How to Host a Christmas Ornament Swap

White elephant Christmas parties too often end with co-workers and friends going home with Dollar Store fare that will ultimately end up in the trash. Instead of trying to limit a gift swap to an unrealistic $5, and having the same white elephant gifts from last year's Christmas party re-gifted for this year, consider a more realistic ornament swap.

The ornament swap can easily be instituted as your new company Christmas tradition or as an economical alternative to purchasing large gifts for friends and acquaintances. Often when shoppers search aimlessly for a $5 gift they end up with low-quality merchandise that no one else really wants, like cheap, off-brand lotions, discount candles and tacky picture frames. That's the problem with the white elephant Christmas office party. However, send a shopper with $5 and specific type of gift in mind and they are much more successful. Christmas ornaments are already on a lower price bracket especially during holiday sales.

Also, the ornament swap can be modified for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or non-religious holiday celebrations depending on what type of ornaments are purchased. Even though the Christmas tree is not a tradition in other religious holidays, many people still put up a tree or similar holiday décor with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa ornaments.

You can also use the holiday ornament swap as a chance to explore cultures and Christmas celebrations around the world. If you have a highly diverse work-place, encourage co-workers to bring an ornament that reflects their national heritage, holiday celebrations from their religion or culture, or even just another state.

First, send an invitation or post an announcement for friends and co-workers to let them know about the ornament swap. Post the price limit, $5 or $10, and your specifications on whether the ornaments should be wrapped or open.

Next, when you plan the office party or your home Christmas get-together, set aside a period of 10 to 15 minutes for the Christmas ornament swap. Have guests place their ornaments, wrapped or open, in a designated location, like a large basket or decorated table, as they arrive.

When the time comes, have all participants in the ornament swap sit in a circle, around a table or on the floor. Pass out an ornament at random to each guest.

Prepare a story using the terms "right" and "left" frequently. You can find a Christmas themed story at Santalady.com (the "right/left game") or be creative and write your own. Use the names of co-workers and friends. Have Santa visit your office and let your favorite secretary save Christmas. Make your story funny and include as many names of co-workers as you can, along with as many "lefts" and "rights" as you can work in.

For example, you might read, "Hannah was RIGHTfully upset when she saw Santa had LEFT without his bag of gifts. He was RIGHT to hurry to his sleigh, but had LEFT the gifts behind. She LEFT the office running RIGHT after him with the bag of toys RIGHT on her shoulder."

Each time you read the term "left" or "right" guests must pass their ornament to that direction. Keep them guessing until the story finishes. Whichever ornament the guests have is the one they get to keep.