for a mug or desk mascot counts as a complete entry.
3. Share designs in groups of four. Each person gets 30 seconds to explain one detail, then the group takes an optional photo of the objects.

Make it work: Do not require anyone to remove religious headwear, change a uniform, or wear something that interferes with their work.

Christmas spirit week ideas for the office

4. Shared Paper Village

Best for: 6–30 coworkers in groups of 3–5
Time: 20 minutes
Materials: Per group: four sheets of paper, pens, scissors, and tape.

Combine small paper buildings into one seasonal office display.

1. Ask each group to make one freestanding building in eight minutes. It needs a doorway, a window, and a clearly labeled purpose, such as a cocoa kiosk or a toy repair shop.
2. Place the buildings together on a shared table. Each group adds a paper path or sign that connects its building to a neighbor.
3. Invite each group to introduce its building in 30 seconds. Photograph the finished village for remote teammates, who can contribute a drawing to print and add.

Make it work: Keep the display in an agreed shared area. Teams do not need to decorate individual desks or compete for the biggest budget.

5. Greeting Card Studio

Best for: coworkers in person or asynchronously
Time: 12 minutes
Materials: Paper, envelopes if needed, and pens; organizer-supplied materials.

Make a short card for a colleague, a shared team, or the whole group.

1. Offer two starters: “One thing I appreciated this year was…” and “A wish for the team’s next year is…” A general seasonal greeting is welcome too.
2. Give people six minutes to write or draw. They choose whether to deliver privately, contribute to a shared display, or keep the card.
3. Invite three volunteers to read a sentence they are comfortable sharing. Do not count how many cards anyone receives or require a public exchange.

Make it work: If cards are going to a community organization, contact it first about recipients, wording, and delivery instead of sending unsolicited messages.

6. Company-Supplied Snack Break

Best for: 4–40 coworkers, with conversation tables of 4–6
Time: 25 minutes
Materials: Organizer-funded snacks or meal allowance; clear ingredient information from the supplier.

Use one shared break to close the week, with optional employee contributions instead of a daily potluck obligation.

1. Ask about dietary needs privately, choose the food or allowance, and communicate what the company provides. Let people bring their own snack or simply join the conversation.
2. Set up small conversation tables or remote rooms. Offer one opener: “What small discovery from this year would you recommend?”
3. Leave most of the break unstructured. End at the announced time and let volunteers help tidy the shared space.

Make it work: A potluck variation can work when people want it, but do not make bringing homemade food the price of attending.

Christmas spirit week contests

7. Gift Wrap Design Challenge

Best for: 4–24 people in teams of 2–4
Time: 12 minutes
Materials: Identical empty boxes, scrap paper, tape, pens, scissors, and equal lengths of ribbon.

Give every team the same materials and score a clear design brief.

1. Ask teams to wrap one box in six minutes. It must cover the box, include a handmade gift tag, and use the supplied ribbon in a visible decoration.
2. Award one point for each completed requirement, up to three. Do not add an extra speed or spending award.
3. Each team names its design and gives a 20-second introduction. The highest-scoring teams share the win; reuse the boxes and materials afterward.

Make it work: Have one person cut while others plan, fold, write, or hold the paper. A shared design task works better than everyone handling scissors at once.

8. Tabletop Tree Challenge

Best for: 6–30 people in teams of 3–5
Time: 15 minutes
Materials: Per team: six sheets of paper, one meter of tape, pens, and scissors.

Build a freestanding paper tree using a small, equal supply kit.

1. Give teams eight minutes to make a tree. It must stand unsupported for ten seconds, have a paper star, and include three differently shaped decorations.
2. Score one point for standing, one for the star, and one for the three decoration shapes: three points maximum.
3. Walk around to see the designs or show them on camera. Tied teams share the win; each team can explain one construction trick.

Make it work: Offer pre-cut shapes when useful. The contest does not depend on anyone bringing decorations from home.

Christmas spirit week games

9. Stocking Memory Game

Best for: 4–30 people, individually or in teams of 2–5
Time: 8 minutes
Materials: A stocking or opaque bag, a tray, and eight ordinary objects.

A quick memory round works without a blindfold or asking people to identify objects by touch.

1. Prepare a spoon, ribbon, key, pen, paper star, eraser, gift tag, and paper clip. Show them together on a tray for 30 seconds; remote players need a clear overhead view.
2. Move all eight objects into the stocking or bag. Give players 90 seconds to list as many as they remember without talking to other teams.
3. Reveal the objects and award one point for each correct item, up to eight. Accept clear equivalent names, such as “label” for gift tag. Ties share the win.

Make it work: For an audio version, read the eight item names twice before the writing time. Use the same presentation method for everyone in that scored round.

10. Holiday Categories

Best for: 4–30 people in groups of 3–6
Time: 12 minutes
Materials: Paper, pens, and a timer.

Race the clock to fill seasonal categories, then score answers within each small group.

1. Use three categories: something at a party; something you can give; and something you can make from paper. Give everyone 60 seconds to find one answer per category starting with S.
2. Read answers around each table or breakout room. Each valid answer nobody else in that group used earns one point. Agree not to use brand names or proper names.
3. Repeat with C, then P, allowing two minutes for each answer check. Highest total in each group wins; ties share the win.

Make it work: A small group keeps the answer reveal moving. Share one unusual answer with the whole room at the end.

Virtual Christmas spirit week ideas

11. Background Story Day

Best for: 4–24 remote coworkers
Time: 8–10 minutes
Materials: A video call and an optional picture, virtual background, or paper card.

Show a made-up festive setting and tell the group one thing that happens there.

