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Need a gift idea for a Yankee Swap

Colleen

By Colleen
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Colleen Newbie

Colleen

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So, every year I participate in a Yankee swap.  For some reason, every year the dollar limit goes down every year.  Which gives me less room to be creative.  This year our limit is $10.  It has to be a gift that can work for male or female aged 15 to 89 lol.  It can be funny or practical or whatever, just not offensive or illegal.  If all else fails, scratch cards from the lottery will work, but anyone can do that right?  I love Yankee Swaps, they are so much fun, but that $10 limit really gets me.  Oh and technically I need two ideas, one for me and have to buy one for my pet goat to give too :)  Any ideas are super appreciated  :D

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Colleen Newbie

Colleen

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Oh, so somebody told me not all regions know what a Yankee Swap is.  Here's a description:

 

  1. Participants bring one wrapped gift (typically within a predetermined price range) and places the gift in a pile/central location.
  2. Participants draw numbers to determine the order in which they go.
  3. The person who drew #1 goes first and must open a gift from the pile.
  4. The person who drew #2 goes next and has the choice of taking the gift opened by #1 or selecting an unopened gift. If #1's gift is taken player #1 must open another gift from the pile.
  5. The person who drew #3 goes next and can either take #1's gift, or take #2's gift, or open a gift. If player #3 takes an opened gift from player #1 or #2 then that player who is now giftless has the option of taking the other gift that was opened or opening a wrapped gift (they cannot take player #3's gift -- see rule 8).
  6. Play continues as such with players either taking/swapping a gift or opening one.
  7. When a gift is opened the round is over (you can't decide you don't like what you opened and decide to swap for something else).
  8. Any single gift can only be swapped once per round.
  9. Once the round for the highest numbered player has completed player #1 can swap gifts with any other player (for this final round there is no futher swapping after that).

Hard core rule additions that can be useful if you have a large group.

  1. After taking your turn you must keep your gift out where other players can see it.
  2. When it’s your turn if you touch a wrapped gift you have to open it.
  3. If a participant takes too much time deciding which gift to swap/open the remaining participants can start counting aloud from ten down to zero. If zero is reached the participant must take the wrapped gift closest to them.

Note that there is no "one true" set of official rules for Yankee Swaps that I'm aware of. This set has worked well for us but you should feel free to tweak them as you see fit.

Also note that some people choose to call this activity a "White Elephant Gift Exchange".

 

So now that you know what a Yankee Swap is, here's the lowdown on what a Yankee is:

If you're in Mexico, anybody north of the border is a Yankee. If you're over the border, its someone from above the Mason-Dixon line. If you're above the Mason-Dixon line a Yankee is someone from New England. If you live in New England, you know a Yankee is some one from Maine. You go to Maine looking for a Yankee and they'll tell you its an old hard tack farmer out in the country. Finally, if you go up to Maine, find yourself an old hard-tack farmer, and ask him where you can find a Yankee? He'll tell you "Well, yuh take thet ruhd theh, noth 'bout 12 miles, till yuh come tuh the fok, n'beh right, go 'nother 8 miles till yuh get t'the end. When the ol gent with the shotgun comes out t'meetchuh, why thet's a Yankee. Eyuh."  (I think that's how Jenny talks :p )

 
Colleen Newbie

Colleen

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Colleen... This sounds WAY too confusing for me!

 

And also, you have a pet goat?! :blink:

It's a lot of fun.  Obviously # 1 is the best number to have.  Pet Goat is code for stinky teenage boy.  Although, the introduction of clinical deodorant and the cooler weather has made all the difference :)

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bakon Collaborator

bakon

Posted
Posted

I thought this was like a porno group thing for New Englanders...

 

We just call it a grab bag, gift can be taken by everyone, no 1 is worse pick usually as no repack. Last pick sees them all except last wrapped one. If you gift is taken, you cant take someone elses, just a wrapped one. Goes fast.  But rules do change every year...

