Christmas Gift Exchange Game

Aunt Cora's Holiday Party Gift Exchange Game

If you have a family party and must do gifts for the adults, try this game.  It is hilarious and everyone will have a lot of fun.  We play using the rules below which work for us.  It is our variation of the White Elephant Gift Exchange game.  We do not keep it a secret as to who brought the gift as it feels very good to bring either the most coveted gift or the most bizarre one.

Set a dollar limit for each participant to bring a gift of no greater than that value, it can be less.  Tell them they can bring anything.  The gifts can be used, homemade or purchased, this is what can make the game so fun.

Each participant will bring a gift.  Place all of the gifts under the tree or in another designated area of the room where you will be playing.  When it is time to play, put all of the names in a hat (or bowl or some other container).  The hostess or host draws the first name and that person chooses a gift and opens it for all to see.  Then the first person draws a second name from the hat and he or she chooses a wrapped gift, opens it for all to admire and choose the next name.  Repeat this until all of the names are called and there are no gifts remaining to unwrap.  Keep the names you draw in a pile because they will be used again.

Now the fun part, put all of the names back in the hat and the last person to choose a gift in round one, draws a name again.  This person may keep their gift or "steal" the gift of someone else by trading their gift for the one they desire.  Once their turn is complete, they draw another name and the next person can "steal" and trade another gift or keep their original gift.  If they opt to keep the gift it can still be stolen until all of the rounds are complete.  We usually play two rounds.