We’re bound to come across them sooner or later – so why not prepare for them well in advance? I’m not talking about aliens here; I’m talking about holiday, festivals and special days. We all look forward to those extra special days in Christmas, New Year, Easter, Kwanzaa, Lent, Passover or any number of important religious or national holidays. In anticipation of these days – why not bring out the bingo boards and ramp it up?
Of the many ways to play bingo – and I’m referring to gaming variants as well as bingo themes – none is as exciting as holiday bingo gaming. Let’s take a few seconds to rehash some of the exciting holidays that bingo can accommodate: New Year, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving (for our American friends), Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the like. Now the first thing you’ll want to do is provide the right cards. Bingo cards catering to specific days must look the part, feel the part and act the part. That’s the most important aspect. So when you customize your bingo cards, make sure to have an insert of Father Christmas, Rudolph or the Easter Bunny as a background image.
The themed bingo cards should be accompanied by the mice en scene of a bingo themed holiday game. This includes banners, party favors, flyers, decorations and the like. The milieu must be perfectly synchronized with the purpose of the event. Remember that these ideas can be shared with both kids and adults. I like to include families in these types of bingo-themed activities because it adds to the feel of quality bingo gaming. On the cards themselves you’ll have to use appropriate diction. This includes words specific to the bingo theme. Such ideas for Christmas may include: mistletoe, Rudolph, Santa, Tree, Sled, Huskies, Chimney, Presents, Bible, Turkey and the like.
Folks tend to ask me what game works best with bingo vacation themes. The answer is simple – all of them. It depends on who your audience is and what you’re expecting as an outcome. If it’s fun gaming – then 75 ball or 90-ball bingo will do just fine. Remember that each square on your 5 x 5 bingo grid should feature a unique image or word. If you want to save your cards for the next year then laminate them and hand out whiteboard markers to your guests. This brings me to another point. You may actually use bingo markers related to the theme of the holiday. Instead of the whiteboard marker, why not use little Christmas icons like deer or trees or stocking or candy to cover the bingo numbers on the cards. If you’re looking to save money, then draw the images and then cut them out.
The winning bingo patterns should ideally be vertical lines or horizontal lines – but anything will do nicely. Take this Christmas tree bingo pattern for example:
As I’ve said the options are abundant and you needn’t worry about running out of ideas. You can certainly spice up the games by providing your players with some appropriate holiday-themed prizes to keep things festive.
If you’ve played holiday bingo games, then send me your ideas and suggestions. I’d be more than happy to learn more.
Image credit: laurieyork
This is great post. I like the noel in the picture – is very nice.
Hello there Jerry – I like the idea of celebrating with a bingo theme – is it okay for all festivals or do some religions and groups frown upon this concept?
This was a live-wire Jerry – what a rush!!!!!!!
This is great Jeremy – it took my mind off my problems for 5 minutes
This certainly made my mood lift – not like the commodity markets today.
The test of the Xmas pudding is in the tasting hehehhe
Nice idea. I particularly enjoyed the part about bingo-themed holiday games.
I’m getting excited about the upcoming holidays! Bingo in this festive season will be fabulous!!! I can’t wait for it
You play much bingo in Dallas? I have recently found this bingo blog and it’s very good. It was from the facebook. How you like bingo halls in dallas?
The chihuahua looks nice. It’s going to be won-ton cooking all day happy meal.Bingo make me festive longer!
The pargaon of understanding these issues is right here!
Hello there Augustina, not sure I understand what you mean by Paragon of Understanding? What is that all about? Cool comment though
That Xmas tree is so cool. Inventive minds certainly comprise the bingo playing fraternity. I’m thoroughly impressed by these ideas. Why not generate a 3D holiday bingo article and game card? Santa flying through the bingo clouds? Lol. Nice work.
Thank you readers for you comments. I really appreciate them. Come to think of it we’re not too far away from all the festivities are we? There are many wonderful ideas to consider when you play bingo over the holiday period. Some are certainly worth writing about. The Xmas and Easter ideas are hugely popular, but there are many others too.
Keep sending in your comments and suggestions –
Jeremy
You must be the dude who writes this stuff. You pretty smart – what you spending all your time writing bingo stuff. Run your own site for cash. You got mad skills there.
Finky Dinky – is that your name? – I’m sure he writes this stuff. Who would you think writes this? It’s all unque from what I can tell and i have a keen eye
Those dogs are soooooooooooo cute!
Yes this has been a particular favourite among players. I quite enjoy the feedback from this post. Much appreciated.
ha! lots of time yet before i get to eat the xmas pudding!!!!!!!!!!!
I see this post now – but your latest post is also about the Festive Season – I like the latter one. Merry Christmas!
I’ve just seen your predictions for 2011 and I’m in shock. What a great piece of researched facts and opinion. Great work there and this post is quite cool too.
Are you a writer for prediction mr jeremy? I didn’t see it happening before – its good art to predict
Hi Yolanda,
I see you’re a regular contributor on Bingo-Room
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us,
Much appreciated,
Jeremy Stersky
I love bingo! I eat bingo balls!
Yeehaw!!!!!!!!!!!
Come to Jeebuz
and drink red wine and get to the store and play bingo!!!
You are so funny!!! Nobody can eat bingo balls because they are for the bingo caller (lol)
Famous Amos!!! I love it. Keep writing you are cool
Shalom to all from Israel!!!
I love it! that’s good times there
Great to hear it Jack! Keep on gaming and the prizes will keep on coming.
This is a Xmas tree! You have a Hanukah M’norah?
Those little pooches are really cute.I’ve got a cat in New Zealand. Don’t know what I’d do without my cat!
Great article here – I enjoyed reading the content. The pictures on your blog posts are very good too. Do you take them yourself?