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SueBeDoo Newbie

SueBeDoo

Posted
Posted

Thought you meant Yankee candles and I got all excited, sorry no help,maybe chuck in a sheep or cow or something and they will have their own woolly socks and hats and milk, yep that's the job, might need a whole lot of wrapping paper all the same!!!

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Chrysalis Newbie

Chrysalis

Posted
Posted

 

 

 

So now that you know what a Yankee Swap is, here's the lowdown on what a Yankee is:

 

If you're in Mexico, anybody north of the border is a Yankee. If you're over the border, its someone from above the Mason-Dixon line. If you're above the Mason-Dixon line a Yankee is someone from New England. If you live in New England, you know a Yankee is some one from Maine. You go to Maine looking for a Yankee and they'll tell you its an old hard tack farmer out in the country. Finally, if you go up to Maine, find yourself an old hard-tack farmer, and ask him where you can find a Yankee? He'll tell you "Well, yuh take thet ruhd theh, noth 'bout 12 miles, till yuh come tuh the fok, n'beh right, go 'nother 8 miles till yuh get t'the end. When the ol gent with the shotgun comes out t'meetchuh, why thet's a Yankee. Eyuh."  (I think that's how Jenny talks :P )

 

 

LOL!! That's a perfect definition of a Yankee. Eyuh.  :D

 

PS-- I HATE those swap games-- I think that they are crass and insulting and I do not participate in them. Just to give a different opinion. 

Leanna Apprentice

Leanna

Posted
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I bought Steve's co-worker (whoever gets it) a S'mores making kit and will be filling up a separate bag with goodies. I figure you can't go wrong with consumables and it's gender neutral. :)

 

This is what I found in New York yesterday for just over $9. 

 

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Tink Newbie

Tink

Posted
Posted

oooh we call it secret santa

 

not illegal or offensive - dang im out of ideas then lol

 

seriously got to be candy - posh stuff

 

when we do secret santa we know who its for so its easy they just dont know who brought it

 

good luck x

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Colleen Newbie

Colleen

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PS-- I HATE those swap games-- I think that they are crass and insulting and I do not participate in them. Just to give a different opinion. 

Chrys,

 

I'm not sure what you mean here.  For me, this is a family oriented gift game, so you will not find anything crass or insulting I can assure you.  

Humbled Newbie

Humbled

Posted
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I wish I could hep but my buddy has one every year for adults only so the gifts can at times are certainly not for kids - Sue would have a field day - 

sounds like you got some good advice though -the smores sound like a good idea - all else fails buy some crazy Christmas decoration. 

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action Newbie

action

Posted
Posted

Chrys,

 

I'm not sure what you mean here.  For me, this is a family oriented gift game, so you will not find anything crass or insulting I can assure you.

Like Tracey said, in the UK we call it Secret Santa... and if you play it with just adults, some of the gifts can be pretty obscene, lol.

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Devil Doll Newbie

Devil Doll

Posted
Posted

Like Tracey said, in the UK we call it Secret Santa... and if you play it with just adults, some of the gifts can be pretty obscene, lol.

Our secret Santa is played with a group of people and names in a hat (bag/vessel) you actually pick the name of the person that you are going to gift.  I think that the yankee thing all of the gifts sit on a table and someone picks one and trades (that's the jist that I get, have never done it.)

action Newbie

action

Posted
Posted

Our secret Santa is played with a group of people and names in a hat (bag/vessel) you actually pick the name of the person that you are going to gift.  I think that the yankee thing all of the gifts sit on a table and someone picks one and trades (that's the jist that I get, have never done it.)

Ahh, OK, I think you are right! Colleens game is far to confusing for me!

Doreensfree Grand Master

Doreensfree

Posted
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Like Tracey said, in the UK we call it Secret Santa... and if you play it with just adults, some of the gifts can be pretty obscene, lol.

Aww action....it was our secret....you know secret Santa and all that....I thought you would like it...l.ol...

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Leanna Apprentice

Leanna

Posted
Posted

My tin of treats for Steve's co-worker. :)

 

I'm also making them cookies tonight.

 

Have you figured out what gift you are giving yet Colleen?

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