Secrete Santa (The Left-Right Christmas Game: Pass It On!)

The game begins with children sitting in a circle holding a gift. Then someone reads a poem or story with many occurrences of the words “left” and “right.” Participants follow these verbal cues, passing gifts to their left or right until the story ends and each person keeps the gift they’re holding.

Twas the night before Christmas when RIGHT through the house, Not a creature was LEFT stirring, not even a mouse–The stockings were hung RIGHT by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled RIGHT snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums danced RIGHT in their heads. And mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled RIGHT down for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the LEFT lawn there rose such a clatter, I sprang RIGHT from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I LEFT like a flash; Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow LEFT a luster of midday to objects RIGHT below. When what to my wandering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver RIGHT lively and quick I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came And he whistled and shouted and called them by name, “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder, on Blitzen!

To the RIGHT top of the porch! To the LEFT top of the wall! Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!” As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly When they meet RIGHT with an obstacle, mount RIGHT up to the sky.

So up on the housetop the courses they flew, With a sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too. And then in a twinkling, I heard RIGHT on the roof, The prancing and pawing of each little RIGHT and LEFT hoof.

As I drew in my head and was turning around Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head RIGHT to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung RIGHT on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes– how they twinkle! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn RIGHT up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held RIGHT tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircles his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook, when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a RIGHT jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his LEFT eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but he went straight RIGHT to his work, And filled all the stockings, turned LEFT with a jerk, And laying his LEFT finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod up the chimney he rose; He sprang RIGHT to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove RIGHT out of sight, “HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!”