It wasn’t planned. It happened by chance. Over the years, though, it became sort of a tradition: bring something to our family Christmas get together that everyone could enjoy.

It started as a used-wrapping-paper-ball fight. Opening gifts at our family Christmas is chaotic, to say the least. 15+ people opening gifts at the same time, screeching, calling out names of next-gift recipients, showing our new treasure to whoever is paying attention (if anyone), admiring from a distance and someone, probably our brother, wadded up the torn-off gift wrap and threw it across the room. The person that was hit retaliated, but hit someone else. The rest is history.

We have wadded-gift-wrap fights every year now. It adds to the chaos and creates a whole lot of laughter. Irene and I wanted to provide additional laughs, so we tried to add a little something extra to our get togethers. Sometimes they’re simple, like board games. Sometimes, they’re more complex. They’re always fun.

If you’re hosting — or attending — a get together during the holidays, consider adding a small “surprise” for everyone’s enjoyment. Here’s just a few of our favourites:

SPIT BALLS:
We purchased these large, pre-made paper spit balls (No spit required. Yay!) and blowing straws and laid them around the rooms. Throughout the night, people would simply surprise someone by blowing a spit ball at them.

PLACE SETTING GIFTS:
When having guests for dinner, have a small gift at every place setting. We’ve used Victorian Paper Cones filled with treats, gourmet chocolates, small oil lamps, Christmas ornaments and fun “nose cups”.

BEARDOS:
Irene (so talented!) crocheted beardos for the men (and some of the women). Great for laughs, they are also practical gifts. My husband still wears his when walking outside on a cold day. Don’t crochet? You can ask a friend to make them or purchase them on Etsy.

UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS:
We purchased Ugly Christmas Sweaters for every guest. We didn’t pay any heed to size or gender. If the sweater handed to you was far too large, or too small, it added to the “ugliness”. We also brought a few musical Christmas ties. Consider having a fashion show or vote for the ugliest and have a prize.

RELEASING WISHES:
Wish lanterns are great for everyone. Light the candle, make a wish and release these paper lanterns into the night.

SLINGSHOT FLYING ANIMALS:
Each guest received a Slingshot Flying Animal. Stretch the strong rubber band in their neck and send them flying across the room while they make their animal-appropriate scream. The Christmas carols were accompanied by moo-ing, cluck-ing,  and oink’ing as cows, chickens, pigs, monkeys and frogs flew through the room and bounced off our heads. My husband and I still let them fly every now and then.

DIRTY SANTA:
For the past several years, we’ve played Dirty Santa.

Everyone playing the game brings a wrapped gift worth $30-$50 and the gifts are put in a pile. We all draw a number and the person with #1 picks a gift to open from the pile. The person with #2 can choose to open another package or steal the gift from #1. Each person then chooses a gift from the pile, or steals a previously opened gift. If a gift is stolen, the person who originally had it steals from someone else or picks another gift to open. The game continues like this until everyone takes a turn opening or stealing a gift. After everyone has chosen, the person with #1 can steal from anyone (since they didn’t have a chance to steal originally). Once a gift is stolen three times, it’s retired from the game.

From memory, these are the gifts that have been stolen the most: carry-on luggage, steak knives, Christmas Vacation Moose Mugs, an engraved bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon, bathroom rugs (odd, right?) and a movie package that contained an electric throw, several DVD’s and theater candy.

You can also opt to have a “White Elephant” Dirty Santa where gag gifts are brought and the goal is to leave with the least horrendous gift.

HIDE A PICKLE:
An old German tradition, we hide a pickle ornament on the tree. The first person to find it receives a special gift.

BEAT A PIG:
In Victorian holiday tradition, the pig is considered a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity (which is why we always eat pork on New Year’s Day). Each year, we get a Saratoga Peppermint Pig (the best, best peppermint ever!) from Saratoga Sweets. One of the guests names the pig and we put him in a faux velvet bag. He is passed around and everyone takes turns beating him with a small hammer. Then we all get to enjoy a piece of peppermint (which is great for digestion).

TREATS:
Irene always makes a special edible treat for everyone: Homemade Flavoured Cocoa (mine was Salty Caramel Mmmmmm), Meat Rubs, Flavoured Spicy Popcorn, Caramel Corn, Angel Wings. The list goes on. Pinterest is a great source for ideas. Put together a treat for your guest to enjoy.

REINBEER:
One of the things I enjoyed most during our trip to Ireland was sampling all of the different beers. I decided to give the guests a sample. I selected beer that would be meaningful to each guest, but still new to them: German for a nephew, Scottish for my son, each beer reflecting their unique personality. Pinterest helped me make them special by gluing google eyes, pompom nose and pipe cleaner antlers on the necks of each bottle. A felt scarf finished turning the bottles of beer into Reinbeer.

CIGARS:
This was one of my personal favourites. After dinner, each guest received a cigar specially selected just for them. We brought them out on a silver-plated tray which also held the end cutter. It felt like an old-fashioned men’s club while my sister-in-law, who never smoked, puffed her fruity, petite cigarillo and my brother-in-law, who is a big man, enjoyed his torpedo. My brother, of course, had to have one bigger then everyone else’s. Being a “queen” , mine had to cost the most. Mom and the children enjoyed a box of chocolate cigars imported from Switzerland.

ICE SKATING PARTY:
One of the most complex surprises to date has been the ice skating party. My husband built a huge skating pond in the backyard. We decorated the bushes with lights. We surrounded it with hay bales (for sitting), and put fleece blankets on the bales (for warming). We bought 17 pairs of skates (believe me when I say, finding a pair of men’s size 14s is not an easy task) and made pompoms for the lady’s pairs. We got hobo pie makers for “cooking” our supper and filled thermoses with hot cocoa, coffee, chicken soup, and for the adults, a little warming nip of peppermint schnapps. Irene made CDs with ice skating songs and crocheted everyone a pair of mittens and a scarf. We also had a pair of socks and slippers selected for their personality waiting for them in the house. Inside, the house was strewn with plates of chocolates from around the world. Each guest received a copy of the CD, fleece blanket, slippers, socks, mittens and scarf. It was magical! Until 2 days before the party when the temperature rose and the ice melted. We ended up staying comfy in our socks and slippers, eating chocolates while sipping schnapps and admiring the view from indoors.

Whatever your choice, have fun together! Your guests may not remember what was for dinner, but they’ll always remember the laughs.