One year, the items consisted of a variety of painted wine glasses. Other years, I chose crazy socks or tree ornaments. For example, my nephew who is an English professor might one year have received the wine glass covered with word definitions. He also received the socks with bow ties all over them and the owl ornament complete with oversized reading glasses.

I wrap up all the items and the game begins by drawing a family member’s name from a hat. She (or he) chooses a wrapped gift, opens it, and assigns it to the person she thinks it best describes. When doing so, she must provide a valid explanation for the assignment — these can become inventive and hilarious. I am the only one with the right answers, so in order to figure out which item belongs to whom, players must put themselves in my P.O.V. As the game continues, play becomes more difficult. If you believe the person before you has gotten it wrong, you can shuffle the items, one by one, but again must offer a valid explanation as to why each person deserves what you’ve given him.

This year I gave away books, literally assigning titles to family members. My one nephew is always helping people and taking on new projects, so his wife received Lisa Jackson’s You Don’t Want to Know. In other words, “You don’t want to know what Jon’s been doing lately” — that was one of the more difficult ones. My nephew in med school received Mary Roach’s Stiff. My daughter who will be studying abroad this summer was assigned Fodor’s Japan, and so on. The more you know about your fellow family members, the more fun the game.

Based on feedback, I think this was the best theme yet. People genuinely loved receiving the books. I asked everyone to leave any books on the table they didn’t think they’d read, so other family members could take them. There wasn’t one book left!

Great post, Stacey! Giving books as gifts requires much thought on the giver’s part… and what greater compliment can a receiver receive?

Thanks,

Judy

With adults, it’s different. There are people who don’t like to read (Can you imagine? No!) so obviously I’m not going to give that person a book as a gift. Unless, I’m able to match a book with the person receiving it. For instance, someone who’s into cooking, then a new cookbook is ideal, for a movie buff, the history of film, etc. Then they’re just as happy with a book as anyone else.

Kathy, thanks for sharing your friend’s great idea!!! I love it!