I've had a request to explain to game of Dirty Santa to those of you who aren't familiar with it. There are variations on the rules, but I will explain how our Quilting Bee group plays it. We do this at each of our Christmas parties. We used to specify that everyone bring a wrapped Christmas-related or sewing-related gift. But now we bring an equivalent of a yard or more of fabric, gift wrapped. Here's how we play:
1. Decide and what kind of gifts you'll exchange (fabric, Christmas, gag, etc.) and tell everyone to bring one wrapped gift.
2. At the party, let everyone draw a number.
3. Number 1 chooses a wrapped gift and unwraps it.
4. Number 2 has the choice to stealing Number 1's gift or choosing an wrapped gift to unwrap. If she chooses to steal, then the person stolen from gets to choose another gift.
5. Number 3 can choose to steal from Numbers 1 or 2 or unwrap a gift.
6. Each person who loses a gift through a steal gets to choose another gift, either one that has been unwrapped or one that hasn't. Proceed this way until everyone has played.
7. Any gift can be stolen only twice (owned by a total of three people). Then it is retired from the game.
8. If someone steals your gift, you cannot immediately steal it back from him. There must be at least one player before you can steal it back.
9. At the end of the game, if no one has stolen from Number 1, she can choose to keep her gift or steal from someone else. (We decided to add this rule to our games so that whoever is Number 1 won't be at a disadvantage of not being able to steal a gift. Not everyone adds this rule.)
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On 12/08/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
Ah, so! I've played that game at quilt guild but never heard it called by that name or any other name, for that matter.
Hope all of your Christmas plans are coming together and that your spoon supply is keeping up!
Hugs!
On 12/08/2010, Marydon said ...
Well, you all are one up on me, I've never heard of the game before, at all. Could be a lot of fun, tho.
Have a lovely Christmas week ~
TTFN ~ Marydon
On 12/08/2010, Chris said ...
Up here in the Northeast it's called a Yankee Swap. We've been doing them for years and years here.
On 12/08/2010, AnnieO said ...
We play a variation of this game at our office Christmas Party and also our Bunco group. At Bunco it continues all night as we continue to roll dice--any three of a kind roll means the game stops and the stealing begins. I've not heard the term Dirty Santa before but love that name! Always fun to play.
On 12/08/2010, l said ...
Sounds like fun, especially with fabric.
On 12/08/2010, tammy said ...
We have wore this game out but it's so fun! There's always something everyone fights over. Thanks for sharing.
On 12/08/2010, Diane W said ...
We play Dirty Santa at my office. Always a good time. I have never heard of #9 but I think this year I might suggest it. Help out ol' #1. The number no one wants to be in Dirty Santa.
On 12/08/2010, Brenda Kula said ...
I can be telling you right now that I'd be confused from the get-go! CM tonight. A good tv night I hope.
Brenda
On 12/08/2010, www.thequiltedpineapple.com said ...
I love Dirty Santa when I actually get something good, but hate it when I don't! LOL!
On 12/08/2010, Mama Pea said ...
I have played the game before, but I've never heard it referred to as "Dirty Santa." We used to play it where I worked, and my husband worked with me. So, we got to "double team" everyone and work the stealing to our advantage. We could sometimes retire a good gift between the two of us with stealing, etc. It was sort of funny. Others would say, "That's not fair!" haha!
On 12/08/2010, Mama Pea said ...
Oh, love the Billy Bob Thornton photo!
On 12/09/2010, Beverly said ...
We've played this game for years, and it is always fun.
Enjoy your day of rest. You've earned it.
On 12/09/2010, Kai said ...
Oooooooh! We used to do this at the Manuscriptors' Guild Christmas parties! We were 150 members so it took FOREVER, but it was the most fun! Ahhhh ... thank you for the good memories this post evoked!
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