Many of our readers include gift giving in their celebrations. Although the methods of giving vary, all involve modestly priced presents: the real fun is in the exchange itself.
The Gift-swap Circle Game
Dalliene Jessop's Orem, Utah, neighbors get together for a frenzied game of present passing. "There's a lot of laughter," says Dalliene. Just get a pair of dice for every four players and follow these instructions:
1. Gather the whole gang into a circle and place the wrapped presents in the center.
2. Pass out a set of dice to every fourth person.
3. At "Go," guests start rolling the dice; when a player rolls a double, he snags a gift and hands the dice to the player on his left. Continue rolling until everyone in the circle has a gift in hand. Don't unwrap them yet!
4. Now set a timer for 5 minutes and, at "Go," resume play. In this round, guests who roll doubles get to exchange gifts with anyone they choose.
5. When the timer goes off, the gift in your hand is the one you open.
The Homemade Ornament Exchange
On Cape Cod, Massachusetts, residents of Falmouth come out the first weekend of December to stroll the streets, carol, and light the town Christmas tree at the village green. This annual event spawned another tradition among the neighbors of Johnson Street. "Weeks before the town celebration, families get together and craft homemade ornaments," says resident Connie Bartelson. After the walk through town, Johnson Streeters gather at one house to hand out ornaments and indulge in dessert and hot drinks. Everyone goes home with a handful of mementos, from seashell angels to cinnamon stars.
Secret Friends
Sheri Rarick and friends gather for a traditional progressive dinner topped off with a kids' gift swap. Then, after all the presents have been distributed, each of the kids picks a secret friend for the coming year by dipping into a hat and pulling out the name of another child at the party. On various holidays throughout the year, the children furtively deliver small gifts to their secret friends, leaving them on doorsteps and even sneaking them into bedrooms. "All year long, the kids have great fun trying to guess who their secret friends are," says Sheri. The big disclosure comes at the next progressive dinner, when gift givers reveal their identities. Then it's time to start all over again.
