Christmas Party Funtime

Each and every Christmas season, families hussle and bustle to and from parties, malls, and homes. Everyone is so active in the whole idea of Christmas, they are buying presents, baking goodies, and entertaining. As well as going to parties, get togethers, planned events, and any other form of entertainment celebrating the occasion.

I regularly try and find some events for my family to enjoy together, during Christmas. I think it is important to share in the joyous festivities. Some times people are overwhelmed so much, that they cannot or don't find the time enjoy. Most people run around, "like a chicken with its head cut off." They are worried about money, and time to do or have for things that are either requested, or expected from them.

I tend to do all. I stress over time to buy gifts, money with which to buy, and time to spend doing more things than normal.

I do like the game Dirty Santa. I have been several places and this game was played slightly different each time. It is a game where to get you have to get.

Everyone is told to purchase and wrap a gift of their chosing for anyone in general. Some times you are given specific gender to buy for, or a certain theme to buy from. My church choses to let you pick what you want , as long as it is the price range in mind. You have the option of bringing one or more gifts. Each gift you bring, can increase your chances of getting more gifts.

The rules of the game, vary. But my church plays it this way. You are given a ticket, with a number on it. Someone has put numbers on all the gifts before hand, and you will have a corresponding number. You are to take your turns according to your numbers order. When chosen you are allowed to get a gift up front where they lay. You have to get the corresponding number.

Here is where things get comical. Now if you are the second, or third, or any other number than one, you can take a gift that has been taken by another member.

Of course, this gift will be opened, and someone will either like it or not. The tricky part is, your order in the scheme of things. If say you were fourth place, you can chose second, third or even the first person's gift. Now by choosing this you will not get to go up front and get that gift. Something new, maybe even better than what has alrady been presented.

Now if you think you can sneakingly hide your liked gift, from others, it is not allowed or even possible.

Everyone will make sure that is not a problem. You will have to unwrap your gift in front of everyone. Also you will have to keep the gift where everyone can see it, at ALL TIMES. Bummer.

My children tried real hard last year to keep somethings they had, but the Adults were slicker than that, they always came around, and explored their options, thus making it hard to hide anything from other's peering eyes.

This onetime I can recall, my daughter chose a very beautiful, huge, musical globe. Inside was little mouse figurines, in a poetic scene. The globe had falling snow, when it was wound, and even rotated.

It was hard to try and hide this gift, but my child tried.

I was amazed at one particuliar person who knowing that my daughter really wanted this, just came up to my daughter and took it right from her. Now this appeared cruel to me, for an instance. It surely made my daughter upset. She did not say anything but I just knew her thoughts.

On that note, sometimes children cannot grasp the SPIRIT of this game. So I would suggest you explain the rules totally before hand. To avoid mad or sad children, you probably should make sure that there is gifts specially marked with their age in mind, for them to chose from.

I hope you get together with family and friends this year, and this season. Suggest this game for others to plan. It will be a good tradition to start.

It brings everyone together, and the moents you share are priceless.