Yankee Swaps

It's that time of year again. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, the trees are trimmed, and the hustle and bustle of Christmas is everywhere. For the first time in years, I'm actually feeling the spirit (Spirit?) as well. In fact, while I'm writing this I am listening to the Pandora Christmas channel and sitting next to my tree! A picture, you say? Well, here it is:

Nice, huh? You're damn right it is.

Along with the decorating and shopping, there is another time-honored tradition that a good few of us indulge in this time of year: the holiday party. Between work and friends it seems like there are several parties that everyone wants to attend. And why not? Good food, good company, plenty of booze...and sometimes a Yankee Swap!!!

For those of you that don't know, a Yankee Swap is a gift giving tradition where you buy a gift within a certain dollar range, and wrap it up. They all get put under a tree, and then everyone draws a number. When your number is called, you get up and pick a gift. You open it up and find something fun and exciting inside!! Or...you know...not. Sometimes it's a bottle of fuel-injector cleaner. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Where does the "swap" come in? Well, that's actually been up for a little debate between Laura and I lately. All of the Yankee Swaps I've been to have been run this way:

• Pick a number
• When you number is called you open a present
• If you like, you may switch with anyone who went before you
• The person who drew number one gets to switch with the anyone at the end

There's usually a limit put on the number of times a present may be traded as well. 

In her experience, it's a little different:

• Pick a number
• When your number is called, you decide to either 
• open a new gift or 
• take someone else's gift and let them pick a new one
• The person who drew number one gets to switch with anyone

So a small difference, but it makes for a different experience! Anyway, tomorrow evening we will be attending a party that some old friends throw every year. There will be immense amounts of food, booze, and plenty of presents to be swapped. Their house rules are a $10 limit and it can be a real or gag gift. Hence the fuel-injector cleaner. 

But, no matter what I wind up coming home with (or "forgetting" there), it will be a lot of fun with some good friends.