New bedroom suite. Okay, it was a gift from us to us but that is pretty much how we do Christmas anyhow. Oh, and a very nice calendar from my WC secret Santa.

Mendalla

CH, the more PC term is dirty Santa.

Chemguy and I didn't do much for each other in terms of gifts.  Instead, we bought a rug before Chrismas, 2 TVs after and hopefully will get some furniture this month.  Some of the gifts from others went to the tvs.

I got some ornaments, PJs, tea, stockpot, Christmas organizational containers, herb pots, wine, Christmas plates, chocolate, the traditional calendar, and lotion & body wash from my favourite bath product store.

Just for fun, here's a list of the names for the game:

1. "The Game" 2.  Dirty Santa 3.  Chinese Exchange 4.  Yankee Exchange 5.  Yankee Swap 6.  The Present Game 7.  The White Elephant Exchange 8.  Stealing Santa 9.  Chinese Christmas 10. Rob Your Neighbor 11. Dirty Christmas 12. Screw Your Buddy 13. Cajun Christmas 14. Backward Auction 15. Chinese Auction 16. California Swap 17. Steal-A-Thon 18. Cut-Throat Christmas 19. Red Neck Santa 20. Rob A Santa 21. Scotch Auction 22. The Grinch Game 23. Indian Bingo 24. The Pirate Game 25. Screw Your Neighbor 26. Chinese Ladder 27. Dirty Bingo 28. Eskimo Bingo

CH what did you gift for it and what did you end up with?

I gifted Tim's gift card (20,00) and received a box with 10 frames which I regifted to my Granddaughter for her birthday.

Socks and underwear.  At least my attitude towards such a gift has changed/improved over the years.  (Cool!  3  more days without having to do laundry!)

Book of quotes crafting "jewels" and candy from jae, silver bracelet, a pair of winter pj's, socks, slippers, bath robe, santa oven mitt, wool scarf, a lovely bar of soap that looks like a large gem in the rough, gift certificate for the movies, and some cash inside a couple of cards sent to us from relatives.

And a huge Toblerone! And a battery powered toothbrush... ;)

We (my husband and I both) got a lot of gifts this year. Our suitcase was heavier on the trip home.

I got silver-and-amber earrings, new bath-sheet sized towels and matching bath mats (much needed), a lime juicer,  a bronze pendent-watch, silver earrings from my father-in-law, Chapters gifts cards, a book on bread-making with a section on the history of different kinds of loaves and the uses/qualities of different grains and a set of a moisture meter and pH meter for my gardening.

We did a Chinese Gift Exchange with my side of the family.  My Husband's side isn't into that type of thing.  I came out of it with a bar of Garden Rescue Soap and 2 packs of flower seeds so I was happy.

2 pair of "church pants"
White socks (My "play socks")
The best gift one can ask for this Christmas -TIME.

We played a game on Christmas Eve, everyone puts a ten dollar anonymous wrapped gift into the centre (coffee table in this case) and we all drew numbers, so our turn to choose a gift corresponds to the number- and you can keep your gift or snatch someone else's (all in fun). Actually, I got a little cast iron pan with cornbread mix and my husband got the Toblerone which sticks to his teeth - so it became mine ;) And I'll gladly share the cornbread with him, and the pan of course is ours. I didn't trade my gift in. We gave a pair of head phones and small speakers for the game (they weren't Sony or anything, actually dollar store items which in retrospect I could have done better but was hard pressed to think of a ten dollar gift appropriate for a guy who I don't know who would be getting it- except candy and socks, until I saw those. I also find it hard to think of general gifts for guys unless I know what they need. Most I know are interested in practical not decorative things) in one gift, and a little leather crafted flower shaped change purse for another.

We brought wine and a couple of small things. But my parents spoiled us.

Hubby and I don't exchange - we usually buy something for the house, or something we each need sometimes many weeks before  Christmas.

From a few others I exchange with I got earrings, movie, a few books, calendar, a nice top, flashlight, candles, notecards, a Willow Tree "Lavendar Grace" (healing) figurine, some gluten free cookie, and some chocolates (in freezer till I can have a treat), and  a necklace.

I have a neighbour whose name is Rob LOL!
 

My husband and I don't exchange either really. Except necessary items that we need to buy anyway. One year we did do the stockings, but we're practical about it because we really don't have disposable income. Last year we had friends over to our place before Christmas, opened a couple of gifts that were mailed to us, and went to church Christmas morning, and had our Christmas dinner at an friend's Boxing Day party. This year we went away to visit- and we went out for Chinese food after we got back- spending our Christmas cash, as a treat, and a "date". We haven't really seemed to establish our own tradition- every year has been a little different the past few years, so whatever happens, happens. That's okay too. I kind of like it better- a better coping strategy- relieves some pressure to think that way about it (add: when I start getting into "it has to be like when I remember it being perfect" mode- that's unecessary stress so I am trying year by year not to get into that funk- because it probably never has been. Just selective memory.) As long as we've got a bit of time off to choose what to do with it, that itself is a gift. Like SG said.

