Game On – Gift Swapping Fun

Cynthia Lopinto Feature Article Leave a comment 2,660 Views

By CYN LoPINTO
Editor-in-chief, gerontologist

Many friends, families and co-workers will celebrate the holiday season by taking part in a gift exchange activity. Some will pick names in what is known as a “Secret Santa” swap. Many of us remember this from our grammar school days. This is where participants buy a small present for the person whose name is chosen and givers remain anonymous. A lot of offices and workplace environments participate in this type of holiday gift giving. There is usually a small price limit here so everyone can afford to be a part of the festivities.

Others will have fun in one of the many variations of the gift swap party game. The most popular gift swap game is the “white elephant game.” Here your gift is usually an inexpensive useless item that is more funny than desirable. According to online site Phrase Finder, the term “white elephant” is defined as, “a burdensome possession; creating more trouble than it is worth.” It is said to come out of Thailand because of the extra resources needed to care for albino elephants. These creatures were believed to be holy and needed special food and attention. Kings would give these white elephants as gifts to those who displeased them. It was the ultimate way to get back at their enemies.

In a typical white elephant swap, participants bring a wrapped gift and place it with the other wrapped gifts brought to the party. Each player is given a number and in that order, begin picking packages. A player can either open a gift or steal one from another player. If your gift is stolen, you either open a new gift or steal from another player. The game goes on until the last person is done. Other variations involve limitations on stealing and allowing the unfortunate “player #1” to steal a gift.

If you aren’t a fan of the white elephant game, you may like some of the gift swapping games which involve dice. We have played these with both friends and family and are lots of fun. These games go by different names such as dog party, dirty dice or gift grab dice games. Here participants also bring a wrapped gift to the party and place it in the middle of a circle. Wrapping you gift with pizzazz or in a funny way makes it even better. You will need a pair of six-sided dice placed in an open container that can be easily passed around. You may want more than one container with dice if you have a lot of people playing. You pass around the dice and if a player rolls a double, 7 or 11, they can choose a gift (some versions only allow doubles to pick a gift but that can take a lot of time). You do not open gifts in this round. This round continues until all gifts are gone. You can take a break, get some food and drink before round two.

Round two is when people go around the circle and take turns opening gifts. This is when the laughter begins. Players are getting the first look at what ridiculous items fellow players brought. It works best trying to remain anonymous on what you brought, but can be difficult as people start taking guesses. Once all gifts are open, you have time for another break before round three.

A timer is set for round three. You can use an actual timer or phone for this. It is more fun if guests have no idea how long the timer is set for. Depending on the number of people playing, it is usually set between 5 and 15 minutes. Dice are quickly passed around and if doubles, a 7 or 11 are rolled, players have two choices. They can either steal a gift from another player or get rid of a “dog’ gift to someone else. This round is much faster with players not knowing when the timer will ring as they try to get the gift they want or unload a bad gift to someone else. When the timer goes off, everyone is stuck with what they have.

The greatest thing about these games is that everyone is sitting together and having fun. Our family has done this for our Thanksgiving party to get everyone in the mood for the upcoming December gift giving season. The best part is coming up with a gift that will make others laugh and wrapping it in an eye-catching way. If you are hosting, you may want to have some extra gifts on hand for those who don’t bring anything or uninvited guests who show up last minute. That way everyone can have fun participating. These games are the perfect way to celebrate the joy of having friends and family in your life during this special time of year.

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Cynthia Lopinto

Cyn LoPinto, M.A. is a gerontologist focusing on significant issues affecting older adults and their families. Her areas of interest include lifestyle enrichment, family dynamics, and caregiver support. Cyn has worked in both the recreational and healthcare industries.