Christmas Gift Exchange

Defining the Concept

Although it can be considered a “Christmas gift exchange” any time two people give each other gifts during the holiday season, talk of gift exchanges usually centers on coordinated efforts, usually within a family, a group of friends, or a place of employment. Gift exchanges are often set up to save money and time. Instead of feeling obligated to buy gifts for a large number of people, participants in an exchange agree that each individual will buy a gift for one designated person. The gifts are then traded at a lunch, party, or other special event.

Christmas Gift Exchange Options

Trading Names

This is the simplest of Christmas gift exchanges. Everyone places their names in a hat or bowl and takes turns picking a name. Each person must then buy a gift for the name he or she chooses. If there are enough people, some groups prefer to have men pick the names of other men and women pick the names of other women, usually with the idea that it's easier to select gifts for someone of the same gender. There is no secrecy, and participants may even provide wish lists to those who selected their names.

Secret Santa

One popular form of Christmas gift exchange is the Secret Santa gift exchange. It works like trading names, except the participants don't reveal the names they selected, and it usually involves exchanging a series of small gifts during the week before Christmas. However, since it's a secret, you must find clever ways to deliver these gifts without revealing your identity. Some groups leave clues with each daily gift and make guessing the identity of your Secret Santa part of the fun. This idea works best in workplaces and schools, because spending time in the same place on a daily basis is key to a successful Secret Santa exchange.

White Elephant

In a white elephant gift exchange, each person contributes one wrapped gift. In many cases, these gifts will be gag gifts, like an ugly knickknack from around the house or a dollar-store toy. The rules of the exchange can vary from group to group, but the basic idea involves the following steps:

• Participants select an order, either through drawing numbers or some other method.
• The first person chooses one of the wrapped gifts and unwraps it.
• The second person can choose the first person's gift or a wrapped gift. If he or she chooses the first person's gift, the first person must then select another wrapped gift.
• The third person can choose either of the two previously opened gifts or a wrapped gift, and so on down the line.
• An additional round of trades may be performed.
• It's also possible to leave the gifts wrapped throughout the entire exchange, adding to the fun of deciding which gifts are worth trading.

While it's all in good fun, a white elephant exchange can quickly become a game of strategy. Participants will wrap their packages so as to conceal the true nature of the gifts, and plot out ways to claim the “best” gifts.

Gift Exchange Hints

Some helpful tips to remember when setting up a Christmas gift exchange include:

• Designate a gift exchange coordinator. From setting any rules to getting everyone in one place for the final gift exchange, having one person in charge of the planning will make sure your Christmas gift exchange goes smoothly.
• Set a price limit. You don't want to break anyone's budget, but you should also be reasonable. It can be difficult to find a gift for less than $5.
• Make participation optional. If someone doesn't celebrate Christmas or just doesn't feel like being part of a gift exchange, he or she should never feel pressured to participate.
• Have fun with it. If your Secret Santa forgets you one day, or you realize you spent less than someone else on a gift, don't worry about it.
• If you're participating in a gift swap, think carefully before giving gifts outside of the swap. If you've agreed to take part in a Christmas gift exchange between friends and family members, then it more or less defeats the purpose of the exchange to buy additional gifts for a few of the participants.