Want to liven up the annual Christmas gift exchange? Here are a few options to make things a little more interesting.

White Elephant

This is the gold standard in gift exchange games. It works for office functions, family gatherings, and anything else.

The basic idea is that families set a price limit, then you purchase something without putting a name on it. All the presents are gathered, and numbers are handed out to each person. Number one goes first, picks any gift, then opens it up. The second person can steal that gift, or pick another gift and open that. That continues until everyone has a gift.

Many versions include a steal limit of two and the first person has a chance to exchange their gift at the end.

Hot Potato

Often considered a silly kid's game, it actually works really well for Christmas gift exchanges.

Everyone sits in a circle and one gift is given. Then participants pass the present around until a timer runs out. The amount of time depends on the size of the group. When the timer stops, whoever is holding the present gets to keep it. They leave the circle and a second present is handed out.

Just don't play this game with fragile objects.

Secret Santa

As long as you know your group well, this is another great gift exchange game. It's traditional but deserves a spot.

You write everyone's name in the group, then each person takes a turn drawing a name (that is not their own). They are in charge of buying a present for that person. The person who receives the gift opens it and then has to guess who gave it to them.

Other variations include a theme that all the presents must fall under, like hot and cold.

Whose Gift

This is a version of Secret Santa, but for those who want to add a few extra prizes into the mix. Great for grandparents who want to spoil their grandkids.

Everyone receives a name and buys a present for that person. Once it is wrapped, you do not write the person's name. Instead, everyone sits in a circle and you put all the presents in the middle. Then, using whatever way you decide, you choose someone to start. They choose a gift and open it up. Then they guess who the present is for. The person who gave the gift tells them whether they are right. If they are, they receive an extra prize (such as candy canes, chocolates, hot wheels, etc.), give the gift to that person, and the person to the left picks the next gift. If they get it wrong, the gift moves to the next person, who makes a guess, and so on until someone guesses correctly.

You'll find a number of surprises while playing this game, plus bonus candy.

Left and Right

This gives the host a chance to be quite creative. Before the party, you must have a story that contains many instances of the words 'left' and 'right'. Everyone brings a wrapped present to the party for no one in particular.

Everyone sits in a circle with the gift they brought. The host then reads the story, and every time they 'left', you pass the present to your left. Whenever the host says 'right', you pass it to your right. You continue this until the story ends, at which point, everyone gets to open the present that is currently in front of them.

PRO TIP: make sure you put different numbers of lefts and rights near each other, to make sure everyone gets a new gift.

BONUS: don't have time to prepare a story? Why not take ours? Here's our special CHVN Christmas story for your gift exchanges.

*adapted from Christian Camp Pro*

'Twas the Night Before CHVN Christmas

'Twas the night RIGHT before CHVN Christmas
when RIGHT through the studio
Not a creature was LEFT stirring, not even Halo
The stockings were hung RIGHT by the microphones with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas would be RIGHT there

The staff were nestled RIGHT snug in their beds,
While visions of radiothons danced RIGHT 'round their heads
And LEFT of the door, and LEFT of the gift wrap
I had just settled RIGHT down for a long winter's nap

When RIGHT out the LEFT parking lot there arose such a clatter,
I sprang RIGHT from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the RIGHT window I LEFT like a flash
Tore open the RIGHT blinds and threw up the LEFT sash

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
With a little old driver RIGHT lively and quick
I knew RIGHT in a moment it must be St. Nick

More rapid than Scribe's rapping his coursers they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them RIGHT by name
Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the RIGHT top of the sidewalk! To the LEFT top of the wall
Now dash away, dash away, dash RIGHT away all!
So RIGHT up to the roof they LEFT flew
With a sleigh full of CCM music for both me and you

And then, in a twinkling, I heard RIGHT on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little RIGHT and LEFT hoof
As I drew in my head and was turning around
In the LEFT studio door came St Nicholas with a bound

His RIGHT and LEFT eyes, oh how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was LEFT drawn up like a bow!
And the beard LEFT on his chin was as white as the snow

St. Nick had a tat on his big fat belly
That shook when he laughed like marmalade jelly
He was RIGHT chubby and plump, a RIGHT, RIGHT jolly old elf
And I was LEFT laughing, in spite of myself

A wink of his LEFT eye and a LEFT twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing LEFT to dread
He spoke not a word but went RIGHT straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, LEFT to RIGHT, then turned with a jerk

Then laying his finger on the LEFT of his nose
And giving a nod, he LEFT...out the LEFT door that he closed
He sprang RIGHT to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
And away they all LEFT like the dawn of a thistle

I looked RIGHT up before he was gone
Then realized that Santa was actually Mike Thom
Then I heard him exclaim, as he LEFT RIGHT out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all - to all a good night"