Ever hear of one?  Ever been to one?   I have, and they can be alot of fun.  Our church, Sebec Corner Baptist Church in Sebec Maine, does one every year.  The kids bring a kid's gift, the ladies a lady gift, the men a men's gift, and so on.

The rules are simple:

Everyone brings a wrapped present. 

Random numbers are drawn (we just went around in a circle)

The person with #1 picks a gift and opens it.  Continue to pick and open gifts in numerical order.  Once everyone has opened a gift, you go around in a circle in the same order you opened gifts and if you decide you would rather have someone else's gift, you can swap - but if you forget to say Thank You, they get their gift back.  (The 'official' rules are a little different, and can be viewed here: http://www.yankee-swap.net/yankee_swap_rules_official.PDF )

This can be alot of fun, with lots of swapping going on! 

A word of warning, you may not want young children to swap - they won't find it as fun when Johnny takes Jimmy's gift.  But the adults, they love it! 

Setting a price limit before your Yankee Swap helps (we keep ours between $5 - $10).

Some great gift ideas:

Food items - Chocolate covered cherries, homemade fudge or jams, sausage and cheese kits, potholders, lotions, bath soaps, book markers, stationary sets, coffee mugs, gloces, flashlights, pocket knives, popouri, the list can be endless!

This year, I ended up with a banner that reads John 3:16, and a potholder/kitchen towel set.  I think Calvin ended up with a set of work gloves.  Isabella now has 3 new puppets, while Coy has a soccer ball and Garrett has a football.

Blessings,

Hope