Christmas Gift Exchange Ideas

by

Alberta Fisher

1. Have each person or family bring a gift to exchange. At the designated time to exchange gifts have each person or representative from each family select their own gift. They should form a circle holding their gifts. The song, “The Gift Goes On” by Sandy Patti will be played in the background as the gifts are passed from one person to another. Every time the word “on” is used in the song, they should pass their gift to the right. The gift they end up with at the end of the song is theirs to keep.

2. Have each person or family wrap their gifts in green paper and some in red paper according to the first letter of their last name (i.e. A-K bring red, L-Z bring green). Have each person or representative from each family select a number. That is the order in which they may select a gift wrapped in the same color of paper as the one they brought. (For variety, you can go backwards with the numbers.) They can decide whether to take a gift from those displayed or take one already opened. They can only take an opened gift that was wrapped in the same color of paper as theirs.

3. Have each person or family bring a wrapped “white elephant” gift to exchange. Each person or family should be allowed to choose an envelope that contains fake money. The envelopes should contain varying amounts of money so each person/family does not have the same amount. The gift exchange should be conducted like an auction. An auctioneer should be designated. Without knowing the gift’s contents, individuals should bid on the gift. The highest bidder is allowed to keep the gift at the end of the bidding.