For the first year, my wife and I exchanged nothing, by agreement, once we both realized that with a week til Christmas, we hadn't done anything for one-another.

Without going too teary on you, we just finished a year keeping Carter cardiac arrest-free, after he went through two the year before. We were just exhausted, and gifts seemed hollow, somehow. What we really needed was some time away. We got that, I think we're both feeling better, and we're home now.

My wife did try to knit me a toque. I have a beautiful one she made that I wear all the time, but she wanted to knit me a more utilitarian one for shovelling snow, that wouldn't be as warm as the really nice one.

The final result was so large, it looks like a bucket, and covers my entire head. If I were to wear it into a store, the cashier would raise her hands in the air.

So, still nothing.

The first Christmas my 3 kids all had some income so gifts were better!

Princess project cotton pants from my middle-money goes to girls as an alternative to prosition, oldest-a bottle of wine and steraps for a canoe barrel, youngest-a printer/scanner-he's a bargain shopper.

I also got a pot, chapters gift cards,tea and a mug, a bracelet. I have a Jan. birthday and many of my gifts are combined.

I was in a fabric fat 1/4 exchange and  enjoyed getting christmas fabric in the mail.

My real gift was my Seattle adventure with my middle and the tattoo being the souvenir of it.

LOL at Chansen's hat-can you wash it in hot water and shrink it?   I'm glad your family got some time away.May Carter stay healthy and may 2014 be a good year for your family-and for all the wc folks.

That bucket-like size is after a shrinking attempt. My wife has officially thrown in the towel. That she bought.

Cozy socks & PJs!

Seelerman and I didn't exchange - but Santa left gifts in our socks and under the tree.  Gift certificates for two nice restaurants; pillow cases; squirrel-proof bird feeder (ha, ha); a shoe bag for carrying our square dancing shoes to and from; a couple of books.  My daughter gave me two nice tops; my grandchildren gave me ovenmits (I suggested when they asked before the big day).  A neighbour gave me a gift certificate for a restaurant (I feed her cats when she is away).  My bowling party gift was a nice big candle (I gave a scarf).  Some liquor filled chocolates.   And my son came home!!!

Around here we call it a Yankee Swap.  I've done it with friends.  We tried it one year at the bowling party but the group was large and some of the people didn't understand or got confused (we are all seniors).  Now we just choose a gift from the table when our number is called, but no exchanging except for those who do it among themselves.

"I can't eat chocolates because I'm diabetic."  someone tells the person next to him.  "I'll take them - they're my favourites - if you would like these hand-knit socks."

Oh and we did do a gift exchange at the onework  dinner I went to. $15 consumable was the directions. I brought tea and short bread cookies. I took home an Itunes card. Big item was the $15 spa coupon.

Do you drink the water at the Spa?

Let me see. These things come to mind...

• Warm place to sleep with power and light
•  
• Christmas dinner
•  
• Black eternity scarf and Canada mittens
•  
• Numerous bags and boxes of candies and chocolates
•  
• Red woolen bag of loot from Sterton
•  
• Brown sweater and shirt

In terms of family, I gave my wife a Samsung Galaxy tablet, and she and I gave our youngest son a Sphero robot. They didn't give me anything.

its the giving not the getting, right jae?

Jae - is an exchange of gifts part of the Korean celebration of Christmas? 

crazyheart - yes, giving is most important. At the same time, it is nice to receive. It is a sign that the other person cares. It's not about being materialistic. It's about valueing the thought that would have gone behind the gift. My wife shows me that she loves me in plenty of other ways, don't get me wrong. Gifts are just not her thing though.

seeler - My wife claims not. I think that's changing now, but traditionally no. Christmas was just a religious time for the Christians there. Santa, gifts, Christmas trees, etc. are relatively new.

My favourite gift received this year was definitely a ticket to see Natalie MacMaster in concert - along with money to spend at said concert (I got a book, which I was able to get her to autograph). Other gifts included books, decorations, and plenty of chocolate! I think the best gift I gave was a hockey ticket. The person I took is a German student who is living with my friend for a few months. In the time that he has been here, he has also become a friend of mine. I knew my friend wouldn't take him to a game, so I did instead - I figured it was part of the full Canadian experience. He had never even watched a game on TV, but I think I made an instant fan out of him - he really enjoyed himself!

