I don't know how much someone outside my family will appreciate this, but here goes:
The most beloved Christmas tradition in my family is bad gifts. Not just any bad gifts. Specific bad gifts that are regifted every year. It's hard to say how this tradition got started, but I think it began with the rock.
The rock in question was found in the pocket of a new pair of jeans (back when jeans were "stone washed"). I think I had given it to my sister as a joke when I found it while we were trying on jeans in the dressing room. On my birthday, I received a small jewelry box. I thought my sister had gotten me earrings or a necklace, but it was just the rock in a jewelry box. Pretty funny.
I think I might have given the rock back to her at Christmas. Who knows? But eventually, the rock was given only at Christmas time. And one of us gave it to our mom, so the tradition spread out of just the pair of us. Now anyone in our family could receive the rock for Christmas.
The rules of the "game" are simple: Whoever receives the bad gift is entitled to give it to a new recipient the next year. It has now also become a challenge to disguise the bad gifts in such a way (often concealed within other presents/boxes) that the recipient is tricked into opening it and thus receiving the bad gift.
We all pretend we don't want the bad gifts, but of course, we do. Because then we get the delight of giving them next year! The downside, though, is when you think you're receiving an actual present and it turns out to be one of the gag gifts.
The gifts are: 1) The rock. 2) A "bayberry" votive candle that was originally a gift to my youngest sister from her piano teacher. It is grayish green and ugly. 3) A quilted Santa made of red, yellow and green calico with button eyes. Yes it is as bizarre as it sounds. It was a Christmas decoration once upon a time. Now it's a gag gift. 4) An ugly necklace and earrings set that was originally a gift to my sister from one of my aunts. (Even my dad and brother are fair game to receive these.) 5) A coupon for Ore-Ida Crinkle Cut French Fries. This gift is exclusive to my brother and my youngest sister. They pass it only between themselves. No one knows why.
Those are the official gifts (unless I'm forgetting one). No new gifts can be added. My brother and I tried one year to mixed results, but they never became part of the official gift rotation.
no subject
The most beloved Christmas tradition in my family is bad gifts. Not just any bad gifts. Specific bad gifts that are regifted every year. It's hard to say how this tradition got started, but I think it began with the rock.
The rock in question was found in the pocket of a new pair of jeans (back when jeans were "stone washed"). I think I had given it to my sister as a joke when I found it while we were trying on jeans in the dressing room. On my birthday, I received a small jewelry box. I thought my sister had gotten me earrings or a necklace, but it was just the rock in a jewelry box. Pretty funny.
I think I might have given the rock back to her at Christmas. Who knows? But eventually, the rock was given only at Christmas time. And one of us gave it to our mom, so the tradition spread out of just the pair of us. Now anyone in our family could receive the rock for Christmas.
The rules of the "game" are simple: Whoever receives the bad gift is entitled to give it to a new recipient the next year. It has now also become a challenge to disguise the bad gifts in such a way (often concealed within other presents/boxes) that the recipient is tricked into opening it and thus receiving the bad gift.
We all pretend we don't want the bad gifts, but of course, we do. Because then we get the delight of giving them next year! The downside, though, is when you think you're receiving an actual present and it turns out to be one of the gag gifts.
The gifts are:
1) The rock.
2) A "bayberry" votive candle that was originally a gift to my youngest sister from her piano teacher. It is grayish green and ugly.
3) A quilted Santa made of red, yellow and green calico with button eyes. Yes it is as bizarre as it sounds. It was a Christmas decoration once upon a time. Now it's a gag gift.
4) An ugly necklace and earrings set that was originally a gift to my sister from one of my aunts. (Even my dad and brother are fair game to receive these.)
5) A coupon for Ore-Ida Crinkle Cut French Fries. This gift is exclusive to my brother and my youngest sister. They pass it only between themselves. No one knows why.
Those are the official gifts (unless I'm forgetting one). No new gifts can be added. My brother and I tried one year to mixed results, but they never became part of the official gift rotation.