Tis the season to have fun Christmas Gift Exchange Ideas! Unique themes that even Santa himself would enjoy!
Preparing for the holidays takes a lot of work! However, handing out or exchanging gifts has become a lot more creative and fun!
We’re guilty as charged for wanting to hand out gifts the traditional way! But… Not anymore!
We’ve asked our readers and have done our research and now we are handing out gifts in a fun and creative way!
Christmas Gift Exchange Ideas
As you prepare for Aunt Susie’s family Christmas party or Grandma Jane’s Cookie Exchange Party! We will have you covered with creative ways to hand gifts out!
As well as for some of the other following Christmas gift exchange ideas and parties…
- Family Gift Exchanges
- Holiday Office Parties
- Christmas Gatherings
- Secret Santa Ideas
- White Elephant Gift Exchange
First, a little about the inside scoop for this post. I asked my family and friends on Facebook to see if anyone had a cool gift exchange idea or perhaps know of one.
Unfortunately out of 299 people on my FB I received only 1 response LOL. Thanks, Erika! :O)
However, that got me thinking perhaps people don’t know about fun gift exchanges for adults, Christmas gift exchange ideas for families, or fun Christmas gift exchange themes!
We have got to change this! Especially letting people know about the funny Christmas gift exchange ideas too!
So grab a cup of coffee and get ready to jot down these unisex gift exchange ideas! Because giving gifts has never been this much fun!
Cookie Exchange Rules
Ever heard of a cookie exchange? A cookie Exchange is when each guest will make a dozen cookies to share amongst guests.
As well as, make another dozen cookies to exchange with someone else.
However, at most holiday parties, cookie exchange rules will want you to make more than a dozen to share with each guest.
For example, this will allow for guests to take home a variety of cookies.
With that said, if there were 10 people attending the cookie party. You’ll make 9 dozen to share amongst the attendees.
The fun part… in return, when you bake 9 dozen each. You get to take home 9 dozen… that’s a win-win!
Christmas Gift Exchange Games
Deck of Cards Exchange
At your office party or family party be sure to have a deck of cards with you prior to the exchange.
Each person will draw one card from the deck of cards.
In the end, everyone will go in order from the card they drew Ace-King to pick or receive their gift.
Christmas Gift Scavenger Hunt
This is really fun for the kids too! What you will have to do is hide their gifts all over the house instead of just under the tree. It puts a fun spin on the party fun. Just be sure to write down where you hid the gifts so you don’t lose track, lol.
Plus, here are a few fun ideas about where to hide them inside the house.
- Washing Machine or Dryer
- Underneath a Bed
- Refrigerator
- Under the Table
- In the Couch
Santa Hat Game Rules
What you’ll need to do for this game idea is to have one person draw names or numbers. The winner (name or number drawn) will wear a Santa hat or suit, as well as, hand out gifts (or coal) lol.
Each person will watch the first-person open their gift (it’s always fun to see expressions) and then continue on to the next child or adult.
This allows everyone a chance to see that their gifts are appreciated by their loved ones.
Play Musical Chairs Gift Exchange
The rules are to play musical chairs with exchanging of gifts. A set number of players will sit in chairs that are in a circle facing out.
Next, the leader of the game/ host of the party starts music at the same time as placing a gift in the hands of one of the participants.
After that, the gift is passed from person to person around the circle, either clockwise or counterclockwise, until the leader stops the music.
The person holding the gift at that point is the winner of the round and gets the gift.
At this point, if there are more guests that wish to play that did not make it into that round can take the place of the person that won the previous round.
Gameplay will continue until all guests have participated or until all gifts for this game are gone. Have fun!
Hot Potato Exchange
Put your favorite Christmas tunes on the radio and gather the group into a circle. Next, pass the gifts around and when the music stops that is the gift you’ll get.
Saran Wrap Ball
Fill a plastic ball up with goodies and play a Saran Wrap Ball Game! Click here for more details and see our past party balls! This is a great game for kids and adults alike, it is a huge hit!
Fun Gift Exchanges for Adults at Work
Boss creates a tree of cards (gift cards that’ll be!) The employee that either shows up to work first gets the first choice that day or draw names. Talk about a good way to get the entire team to show up to work early lol.
Donate to a Charity
Gather family, friends, or co-workers and everyone donates to a shared charity or a homeless shelter.
White Elephant Office Party Exchange Idea
Host a white elephant gift exchange. The worst (or funniest) gift giver will receive $5 per person that is collected upfront.
Talk about seeing some creative gifts in this game.
Everyone will really come up with some off the wall gifts to get that top prize lol.
$5 Gift Exchange
Draw names out of a box and Spend $5 per gift. The amount allotted could be higher but you’ll want to discuss that amongst your group.
Cheap Cruddy Gifts Exchange
A White Elephant Exchange where you trade the cheap gifts that you don’t want or can’t use!
Gift Exchange Suggestions
Everyone buys a gift that costs $10 and puts it on the kitchen table unwrapped.
After that, everyone in return will choose one gift they want off of the table.
You could have the group take turns rolling dice to determine the order they choose a gift. It could go highest to lowest or vise versa for the order.
Draw Names out of a Hat
This is a traditional idea that we use for the gift exchange at my Grandma’s house. Generally around Thanksgiving, we put everyone’s name in a hat that wants to participate.
Each person will pick a name out of that hat and that’s who you’ll buy a gift for on Christmas eve.