My husband didn't grow up with the Christmas gift giving tradition either. In some ways that's better. He has no lingering childhood expectations about it. There is no getting wound up about shopping and decorating, etc. and doesn't really see goodwill and giving gifts at Christmas as anymore or less important than any other time of year. Not to the extent that many people who grew up here do. It's a good outlook to adopt, I think. I'm trying to let go of my expectations a bit more (not about getting gifts- I don't expect any, happy to get anything- but letting go of the idea that the mood and the atmosphere has to be a certain way and worries over family squabbles because they also have their own expectations, and the music and food has to be nostalgiac and this and that...it's no wonder Christmas often gets people down.) while he learns to appreciate the magic sparkle a bit more. I try to let go for him, he tries to pick up on it for me. You learn a lot in an inter-cultural relationship about things you take for granted. It's not automatically the "most wonderful time- of the year!" for everyone, nor do they expect it to be.

I got a few gift cards from my parents, chocolates, a bottle of peach schnapps, a digital scale and a new wooden cutting board.  My mom took my daughter out to the mall so she could buy me a gift and she got me hot pink pyjama pants with purple flowers on them.  

How are you MistsOfSpring?

China's the same. Christians like my mother-in-law may observe the religious side but haven't really been "contaminated" by our commercial celebrations. In mainstream Chinese society, though, I've noticed that you're starting to see Santa images and Christmas trees in stores and stuff like that, so the secular side of the festival is showing up, albeit in a fairly limited way.

In the end, I suspect that it will always take a back seat to local festivals like the Moon Festival (fall harvest festival that usually falls in September-October) and Chinese New Year (which is usually a month or so after our Christmas and New Year)*. Even their own local Solstice celebration (the Chinese name for Winter Solstice escapes me just now) has largely been overtaken by Chinese New Year

Mendalla

* Chinese festivals are calculated on a lunar calendar so float against our calendar, much like Jewish and Muslim festivals do

Interesting stuff. According to my wife and son the biggest celebration in Korea is Lunar New Year (it so bothers me when people call it Chinese New Year - as it gets celebrated in other places than China.)

Yeah, most East and Southeast Asian cultures seem to mark the change in year around that time. I just tend to say Chinese New Year out of habit because, really, that's what I am celebrating given my wife's heritage.

Mendalla

With my kids being 25, 21 and 19 Christmas gifts have become very intersting.  From my son(19) 3 dvds from the local store that sells used ones.  From the 21 year old books whe goes to school in Sudbury and they have the best used book store ever she was able to get me 7 books and from the 25 year old was a lot of little baking items that i needes what was funny i did the same for her so we are going to have a baking day together.  The best and funniest gif was a last minute one from my mum brand new car mats.  The car mat i had oringinally kept curling up under rhe brake peddle and i kept saying i was afraid i wasn't going to be able to brake so she sent my kids on a mission to foind and wrap them for me.

Northstar - those are great gifts from people who know and understand you well.  Second hand books and CDs = practical.   New floor mats - excellent.

Next year I'm going to ask my husband if, between us, we can make it both practical and really fun. Like keep a list on the fridge (we're not diligent about it- we sort of make a mental note and go down the street pick up things as we see that we're almost out)...what if we were to wrap up a bottle of dish soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, package of toilet paper- why not even non-parishible groceries (even parishibles if wrapped in time or kept in the fridge overnight- imagine opening the fridge to colourful gift packages inside- imagine unwrapping a box of cereal and a carton of milk, a loaf of bread- "Santa" snuck into the fridge and cupboard and then stocked them a little!! Lol.)? Why not even loonies for laundry change (instead of those gold chocolate coins that are sometimes stocking stuffers), and bus passes. I think that would be fun! We already do that to an extent- socks, razors, toothbrushes- but maybe we could do that with all of our everyday items at Christmas. A big part of the fun is opening the gifts. It's always special, the experience of opening them, no matter what's inside- but it would keep in perspective the 'gifts' we take for granted everyday.

Weird idea- but I can see us having fun with it.

We picked names this year and my youngest son got me a gift box from Lush. He's a very wise son. My husband got me my newest favourite perfume. Christian Dior's "J'adore". I like to spritz it on while singing the song from the commercial and then I try to walk like Charlize Theron. My boys ask me not to do that when their friends are over...

Squirrellover - your son is wise indeed! I love LUSH products! 

Kimmio - I like that idea. You could even spice it up a little by getting his favourite kind of cereal, an unusual flavour of cheese or a fancy kind of bread. And I love getting nice shampoos and soaps for Christmas. This year I got a lovely bar of soap from my roommate that I am looking forward to trying out!

got to be there for my wife as her father died

got to see Charlie, one of her foster cats with the je ne sai quoi of Cary Grant, finally get over his anxieties and lie down in her lap.  now her lap can be blessed by all three cats :3

got to have Veronica, the exotic ocelot cat, leap on my back for no apparent reason.  Hail Eris

under our christmas tree, which was a cube-shaped rosmary bush, from many different personas of my wife (she and I, totally independently of each other, wrote each gift being from someone else from our role-playing days or whatnot); so i now gots a neet negligee, 2 ritter sport bars (mmm, MARZIPAN), a tie-die cake that was totally fun to make, some soap and a collection of hubble telescope postcards

i live in a blessed world