In recent years my family has grown so large, and each of our incomes have grown so small that it is no longer affordable for each of us to buy a gift for every family member. Still, we wanted to get together and have some kind of gift exchanged so we derived a fun way to do this that did not cost much money, but provides a lot of fun.
We pick a day a week or so before Christmas, and all get together for an evening of playing games, enjoying a nice meal, and just having a nice time. The highlight of the evening has become the gift, not because it is a gift, but because of the way we have chosen to distributed the gifts.
A couple of years ago, we decided not to buy gifts for any of the adults, and instead to make and exchanged a Christmas ornament with one adult during a just for adult Christmas party at one of our homes. We thought about drawing names and decided that doing so did not sound like much fun, so came up with an alternate plan.
We would play a game instead.
When it is time for the gift exchange we all pull chairs into a circle, and we gather with our gift we brought. We select a word. Then someone reads a story and each time the word is read, we pass the gift we are holding to the right. At the end of the story we open the gift that we are holding.
Some years the gifts move about the circle with rapid frequency, other years, they move hardly at all. It is fun to see not only the ornament we receive, but how many times the gifts move.
For those wanting to try a gift exchange using this game here are a few suggestions.
If there are mixed sexes, then it is vital to big a non gender gift, as most women would not be thrilled with a pair of nose hair clippers, and many men would just as soon not get a bottle of rose scented perfume.
The other option is to buy a gift for your own gender and have two circles one for men and for women.
When picking a word, pick a simple word like the, on, in, etc. and these words will be used most often. If you are picking a Christmas story other words, like Santa or sleigh or Christmas may work equally well.
Keep the cost of the gift small, that way the enjoyment will be focused on the game not so much on the gift. This seems to make for a more joyous and fun filled event.
If possible homemade gifts for these occasions are great and this game can serve as an alternative way to hold a cookie or candy party at Christmas time as well.
What I like best about this game is that it can be used with family, friends, co workers, and even church communities and add a bit of holiday cheer to any occasion. Not only does everyone get a gift but a Christmas tale as well.
