How to Have a Holiday Gift Swap

This exciting gift-swapping game will liven up any holiday party or get-together.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gag Hats
• Ribbons
• Loud Neckties
• Socks
• Candies
• Fruitcakes
• CDs
• Gift Certificates
• Paper And Pencils

1. Play this gift-swapping game with as few as six people and as many as fifty.

2. Tell each person to bring a gift in a certain price range. The gift should be attractively wrapped with no name tag.

3. Place the gifts in the center of the room or in a place where they can easily be seen by all.

4. Assign numbers to all players. Place pieces of paper with numbers on them in a hat so that there is a number for each person playing.

5. Begin the game by drawing a number. Let the player assigned that number begin.

6. Have that first player select a gift, unwrap it and show it to the other players.

7. Draw another number. Let the player with this number take a turn.

8. Have this second player either choose a gift from the pile or take the gift from the first player. If he takes the gift from the first player, have the first player select and open another gift.

9. Understand that when subsequent players take their turns, they select a new gift or take a gift from any of the other players. Have any player who has a gift taken away either choose a new gift or take an already-opened gift from another player.

10. Realize that, if a gift is taken from someone during one round, he cannot take it back during that same round. He can, however, take it back in a later round if he's in a position to select a gift.

11. Recognize that, once a specific gift has been in someone's possession three times, it is retired; it is his to keep, and he is out of the game.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many names for this game; one of the most popular is Yankee Swap.
• Many laughs abound as players try to conceal their "good" gifts or encourage players to take their "bad" gifts.
• You will see some gifts return to the swap year after year in hilarious, desperate efforts to get rid of them.
• Some undesirable gifts that liven up the game are fruitcakes, ugly socks, gag hats and loud ties. Popular gifts include bottles of wine, candy, CDs, gift certificates and books.

on 12/19/2005 When it's your turn, pick an item that is better than the item you bought. This way, you come out ahead.

on 11/22/2005 My extended family does this now at our family Christmas get-together. It is so much better than buying a dozen people separate gifts, and is a really fun game! Even the kids play along! Last year my hubbie had brought an expensive bottle of wine in a pretty wine bag. No one looked closely, and everyone thought it was a bottle of bubble bath, so they passed it round and round. It was a great surprise to the person who ended up with a really nice wine!