Any good Christmas ideas instead of exchanging gifts?

We would like to come up with a new fun and exciting Christmas tradition rather than exchanging gifts and we need some good ideas so we can present the idea to the rest of the family.

Any good Christmas ideas instead of exchanging gifts?
Why do you want to replace the gift exchange tradition? Your reasoning does have a bit of baring on possible answers to the question.
Reply:I have heard of some little old ladies having a Christmas cookies exchange where everybody brings a plate of their homemade Christmas cookies (enough to share) and they have cookies and milk (or coffee). They get to try out different cookies and usually, there are too many so everybody brings home some cookies for later. Going to the Christmas service at church is another great tradition and it really reminds you of what's important and why we have Christmas.
Reply:Instead of exchanging gifts with each other, you could all pitch in a little and assist a needy family that would otherwise go without Christmas joy. Or everyone in the family could make a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child and on Christmas day exchange stories of what you put in the boxes. If you write a letter to the receiving child you could even exchange aspirations of who will get the box and whether or not the child will write you back. If you can't tell, I think Operation Christmas Child is one of the greatest ministries ever.
Reply:I agree with constant. If you don't know of a needy family, you can always call your local Children's Medical Service office, they have a program where you help the family of a chronically ill child.


It is better to give than to receive.
Reply:You can put a twist on a normal gift exchange. Some people like to put names in a hat and draw one. Instead of gift-giving for that name draw, set the rules so that you have to do a really good kind deed for the person you draw. Then, add on a second rule that they have to do something equally nice for someone else they know. Before you know it, everyone's doing kind deeds for people.
Reply:We play this fun game that does involve gifts, it requires dice and a timer. Each person brings a gift not worth more than $20.00 (it can be anything). Set the time of the game for about 10 minutes. Each person has a turn at rolling the dice and if doubles come up the person exchanges their gift for someone else's. You keep going around the room rolling and exchanging until the time runs out. The game is quite fun and can get competitive if there is a really great gift. We also include older children, say over the age of 12.
Reply:Sounds like your trying to save a buck. The all mighty dollar, a Christmas tradition tore apart for the almighty dollar. That's pretty sad.


Do you all exchange gifts with each person, or do you draw a name and buy only one gift for one person?


That way you can save $$$$ by only buying for one person.
Reply:We started playing Dirty Santa. Everyone brings a wrapped ornament, do not put who it is from. Draw numbers. Number one picks the first one and opens it. Number 2 can unwrap another or steal from number 1. Everyone goes around and can steal or unwrap a new one. We save a lot of money and everyone has so much fun we are all laughing hysterically!
Reply:Our church sponsors a gift xmas tree each year. We work with a local charity that helps with foster children. They supply us with a first name, age, and their wish list. Each member of our church who choose to participate in this Christmas gifting can


choose a child's name.


We then choose one item off of their list and purchase it for their Christmas gift. All gifts are collected and taken to the charity where they are delivered to the foster children for Christmas.


Your family could choose to think about something similar to this or you can contact the local Post Office and pick up a few letters from Santa from there.


Or volunteer in a soup kitchen for the holidays. Visit some shut ins at nursing homes.. Put on your thinking cap.. There is so much need out there. Kindness is Christmas.


Have a wonderful holiday season.


PS Ship a box to a solider. You don't have to know him or her.
Reply:suggest to the other family members to take the money they were to spend on gift exchange and buy a toy for a local christmas charity. on christmas, you can have a nice potluck dinner, share memories of christmas's past, watch movies and enjoy each others company as a family without a lot of hoopla
Reply:you will find exchanging gifts in


http://www.paintyourlife.com
Reply:Constant is right. Find a needy family and adopt them at Christmas. It's more blessed to give than receive.