1. Offer three imaginary locations: a snow globe office, a present-sorting space station, or a seaside winter festival.
2. People can use a background image, sketch the scene, or type one sentence. Give two minutes to prepare.
3. In rooms of four, each person has 45 seconds to describe the setting and one surprising feature. No one needs to show their actual room.

Make it work: The idea matters more than the video-call effect. Let participants hold up a drawing or describe the scene with their camera off.

12. Pet or Mascot Portraits

Best for: 4–24 coworkers, remotely or in person
Time: 12 minutes
Materials: Paper, pens, and voluntary pet, toy, or mascot pictures.

Create a festive portrait of an animal or object without requiring a pet or a home visit.

1. Invite volunteers to share a pet, toy, or mascot picture they are happy for the group to see. Supply a few simple animal drawings so everyone has a choice.
2. Give participants five minutes to draw their chosen subject with one festive accessory and one imaginary job.
3. Share in groups of four. Each artist names the subject’s job in 30 seconds. Collect only the pictures people choose to share, and keep the gallery within the group.

Make it work: Use pictures instead of bringing animals to the office. A rubber duck, plant mascot, or imaginary creature fits as well as a pet.

Christmas spirit week charity ideas

13. Community Wish-List Project

Best for: coworkers who opt into a coordinated group project
Time: 15–30 minutes of scheduled work time after advance coordination
Materials: A partner-confirmed list and company-funded supplies or a defined remote task.

Choose a project a community partner has requested, such as sorting donated supplies or preparing an agreed set of materials.

1. Contact the partner before the week. Ask what it needs, what it can accept, the quantity, and the delivery or review deadline.
2. Buy approved supplies through the company or choose a remote task with clear instructions. Offer different roles, including organizing, checking, or delivery coordination.
3. Count completed items or accepted work against the partner’s list. Share a simple update about delivery; personal donations and public participation lists are unnecessary.

Make it work: Skip surprise care packages and unsolicited cards. An organization’s actual request is the starting point.

Hosted Christmas spirit week activities

14. Gingerbread Games

Best for: teams gathering in person for a facilitated decorating event
Time: 90-minute session, plus arrival time
Materials: A booking and the materials and venue arrangements confirmed by the provider.

Gingerbread Games is an in-person option for a main event during the week, with a facilitator and a prepared decorating format.

1. Confirm the date, location, group size, pricing, included materials, and dietary or accessibility questions for the in-person event.
2. Confirm the room setup with the provider. Tell people where to arrive, what will be supplied, and what they need to have ready.
3. Reserve the whole session in the schedule. Keep other spirit-day tasks short on the same day so the main event does not turn into a second workday.

Learn more→

Gingerbread Games

Crown your office's Gingerbread Games champion as you join us for an exciting end-of-year celebration that re-energizes and brings together your team.

In-Person90 min$80 pp 5.0(129)

Make it work: Use the booking confirmation for final duration and inclusions; assign a room contact to coordinate setup.

15. Ultimate Holiday Game Show

Best for: remote teams that want a host-led game session
Time: 90-minute session, plus arrival time
Materials: A booking, video-call access, and the provider’s joining instructions.

Ultimate Holiday Game Show is a virtual event that can replace the DIY game day when the team wants a longer hosted competition.

1. Confirm which format is available for the group and which holiday theme best fits it. Check session length, team arrangements, pricing, and technical needs.
2. Share the joining instructions early and include any requested preparation in the calendar invitation.
3. Let the host run the game and scoring. Finish with a brief thank-you and leave space before the next work commitment.

Learn more→

Ultimate Holiday Game Show

Your favorite game show but with a holiday spin.

Virtual90 min$40 pp 5.0(2,263)

Make it work: Make the facilitated session the main activity of its day. People should not need to attend several separate holiday events to feel included.

12 days of Christmas dress-up ideas for work

If you want a longer December countdown, use these 12 dress-up themes on the working days you choose. This is a workplace theme schedule; it does not need to follow the calendar dates of the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas. Allow any participant to use the paper option instead.

Post the full calendar before the first day, with a reminder that repeating an outfit, choosing the alternative, or skipping a day is fine. Use the three dress-up activities above when you want a five-to-twelve-minute shared reveal.

Christmas spirit week ideas for schools

For schools, adapt the materials and sharing time to the class. Choose themes that fit the school’s calendar and clothing expectations, and provide supplies in the classroom.

Keep the focus on the activity rather than who owns the most elaborate clothes. For a shorter school week, select three days instead of adding multiple tasks to one day. Adults can use the office instructions as written; a classroom may need a longer setup and cleanup window.

How to plan Christmas spirit week

Choose the week, the organizer, and a total time budget first. Then select a balance of clothing-optional themes, a creative task, one game, and a social break. A short daily invitation is enough; attendance or outfit tracking adds administration without helping run the activities.

1. Set the schedule. Check the team’s working days and busy periods. Give each day a start time, end time, and clear way to join.
2. Confirm the budget. List shared craft supplies, any company-provided food, and a hosted booking separately. Tell participants exactly what the organizer supplies.
3. Prepare the remote equivalent. Offer a drawing, chat answer, or small-group call where an office-only activity would exclude remote teammates.
4. Share rules before a contest. Score visible features from the brief, use equal supplies, and allow tied winners.
5. Close the week simply. Invite one favorite moment or useful suggestion. Ask before sharing anyone’s photo beyond the event.

If you are adding a hosted December event, check availability before fixing the rest of the week. In teambuilding.com platform data through August 2026, 62% of December bookings were placed in October or November. This describes booking patterns for December events across the platform, rather than spirit weeks specifically.

For extra prompts, use Christmas icebreakers; for a longer game, choose Christmas trivia. If your team prefers decorating, build the week around a Christmas decorating contest.