Christmas gift
A crossword about your family, for after Christmas lunch.
The nativity line Sam forgot, the Monopoly ban, the turkey that came out two hours late. Send us the year's family stories and we turn them into a printable crossword to solve round the table.
Timing
Three Christmas options, three lead times
1–3 days
Made to order. We write the clues from your memories. Allow the full three days after you send your details.
Instant
Make it yourself. Download on Etsy, then write and approve your own clues in our online tool.
From 1 December
Advent calendar. 24 printable puzzles for the whole family, one a day. Instant download.
What to put in it
Ideas for a family Christmas crossword
The year in review
New jobs, new babies, the house move, the holiday. One answer for each big thing that happened to the family this year makes a crossword people will keep.
The traditions
Who reads the cracker jokes, the game that is banned, the film you watch every Christmas Eve, the pudding with the sixpence in it. Everyone at the table will know these, which is what makes them fun.
The people at the table
Give each person one answer: the grandad who is the only one who likes sprouts, the aunt whose mulled wine is too strong. Nobody is left out, and nobody is picked on.
More occasion prompts on the gift ideas page.
Also for December
A printable Advent calendar of 24 puzzles
If you want something for the whole of December rather than one day, our Advent calendar is a single download: 24 puzzle pages (crossword, word search, sudoku, maze, secret message and word scramble), a cover with numbered doors, and an answer key, in A4 and US Letter.
Tips for using a printable calendar with children are in our guide to the printable Advent calendar for families.
Questions
Christmas ordering questions
What is the latest I can order for Christmas Day?
The made-to-order puzzle is normally uploaded to your Etsy order within 1–3 days of receiving your complete details, so order with the full three days in mind; same-day delivery is not guaranteed. The make-it-yourself version is an instant download, and you write the clues yourself in our online tool.
Is anything posted?
No. You receive an A4 PDF and print it yourself, at home or at a print shop, as many times as you like. There is no parcel to wait for in the Christmas post.
Can I send it to family abroad?
Yes, it is a file, so you can print it for them or pass the PDF on for them to print. The puzzle is written in English and laid out for A4 paper.
How many people can solve it at once?
As many as you print copies for. A family grid tends to work well read aloud, with one person holding the pen and everyone else shouting answers.
Is the solution included?
Yes, on page 2. Print it separately and keep it out of sight until the argument about 14 across is settled.
How the clues are written: your memories are turned into clue wording with the help of an AI writing tool, and every clue is read and edited by a person before your puzzle is sent.
Christmas crossword