However, if you can’t all be together or don’t do the drawing when everyone is together. My sister-in-law draws names for everyone and then sends them via text.
Tip: Adding small gift ideas on the paper with your name is helpful to the person that gets your name.
Instead of just putting them in a hat you could use one of the following choices…
- Cup
- Stocking
- Santa Hat
- Santa Boot
- Wrapped Gift Box
Family Christmas Gift Exchanges
Put everyone’s name in a separate poppable balloon. Have each person draw a name by popping a balloon. This makes it interesting and fun. Especially for the kiddos!
Letter Name Exchange Theme
You could either draw names with this idea or buy for everyone in the group. If the person you are buying a gift is Veronica. You will buy her a gift that starts with the letter V, the funnier the gift is the more hilarious the gift exchange! Most people love gag gifts!
Secret Santa Theme
Are you hosting a Secret Santa exchange? A fun idea would be to pick a theme. For example, perhaps one of these ideas may be helpful.
- Sentimental
- Funny
- Edible
Plus, draw names for free with this name generator!
Along with the Secret Santa name, since the person doesn’t know who is giving them the gifts; it is fun to drop little hints with the gifts.
White Elephant Gift Exchange
Everyone comes to the party with a gift (gag or just regular). All of the presents are then designated to a gift pile.
Each participant gets a number ranging from 1-20 (depending on the number of players).
When the first person picks, the next player can choose to steal or pick a different gift from the pile. It keeps going until all of the gifts have been chosen.
Gift Auctions
Another really fun idea is to host a gift auction. I like to do this for my children’s birthday parties with their classmates and or with their cousins.
However, at Christmas time you could change it up so you’re not buying all of the gifts or prizes.
In this example, everyone will bring a gift worth $10-$20. The rule would be that every person playing will need to bring a minimum of 2 small gifts.
Each player will receive 10 Hershey kisses. ⬅️These will make it really fun!
The candy (Hershey kisses) are used to bid on the items (gifts), you are allowed to bid up to 10 kisses.
You could bid all of your kisses for 1 gift or make small 1 kiss bids on a bunch of different gifts.
When 2 people have the same matching bids for the same gift. You will need to flip a coin.
For example, if there’s a box of chocolates and 2 players that want the same gift. And both players bid up to their 10 Hershey Kisses.
Then, a coin will need to be tossed to see who wins. The fun part also is you can test out your auctioneer skills lol.
Paper Bag Auction
This is a cool idea too! No more guessing what presents are yours! Set the gifts on a table and add numbered brown paper bags in front of each gift.
For example 1-10. Then write the same numbers on a small piece of paper and fold it up. Then, place them into a Kris Kringle stocking.
Next, have each person grab a number from the stocking.
As a result, the number that is pulled and matches the gift will be theirs.
No Gift Exchange
Don’t want to exchange gifts but still want to make it fun for the kids? How about exchanging new or used books.
This will eliminate coming home with too many toys and gives the kids something educational to do.
Ornaments on the Tree Exchange
How to switch names at Christmas. Another fun idea would be to put names on the back of ornaments.
Each family member or employee will take an ornament off the tree.
Whichever ornament they pick will also be the name they’ll draw.
Sock Exchanges
Teens will love this idea! Mom’s will too! What you will do is fill a new pair of socks. (I suggest fun or Christmas themed) with small trinkets and novelty items.
After that, you will hand it out for a gift exchange. Everyone will receive new socks and fun little gifts.
Bring 3 Take 3
It’s super easy to do… Invitees will bring three gifts to the party and leave with three different gifts!
Mommy Christmas Gift Hacks
Instead of putting names on all of the kids’ presents. You could write numbers on the gift tags. This allows for the kids NOT to be able to guess the gift they’ll be receiving on Christmas morning. Thanks, Erika! 🙂
Wrapping Up Gift Exchanges
Holiday Themed Game Show
Lastly, turn your party or gift exchange into a holiday game show! Where contestants can compete for points.
Whichever player has got the most points at the end will get the first choice of gifts, the second-highest points second choice, and so on.
We hope you and your family will get to enjoy a wonderful holiday celebration with this list! If you are looking for easy gift ideas for adults go here!
Gift Games and Ideas for Exchanges
Jolly Santa Claus himself would love this game idea!
Get your playings cards for your exchange now...
Grab this hilarious tiny version of the Waving inflatable guy for office fun!
Christmas Vacation fans will love this!
Perfect for a sock exchange!
Looking for a prank gift that will make anyone laugh?!
OMG! How funny... Underwear that would make even Santa laugh!
For the Trump lover in your life...
A fun concept that's perfect for the office!
Put a twist on your holiday with this gift exchange game...
I am all for a cookie exchange!!! But I do a white elephant party with my husbands family and it’s always a blast!
Cookie exchanges are FUN! But I agree… White Elephant parties can be EXTRA FUN!!! 🙂
This is such a great post!! We do the Saran Wrap ball every year but I needed new games to play. That mini tube guy is hilarious.
Thanks, Ashley! I am glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂 Thanks for stopping in!
We do our own version of the scavenger gift hunt. The kids’ presents are always under the tree with each of their very last (and best) gift hidden inside the house.
It’s always fun to change things up. The kids love it and it’s fun to see their expressions too. 🙂
We usually do a White Elephant exchange on Christmas Eve with our whole family and it’s so much fun! I like these other ideas too!
Yay! I am so glad you found some extra fun ideas to add to the mix. Thanks for stopping in. 🙂