Monday, December 13, 2010

Traditions--some like it wierd.

We have a fun, yet slightly odd, tradition in my family at Christmas. It's so much fun that people from outside of our family have taken time to join us on Christmas afternoon in order to participate. It costs nothing, yet everyone goes home with a gift.

What is this, you ask? Well....it's Yard Sale Christmas. The game is played a little like Dirty Santa with one major difference. You're not allowed to buy a gift. You must "go shopping" within your own house for some item you would put in a yard sale. Anything goes, and boy, do I mean anything.

Some real doozies that have never been forgotten include a lovely wagon wheel chandelier that came with my sisters new house. Oh, did I forget to mention that one of the rules is that you must remove your gift from the hostesses house upon your departure? Another memorable "gift" was a retainer, yep, the kind you wear on your teeth. It returned year after year wearing a new disguise each year. My personal favorite was the time someone painted it gold, and hung it from a red ribbon to create a unique tree ornament. ;-)

There was the box that contained tightly packed clothes from a recently cleaned out closet, and let's not forget the chalk parrot statue, that one made it back for several repeat performances.

Wonder what we'll have this year? Good times.

Now, I gotta go do a little "shopping," see ya'll later!