Hobbies And Interests
Gift Rules
Set a price range for gifts so they are within everyone's budget. Determine whether you will allow (or even require) gag gifts--ugly, funny or impractical items such as psychedelic polyester ties, plastic flower arrangements or crocheted tissue-box covers. Tell guests if gifts should follow a theme, such as movies, holiday decorations or sports. Ask guests to wrap their gifts attractively so others will want them.
Getting Started
Pile gifts on a table, on the floor or under the holiday tree when guests arrive. Then, either draw numbers out of a bowl to determine the order of play, or ask a volunteer to go first, and have him--and each subsequent person--select who will go next.The first player unwraps a gift, shows it to everyone and puts it in easy reach in front of her. The second person chooses a new gift or takes the gift the first person opened. The third person may open a new gift or "steal" one away from either of the first two people. Each time someone steals a gift, the person whose gift is taken may either open a new gift or take a previously opened present away from someone else. The Chinese auction ends when each guest has a gift.
Keep Things Going
Chinese auctions stall when participants continually take the same gift from one another. Keep the action moving by setting rules about who may take whose gift, and how often. For example, a common rule is: Two guests may not take the same gift from each other but may take it from a third person. Or: Guests may vie for the same gift up to four times; the person making the fourth "steal" gets to keep the gift permanently.