We always have the ornament exchange. I much prefer a gift since my tree is ornament specific. I usually buy what I like and if I don't see anything else I a try to get my ornament back. Sometimes I chicken out and don't. Especially if the one that got it really likes it. One time they caught on to what I did and they kept stealing it from me. All done in love though and they got a big kick out of it.

Our family does a little $2.00 gift exchange which is fun and then we sit down at a large table and start a puzzle that goes on all day with people dropping in and out as they wish. Very family friendly and comfortable for us

This year will be our 27th Smith festival. Every year we have it at one of three houses (there are three brothers and their wives.) With all the grandchildren now and some of their girl and boyfriends we have about 30 people. We always exchange what we call "funny gifts" and it is a hoot. Everyone brings a predetermined number of gifts (determined by the host and hostess for that year.) Never more than five per person and only three this year. I love games but, and this is a big BUT, we have a nephew who wants to play that thing where you pick a package from the pile and then he has everyone "hand it to the left, now hand it to the right, now hand it to the left", etc and it goes on forever. I absolutely hate that game, it takes up so much of our visiting time and it can take two hours to just open the funny gifts. When it is at our house we make the rules and don't play that annoying game.

We are a large family and spread all over the country, instead of exchanging names we have the people with children bring a small gift for each of their own children. This way if someone can not make it each child that is there still gets a gift. We do a womens gift swap(dirty Santa) But guys hate it so they all throw a given amount of money into a pot and they split it into three equal piles. and draw cards for the 3 highest cards and the highest cards win the pots. The guys like it , the kids love it because their parents know what they like and the women usually go along, most participate, but not all and know one cares if some do not play.

My oldest daughter, who hosts our family Christmas party, always wants to do a gag gift exchange. Everyone else hates it and would rather visit and play games. This year everyone is going to stick to their guns at Thanksgiving and say no one wants to exchange gifts at Christmas. It will be interesting to see what happens.

We have given it up, simply because some of the family members can't afford it...but the last few years we did it, we picked a letter, and all the gifts had to start with that letter. It's a challenge, and makes you think a bit. We had a $10 limit. The gift I gave for "Q" year was a quart crock jar with Quick Pick lottery tickets...my niece got $7.00 from the tickets, and keeps some cooking utensils in the jar! We have one of the kids pick a letter for the next year, and you can think about it. I got the idea from a friend who's family started with A, and proceeded through the alphabet.

Update. Due to the family gathering possibly interfering with some who have to work on Monday....the swap as been cancelled. No, I did not suggest it either. people will be dropping in at different times.

Sandy

Glad the situation settled itself... our family has had a dirty Santa t-shirt exchange with funny t-shirts. Everyone ends up with a shirt, sometimes they love it and sometimes??? :)